The Law Society devotes much effort in creating international exchange opportunities for our members, both to enable them to maintain continuous professional development and to develop international connections. In optimising the Belt and Road Initiative, the Law Society places much importance on the huge business development potential in ASEAN. 

ASEAN embraces international trade and is Hong Kong’s second largest trading partner. Indonesia, being an important economy in ASEAN, offers a vast market with substantial business opportunities for Hong Kong. In March 2017, the Law Society signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the Indonesian Advocates Association (“PERADI”). On that occasion, a joint seminar entitled “Hong Kong – Indonesia: Opportunities for the Indonesian Business” was also organised in Jakarta to introduce the Hong Kong legal system, the advantages of doing business in Hong Kong as a gateway to China and the importance of risk management to the local legal practitioners and businessmen. 

On 18 August 2020, a webinar was jointly organised by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong. The theme was “Riding Ups and Downs: Hong Kong-Indonesia Partnership” which aimed at strengthening partnerships in trade, investment, professional services and technology. It attracted more than 900 registrations from business leaders and professionals in Hong Kong and Indonesia. President Melissa Pang was honoured to be invited to join the panel discussion on “Discovering New Partnership Opportunities”. Being the only speaker from the legal sector among the other prominent local and Indonesian speakers, President took the opportunity to share the core competencies of Hong Kong legal services and what Hong Kong professional services can offer to Indonesian enterprises so as to assist them to explore new markets and business opportunities. 

With the coming into force of the Free Trade Agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN in June 2020, the Law Society looks forward to even closer collaboration with our ASEAN counterparts.

 

(From left to right) Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, HKSAR Government; Mr. Laurence Li, Chairman of Financial Services Development Council; Mr. Denis Yip, Commissioner for Belt and Road, HKSAR Government; Ms. Melissa Pang, President of the Law Society of Hong Kong; and Dr. Peter Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong Trade Development Council shared their insightful thoughts during the panel discussion on “Discovering New Partnership Opportunities”.