The Law Society of Hong Kong is a professional association for solicitors in Hong Kong vested with statutory powers to regulate the professional conduct of solicitors, trainee solicitors and foreign lawyers. It was incorporated in 1907 as a company limited by guarantee.
The Law Society speaks for the solicitors’ profession in Hong Kong and ensures our voice are accurately and purposefully communicated to relevant parties
The Law Society is dedicated to providing relevant and effective support to our members including professional training and legal practice updates.
The Law Society is committed to facilitating the attainment and maintenance of the highest professional standards by our members in the interest of the community
The Law Society reaches out and maintains a wide local and global network for knowledge exchange, experience sharing and collaboration between our members and different sectors of both the local and international communities.
The Law Society strives to raise general public legal awareness, facilitate public access to legal services and promote a culture of giving back to the community among our members.
This morning, the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum 2025 opened with grandeur at the Xi’an International Conference Centre, themed “Serving the Belt and Road Initiative, A New Chapter in Shaanxi-Hong Kong Cooperation.” Opening remarks were delivered by the Minister of Justice of China, Ms He Rong, the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, the Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR Government, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and Member of the Communist Party of China Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Xi’an Municipal Committee, Mr Fang Hongwei. Over 40 members of The Law Society of Hong Kong gathered, engaging deeply with Mainland enterprises to showcase how Hong Kong’s legal expertise empowers Xi’an businesses to go global.
Professional Contributions: Leading Legal Dialogue
During the Forum, The Law Society of Hong Kong President Roden Tong delivered a speech under the theme “Leveraging the Unique Advantages of Hong Kong’s Common Law System as a Bridge for Belt and Road Investment Projects” in front of an audience from over 300 Mainland enterprises. He highlighted Hong Kong’s role as the world’s only bilingual common law jurisdiction, providing litigation, arbitration, and mediation services to international standards, aiding Mainland firms in “going global.” Quoting President Xi Jinping’s statement, “The Rule of Law is the best business environment,” Tong emphasised Hong Kong lawyers’ global perspective, dual qualifications, and cultural fluency in supporting cross-border M&A, intellectual property, and dispute resolution. He introduced The Law Society of Hong Kong has over 13,000 members, 1,600 foreign lawyers and over 80 foreign law firms, bolstered by enhanced measures under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), solidifying Hong Kong’s position as a gateway for cross-border legal services.
Cross-Border Expertise and Global Networks
Hong Kong lawyers demonstrate exceptional expertise in cross-border matters, encompassing dispute resolution, international arbitration, intellectual property protection, and cross-border M&A, leveraging the advantages of the common law system to provide precise legal safeguards for businesses. Their extensive global network, including law firm offices such as one in Kuwait, supports enterprises in expanding internationally. From 10 to 15 May, President Tong joined a trade delegation led by Chief Executive John Lee to Qatar and Kuwait, signing three new Memoranda of Understanding ("MOUs") with local legal institutions to expand the legal service platform for Belt and Road projects. The presence of a Hong Kong law firm in Kuwait reflects the vast network of Hong Kong lawyers. Since 2015, The Law Society of Hong Kong has signed 28 MOUs with 26 legal organizations across 22 jurisdictions, promoting legal cooperation and standards alignment.
Engaging Mainland Enterprises: Building Bridges
According to statistics, Shaanxi Province’s import and export trade with Belt and Road partner countries grew by 20.2% in 2024, 13.8% above the national average, showcasing robust momentum. Shaanxi and Hong Kong’s legal communities have maintained close exchanges, with Shaanxi legal delegations visiting The Law Society of Hong Kong twice in 2024. The Department of Justice arranged this reciprocal visit by the Hong Kong delegation to Xi’an, Shaanxi, hosting the seventh Hong Kong Legal Services Forum, reflecting both sides’ shared commitment to strengthening legal cooperation. These exchanges create more communication opportunities for Shaanxi-Hong Kong legal professionals, particularly fostering practical collaboration in international commercial legal services for the Belt and Road Initiative.
The delegation’s interactions with Xi’an enterprises were a highlight, forging meaningful connections through Q&A sessions and personalised consultations. Solicitors offered tailored solutions to address the legal challenges of “going global,” demonstrating The Law Society of Hong Kong’s dedication to promoting Shaanxi-Hong Kong commercial ties.
Deepening Collaboration: Signing an Updated Cooperation Agreement
Over the past decade, Hong Kong has been Shaanxi’s top source of foreign investment, with a cumulative USD534 billion invested in Xi’an by 2023, supporting 1,782 enterprises and accounting for over 40% of the province’s foreign capital. The Law Society of Hong Kong and Shaanxi Lawyers Association, partners since 2000, signed their first cooperation agreement in 2001, maintaining ties over 24 years. Recent exchanges include hosting Shaanxi’s Commerce Department in 2023 and meetings with Shaanxi’s Justice Department and Lawyers Association in 2024. Today, under the witness of Minister of Justice He Rong; Secretary for Justice Mr Paul Lam, SC; and Shaanxi Party Secretary Zhao Yide; President Tong and Shaanxi Lawyers Association President Han Yongan signed an updated cooperation agreement. This milestone ushers in a new phase of collaboration, focusing on training foreign-related legal talent and building a Belt and Road legal service platform to deliver high-quality legal support for enterprises “going global.”
Afternoon Highlights: Mock Mediation and Arbitration Sessions
This afternoon, The Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association co-hosted two mock dispute resolution sessions, showcasing Hong Kong lawyers’ expertise in cross-border business disputes and offering Xi’an enterprises practical inspiration.
- Mock Mediation:
In this business dispute case, Dr James Wong, BBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of Greater China Legal Affairs Committee ("GCLAC"), The Law Society of Hong Kong, serves as the mediator, guiding participants through practical mediation techniques. He is joined by Mr Neville Cheng, Council Member and Vice-Chairman of GCLAC and Ms Eviana Leung, Member of Standing Committee on External Affairs and GCLAC, demonstrating through simulation and discussion how mediation effectively resolves disputes.
- Mock Arbitration:
The subsequent arbitration session, led by Mr Huen Wong, SBS, BBS, JP, Chairman of Arbitration Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong, and Prof Kingsley ONG, Adjunct Professor of City University of Hong Kong, showcasing international arbitration expertise. He is joined by Ms Heidi Chui, Council Member, Vice-Chairlady of GCLAC and Member of Arbitration Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong; Mr Sui-hang Hui, Member of GCLAC and Arbitration Committee; Mr Eric Woo, Member of Arbitration Committee; Ms Roberta Chan, Member of Arbitration Committee, illustrating arbitration’s efficiency through simulation and discussion.
These sessions, paired with personalized consultations, provide tailored solutions, strengthening Shaanxi-Hong Kong commercial ties. The Law Society of Hong Kong looks forward to partnering with Xi’an enterprises to forge a vibrant future under the Belt and Road’s legal framework!
