The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday became home to the first office of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) outside its headquarters in Rome, Italy, with the SAR’s leader hailing the move as “a decision of profound significance” for global legal cooperation.

At the opening ceremony of the UNIDROIT Asia-Pacific Liaison Office at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Hong Kong was “an ideal home” for the international legal organization’s Asia-Pacific liaison offices, pointing to its strategic location at the heart of the region, its reputation as an international legal, trade and financial hub, and its status as the country’s only common law jurisdiction.

“We strive to attract global organizations and talent, enable international legal cooperation and position Hong Kong as a superconnector and super value-adder for East and West. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than 40 per cent of global GDP and encompasses vital trade corridors,” Lee said.

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From its Hong Kong base, said Lee, UNIDROIT can tap into the city’s deep pool of legal talent, draw on its professional training expertise and forge ties with partner organizations that also boast a strong presence in the SAR.

They include the International Organization for Mediation, headquartered in Hong Kong, as well as the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization’s Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre and the Hague Conference on Private International Law’s Regional Office for the Asia Pacific, complemented by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, launched by the Department of Justice in 2024.

Lee invited UNIDROIT to collaborate with the academy, saying he was confident the partnership would meet its capacity-building needs.

Lee also thanked UNIDROIT for its enduring trust in Hong Kong, and the nation for its staunch and unwavering support, which made the establishment of a regional office possible.

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UNIDROIT, founded in 1926, now counts 65 member states from five continents and ranks among the world’s oldest and most prominent bodies that work to harmonize international private and commercial law.

The opening ceremony was held as part of the opening program of this year’s Hong Kong Legal Week.

An annual flagship event of the Department of Justice, Hong Kong Legal Week runs through Friday and is set to feature high-profile discussions and gatherings to deepen regional and cross-sector collaboration, including the third Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit, the fourth Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development, and the second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers Forum.

Another highlight of the legal week is Law-tech Fest, held from Wednesday to Friday, when 15 service providers will showcase their latest legal technology solutions for research, automated review and data analysis, workflow management, document drafting and hearing support.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com