Month: May 2025

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

A signing ceremony for the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was held today as it was revealed that Hong Kong has been chosen as the IOMed’s home.

 

The IOMed will be the world’s first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to mediation.

 

CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi signed the convention on behalf of China. Representatives from 32 other countries also signed it.

 

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Wang said that as an innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations.

 

He stressed that its establishment is an actualisation of the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter and an example of a civilisational belief in harmony, while epitomising inclusiveness in the rule of law.

 

Outlining that the IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, Mr Wang said the city’s handover is in itself a success story that exemplifies peaceful settlement of international disputes. The success of the “one country, two systems” principle has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, he added.

 

Mr Wang said he looks forward to all parties working together to ensure the IOMed plays a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes to create a brighter future for humanity.

 

Chief Executive John Lee, as well as senior representatives from more than 50 countries, and from the United Nations and other international organisations, attended the ceremony.

 

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, and Secretary for Justice Paul Lam were also present.

 

Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the central government for allowing Hong Kong the honour of housing the organisation’s headquarters, adding that Hong Kong has a well-respected legal system and world-class legal and dispute resolution professionals.

 

“The IOMed will provide a pathway for countries – regardless of culture, language and legal system – to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding. This is increasingly important amid mounting geopolitical tensions.”

 

This afternoon’s Global Forum on International Mediation involved discussions of topics including mediation of disputes among countries and mediation of international investment and commercial disputes.

 

Guest speakers emphasised that Hong Kong has unique features that allow it to build bridges between different legal traditions.

 

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Secretary Anna Joubin-Bret said: “It combines the background and the expertise in both civil and common law, and it is the only jurisdiction that has these two features, and that is exactly what mediation needs.”

 

Former President of Slovenia Danilo Türk remarked that Hong Kong is a place of innovations in multiple ways, including technology, trade, and now also diplomacy.

 

“I think that that is a really very good choice. Hong Kong is already established as one of the global centres of communication, of everything, of every form of communication. And to add this dimension would enrich Hong Kong and would enrich also the processes of mediation.”

 

Executive Director of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Institute for Peace & Reconciliation I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, said he expected the IOMed to collaborate with other regional organisations, including ASEAN, in finding solutions to conflict situations within the region.

 

“I think Hong Kong and China have a lot of experience on the trade issues, on economic issues, and of course we expect that IOMed will also deal with the political and security issues in the future.”

 

Meanwhile, Asian Academy of International Law Founder Member and Co-Chairman Teresa Cheng said she believes housing the headquarters in Hong Kong will raise the city’s international profile by allowing it to play a leading role in mediation efforts.

 

“For example, capacity building, running conferences, bringing experts in to discuss certain issues. And all these will attract foreigners coming to Hong Kong and thereby knowing Hong Kong and learning themselves how good Hong Kong is, and therefore be able to bring that view back to their hometown.”

 

Witnessed by forum guests, Mr Lam signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Minister of Commerce of Cambodia Cham Nimul, to strengthen co-operation between the two places on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​On the State Council’s appointment of Mr Zhou Ji as the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG) and National Security Adviser to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSC), and the removal of Mr Zheng Yanxiong as the Director of the LOCPG, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and National Security Adviser of the NSC, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, issued the following statement on May 30:

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and I warmly welcome Mr Zhou’s assumption of his new posts, and express our sincere gratitude to Mr Zheng for his contribution to the HKSAR in his office as the Director of the LOCPG, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and National Security Adviser of the NSC.

Since July 2023, Mr Zhou has been serving as the Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, directly participating in the management and co-ordination of Hong Kong affairs. He is well acquainted with the national policies on Hong Kong. Last year, he led a delegation to Hong Kong for an inspection visit to co-ordinate the implementation of the Central Government’s policies benefitting Hong Kong and convey the Central Government’s strong support for Hong Kong’s development and care for Hong Kong people. Mr Zhou has previously held such positions as Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee, as well as Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and Vice Governor of Henan Province, possessing extensive experience in policy-making and local governance.

I sincerely thank the Central Government for its care and support for the HKSAR. I am fully confident that Mr Zhou will lead the LOCPG in continuing its support to the HKSAR Government’s governance in accordance with the law, working together with us in fully, faithfully and resolutely implementing the principles of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong” and a high degree of autonomy. We will together maintain the constitutional order of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Constitution and the Basic Law and implement the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong”. I am also confident that Mr Zhou will lead the LOCPG in its continued co-operation with the HKSAR Government of promoting the HKSAR’s proactive alignment with national strategise, creating new momentum and advantages for Hong Kong’s economic development, promoting Hong Kong’s transition from stability to prosperity through innovation and invention, and making greater contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

The HKSAR Government and I are also deeply grateful to Mr Zheng for steadfastly upholding the “one country, two systems” principle on issues such as safeguarding national security and maintaining the HKSAR’s constitutional order in his tenure of over two years. During his office, Mr Zheng fully supported the HKSAR Government in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility and historic mission of enacting local legislation for Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which entered into force on March 23, 2024, has strengthened Hong Kong’s legal regime in safeguarding national security.

