[Concurrent] Zheng Ruohua, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
In 1996, when Hong Kong was ranked by the World Bank's World Governance Index, the ranking of the rule of law, our score was just over 69 points.
But after 1997, with the legal protection given to us by the Basic Law, the score reached more than 80 points in 1998, and it continued to rise. After the return, there was an obvious upward trend.
[Explanation] On the eve of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Zheng Ruohua, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, was interviewed by the media.
She said that since the handover, the rule of law in Hong Kong has continued to improve.
The rule of law is Hong Kong's core value and the cornerstone of its success.
After the National Security Law of Hong Kong came into effect, it is clear that society has changed from chaos to governance, from governance to prosperity.
Cheng Ruohua said that in the "Vision 2030 - Focusing on the Rule of Law" ten-year plan being implemented by the Department of Justice, the most important thing is to do a good job in public education in Hong Kong, so that Hong Kong residents can correctly understand and understand the rule of law.
[Concurrent] Zheng Ruohua, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
Our first task in establishing "Vision 2030 - Focusing on the Rule of Law" is to correct some concepts, so our first task is to let the common people, from children to the general public, have a correct understanding of the rule of law.
We need to put more emphasis on the status of the national constitutional order in Hong Kong, and have a clearer understanding of the whole arrangement of "one country, two systems". Another one, I think our concept of national security still needs to be strengthened.
Third, the national identity, what kind of feelings we should have for ourselves as a Chinese.
Through these educations, we hope to achieve a correct understanding of the rule of law.
[Explanation] In the field of law, Hong Kong has rich experience in internationalization. It is clearly stated in the national "14th Five-Year Plan" to support Hong Kong's development into an "International Legal and Dispute Resolution Service Center in the Asia-Pacific Region".
Zheng Ruohua said that in the future, Hong Kong will fully grasp the opportunities and continuously consolidate its central position.
[Concurrent] Zheng Ruohua, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
First, we must ensure that our laws are in line with international standards, and that people in the world can clearly understand our arbitration laws in Hong Kong.
Second, in terms of development, we must understand what the parties, arbitration parties, mediation parties and their lawyers, as well as arbitral tribunals or mediators, exactly what their service needs are.
Third, we must maintain our presence in Hong Kong as a talent hub, first consolidating the development of our own talent.
Fourth, in terms of arbitration institutions, we need to have a very broad vision, so we constantly hope that more international organizations can come to Hong Kong.
We hope that through these more positive measures, Hong Kong's position as an international legal and dispute resolution centre will be consolidated.
[Explanation] Zheng Ruohua said that under "one country, two systems", as the only jurisdiction in the country that implements common law, Hong Kong can actively play the unique advantages of "one country, two systems, and three jurisdictions" in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area also brings new opportunities to the Hong Kong legal profession.
[Concurrent] Zheng Ruohua, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
Recently, we also hope to pass a legal regulation in the Legislative Council, which will enable the mutual recognition of judgments of civil and commercial courts in the two places to be implemented. After the lawsuit in Hong Kong is finished, it can be enforced in the mainland, and in turn, the judgment of the mainland can also be executed in Hong Kong. Implementation, which fully reflects the "one country, two systems".
In the Greater Bay Area, another particularly important thing is the Professional Judicial Examination in the Greater Bay Area.
Lawyers in Hong Kong can take exams in the Greater Bay Area, and lawyers in Hong Kong can strengthen cooperation with lawyers in the Mainland, so that Hong Kong can better integrate into the overall development of the country.
In fact, this is a very good opportunity for the legal profession in Hong Kong, and it also serves as a better experience for the legal profession in the Mainland to deal with foreign-related work.
Reporter Wang Shibo Yang Chengchen reports from Hong Kong
Responsible editor: [Lu Yan]