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13 January 2009
(for immediate release)
At a media briefing on 13 January 2009, Mr. Lester Huang, President of the Law Society of Hong Kong welcomed President Vladimir Jirousek from the Czech Bar Association to Hong Kong since the two professional bodies signed a partnership pact in May 2008.
Mr. Huang said, "The partnership pact does not only facilitate professional exchange between lawyers from the two regions but also enables the Law Society to assist our international partners in developing business in Hong Kong and Mainland China."
President Vladimir Jirousek of Czech Bar Association agreed that there is great potential for lawyers and companies from Czech Republic to develop their business in Hong Kong and Mainland China. He said, ‘Enterprises in Czech Republic are keen to explore Hong Kong and Mainland China markets, and Czech lawyers are looking forward to assisting their clients in establishing business in these markets."
Dr. Jirousek added that "The partnership pact also paves way for professional exchange between lawyers especially young lawyers from Czech Republic and Hong Kong."
On the question of promoting cooperation between PRC lawyers and their international counterparts, the President of All China Lawyers Association Yu Ning
said, "Hong Kong is the window through which lawyers from Mainland China can reach out to their counterparts in the global markets, and the Law Society of Hong Kong plays a key role in facilitating partnership between Mainland and overseas lawyers.'
Mr. Simon Galpin, Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, also attended the media briefing session. Addressing the audience, Mr. Simon Galpin, said, "In the last eight and a half years, InvestHK has assisted 23 law firms from North America, Europe and Mainland China to establish or expand their business presence in our city. Our city's success in attracting a wide range of leading business service providers from around the world has helped to ensure
Hong Kong remains Asia's international business hub."
"With its sound and transparent legal system, Hong Kong is an ideal platform for foreign law firms to enter the Mainland market and for Mainland law firms to explore international business opportunities", Mr Galpin added.
The keynote speaker for the luncheon talk was Mr. Stephen Wong, Director of Economic and Trade Office (Central and Eastern Europe). In delivering his speech, Mr. Wong said, "If clients plan to invest in Hong Kong or in Mainland China, the best way of which is to invest through Hong Kong which offers an efficient and pro-business environment, where the rule of law is respected and upheld; where the lawyers can communicate with clients about China which is an equally important attribute particularly in avoiding disputes; where they will have their rights, including intellectual property and human rights protected in line with international treaties and practices; where the legal system is one that they are not unfamiliar with, and the legal services are at world class standards."
The luncheon talk was attended by over 40 delegates from 10 different jurisdictions including Australia, Czech Republic, England & Wales, Japan, Korea, Macau, Mainland China, Malaysia, Singapore and The Netherlands; as well as Hong Kong lawyers. Invest Hong Kong is the sponsor of the luncheon talk.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Valerie Cheung (Tel: 2846-0520/Email: Valerie@hklawsoc.org.hk)
About the Law Society of Hong Kong
The Law Society of Hong Kong is a professional body of solicitors in Hong Kong vested with the statutory powers to regulate the professional conduct of solicitors. It establishes and promotes professional standards and the solicitors' code of conduct and practice and ensures its compliance. The Law Society assists its members to promote Hong Kong legal services and offers its views from time to time on legal issues that are of public concern. For more information, please visit: www.hklawsoc.org.hk
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