18th March 2023 – (Beijing) The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Mr John Lee, has wrapped up his visit to Beijing today. During his visit, Mr Lee highlighted the importance of effective communication and co-operation between the HKSAR Government and central ministries and institutions, which he believes will pave the way for better collaboration in the future.
Mr Lee’s visit included a meeting with the Minister of Justice, Ms He Rong, at the Ministry of Justice, before his departure from Beijing. During this meeting, Ms He expressed her eagerness to exchange views with the HKSAR Government on legal exchange and collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as legal services and safeguards in the development of the rule of law in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
In response, Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Justice for its continuous support to the work of the HKSAR Government, and its dedication towards deepening exchanges and collaboration between legal professions in the Mainland and Hong Kong. He also stated that the HKSAR Government will continue to leverage on the institutional advantages brought by Hong Kong’s common law system and its global connections to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international centre for legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr Lee’s visit to Beijing was his first as Chief Executive since the resumption of normal travel between the Mainland and Hong Kong. During his seven-day trip, he called on 11 central ministries and institutions, attended the opening and closing meetings of the National People’s Congress, visited the Palace Museum, and exchanged views with members of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China and Hong Kong young people in Beijing.
According to Mr Lee, his visit demonstrated the HKSAR Government’s dedication towards enhancing communication and building mutual trust between the HKSAR Government and the central ministries and institutions. He expressed his gratitude to all central ministries and institutions for their warm hospitality, and to the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council for its strong support and co-ordination of his visit to Beijing.
Mr Lee has now returned to Hong Kong, where the Secretaries of Departments and Directors of Bureaux will continue to work together with their Mainland counterparts in solving problems and fostering collaboration.