Chan Hiu-fung, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region deputy to the nation’s top legislature, poses for a photo during an interview with China Daily on the sidelines of the two sessions in Beijing, China, March 6, 2024 . (XI TIANQI / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong is well placed to help the nation meet its growing needs for maritime-related legal services, said Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung, a Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress.

Chan, who heads the Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre of the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization, emphasized the importance of maritime law and arbitration in his motions submitted to the ongoing session of the nation’s top legislature.

Hong Kong, being the only common law jurisdiction in the country, can contribute by offering a transparent and international arbitration framework and nurturing professionals who are familiar with common law and international maritime laws

As the world’s largest trading country with the largest merchant fleet in terms of gross tonnage, China needs a strong insitutional mechanism to support its maritime industry, Chan said. He drew a parallel with the United Kingdom’s world-acclaimed international commercial law and its maritime practices.

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Chan said that China needs a sound maritime legal system to address its unprecedented demand for maritime legal affairs. He proposed the establishment of an international maritime arbitration hub, suggesting that Shanghai and Hong Kong can build relevant legal institutions and accommodate legal professionals.

Hong Kong, being the only common law jurisdiction in the country, can contribute by offering a transparent and international arbitration framework and nurturing professionals who are familiar with common law and international maritime laws.

He also proposed measures to build Hong Kong as a regional educational hub, including locating more international and national tertiary education forums in the city.

With its existing excellent education resources and scientific research capabilities, Hong Kong can showcase the outcomes of the regional and international educational exchanges through publications and reports, and demonstrate the country’s achievements in education and scientific research to the world, he said.

Chan further suggested allowing Hong Kong’s self-funded universities to recruit more Chinese mainland students, as there is a growing interest among mainland students in studying in Hong Kong.

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His other proposals included facilitating cross-border visits between Hong Kong and mainland residents, promoting the use of hydrogen as a clean fuel, and positioning Hong Kong as an international data exchange and trading center for generative artificial intelligence tools.

Contact the writers at lindaxi@chinadailyhk.com