There’s an army of journalists and China watchers out there waiting with bated breath for the new Chinese leadership to indicate, either directly or indirectly, the future course of government policy. The big question, according to the foreign commentariat, is whether, and to what extent, there will be significant political reform. I don’t personally understand […]

The last couple of weeks have brought us numerous accounts of the U.S. government’s attempts to investigate certain U.S.-listed Chinese companies. The Americans say they need working materials from accounting firms to check out what these companies have been up to, while their Chinese counterparts say no, this information is protected under China’s state secrets […]

A Department of Justice request for the Court of Final Appeal to consider referring to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee to clarify the 1999 Basic Law interpretation's effect on local residency laws will not affect Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen reiterates. 

Speaking to the media today, Mr Yuen said this measure should help to resolve the right of abode issue for different categories of people, including foreign domestic helpers and babies born to Mainland pregnant women. This was consistent with his emphasis on resolving the issue under Hong Kong’s own legal system, he stressed.

Mr Yuen said his department had filed the foreign domestic helper’s right of abode appeal case in accordance with Court of Final Appeal procedures yesterday. The Department of Justice has invited the Court of Final Appeal to consider seeking the NPCSC clarification on the interpretation as it is a relevant issue which must be resolved in the present case, he said.

Mr Yuen said the Government respects the rule of law and judicial independence, and will adopt the same cautious attitude in handling the foreign domestic helpers’ case and the issue of Mainland pregnant women.

Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen has welcomed the Hague Conference on Private International Law's new Asia Pacific Regional Office in Hong Kong.

Speaking at the office's opening ceremony at Government House today, Mr Yuen said the move is a significant vote of confidence in Hong Kong's position both as a regional legal services centre and as a springboard for the Hague Conference to further develop its work and extend its influence in the region.

"The Hague Conventions stand out as shining examples of a pool of international instruments, in the field of private international law on various subject matters, which may be conveniently tapped into by any state in the region. Many of these instruments have been tested by time and actual cases, and we can testify that they have served Hong Kong very well over the years," Mr Yuen said.

At the ceremony, Chief Executive CY Leung witnessed the signing of the Host Country Agreement and the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements relating to the office's establishment.

Hague Conference Secretary General Hans van Loon said the office will serve as a base of operations to publicise the Hague Conventions, which have been proved to be adaptable to different regions' needs and provide a connection to the global community.

"The task of the Hague Conference on Private International Law is to develop and service such multilateral legal instruments, conventions, which, despite the differences between legal systems, will allow individuals as well as companies to enjoy a high degree of legal security."

Justice Hartmann will be the first Representative of the Hague Conference for the Asia Pacific region.