Before serving as the Director of the LOCPG, Mr Zheng was the first Head of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, leading the Office to perform its mandate of safeguarding national security in accordance with the law. Mr Zheng has all along held the issues of providing a better living and working environment for the people of Hong Kong, youth development, and Hong Kong’s leverage of the opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area close to his heart. The HKSAR Government and I would like to express our gratitude to him.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met senior officials from foreign governments attending the Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed).

Mr Lee met Switzerland’s Federal Councillor & Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Justice & Attorney General Pila Niningi and Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

Welcoming them to the signing ceremony, Mr Lee said Hong Kong is pleased to contribute to and serve the successful establishment and operation of the IOMed.

He outlined that upon its establishment, the IOMed will provide friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services for international disputes.

On economic and trade co-operation, the Chief Executive said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations with different countries.

In the face of emerging unilateralism and protectionism, Mr Lee emphasised that the Hong Kong SAR Government will remain steadfast in maintaining the city’s status as a free port and pursuing free trade policies, ensuring the free flow of goods, capital and information, and attracting enterprises from around the world to explore trading and investment opportunities in Hong Kong.

He highlighted that as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, Hong Kong is the only city that enjoys both “the China advantage” and “the global advantage”. He invited enterprises from all countries to leverage Hong Kong’s platform to explore overseas and Mainland markets.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee today met CPC Central Committee Political Bureau Member and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi at Government House.

 

Mr Wang is visiting Hong Kong to attend the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation.

 

Mr Lee and Mr Wang had a working lunch together and discussed the work of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s international exchanges and co-operation.

 

Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the central government for its strong support in establishing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong.

 

Emphasising that the IOMed is a high-level international organisation, Mr Lee said the central government had demonstrated its staunch support of the Hong Kong SAR in its development as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

 

The process involved setting up an IOMed preparatory office in Hong Kong, completing negotiations, facilitating a consensus on situating the headquarters in the city, and hosting the convention’s signing ceremony today.

 

Mr Lee said Mr Wang’s presence to witness the historic moment of the signing is a great encouragement to him and the Hong Kong SAR Government, which he added is well-equipped to promote the IOMed.

 

The Chief Executive stressed that basing the IOMed headquarters in Hong Kong will bring a host of significant benefits to the city.

 

Firstly, the IOMed will elevate Hong Kong’s international status and role in international mediation. In turn, the city will be able to make important contributions to the IOMed’s work given its status as the only common law jurisdiction in China under the “one country, two systems” principle.

 

The city also boasts an established legal system, a solid foundation of the rule of law, diverse legal and dispute resolution services, and a wide pool of legal professionals with a global perspective.

 

Secondly, the IOMed will generate substantial economic benefits. Its service demand will create a large number of job opportunities for mediators, translators, researchers and more.

 

The IOMed will also attract international organisations, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions to establish a presence in Hong Kong, drawing high-quality conferences and exhibitions to the city and further boosting other sectors such as hospitality, logistics and transportation.

 

With a status on a par with the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the IOMed will become a pivotal institution for resolving international disputes.

 

This will facilitate deeper economic co-operation between Hong Kong and overseas economies, including regions participating in the Belt & Road Initiative, thereby creating more business opportunities, Mr Lee added.

 

Thirdly, the IOMed will further enhance Hong Kong’s ecosystem relating to the rule of law, promote the popularity of mediation and encourage the community to resolve issues through dialogue.

 

Mr Lee highlighted that the IOMed will help Hong Kong to attract more legal and dispute resolution professionals from around the globe, contributing to the development of the legal framework for dispute resolution, and further consolidating the city’s status as an international legal hub.

 

He also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Office of the MFA Commissioner in the Hong Kong SAR, and Chinese diplomatic and consular missions overseas for their continued support in deepening the Hong Kong SAR Government’s international exchanges and co-operation.

 

Mr Lee added that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to enhance Hong Kong people’s understanding of consular work and protection policies, and raise their awareness of security and protection.

 

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan, and Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Civil Service College today held the latest in a series of talks on the country’s foreign affairs, with about 140 senior officials and civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks attending.

 

Addressing those in attendance, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said Hong Kong Special Administrative Region civil servants shoulder a mission of connecting the country with the world.

 

She highlighted that with the support of the Central People’s Government, the Hong Kong SAR Government has sent young public officers recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the United Nations Junior Professional Officer Programme, enabling them to contribute their expertise to the country and international organisations.

 

The talk, organised jointly with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong SAR, was delivered by Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland Chen Xu.

 

The theme of the talk was “China on the International Stage: Its Role and Experience in Participating in International Organisations”.

 

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement today (May 30) regarding an incident involving insertion of a nasogastric tube:Service Director (Quality & Safety), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital AuthorityConsultant, Department of Intensive Care, Tseung Kwan O HospitalChief Manager, Quality & Safety Division (Patient Safety & Risk Management), Hospital AuthorityDeputy Service Director (Quality & Safety), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital AuthorityDepartment Operations Manager, Department of Intensive Care, Prince of Wales HospitalCluster General Manager (Nursing), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital AuthorityChief of Service, Intensive Care Unit, Queen Elizabeth HospitalChief of Service, Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region