President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Roden Tong Man-lung, will accompany Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on a trade and business delegation to Central Asia next month, visiting Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to explore cross-border cooperation opportunities.

Tong said it was "an honor" to participate, adding that the society's inclusion reflects the growing recognition of legal professional services as a vital pillar in the country's external trade and economic development.

According to Tong, the visit aims to deepen ties with local legal communities and relevant institutions in Central Asia, fostering exchange and cooperation mechanisms among jurisdictions. 

The society also hopes to help members tap into emerging markets and identify new opportunities in cross-border legal services, while continuing to promote the city's institutional strengths and its standing as an international center for legal and dispute resolution services.

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"Legal professional services play a critical supporting role in facilitating all kinds of commercial activity," said Tong, a leading expert in financial lines and specialty claims across the Asian region.

"Their impact extends beyond the industry and our members — they matter to Hong Kong's broader economy and to the country's external engagement and development," said the president, who joined the society in 2016.

The mission comes as the Law Society, the city's prestigious professional association, marks its 120th anniversary this year and welcomes six newly elected council members following its annual general meeting on Thursday. The 20-member council, with its diverse range of practice areas, will serve the legal professional sector for the 2026–2027 term.

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Earlier in April, Tong submitted proposals to the Ministry of Justice in Beijing urging that the current pilot arrangement for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination be gradually converted into a permanent scheme. 

The move is intended to support lawyers from the common law jurisdiction in integrating into the national legal system, while providing clearer institutional foundations for professional regulation, business development, and the protection of clients' rights.