A document on judicial assistance over civil and commercial matters between courts in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong was signed between the Supreme People's Court (SPC) and Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Jan 18.

The document is the sixth judicial assistance arrangement between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong since 1997, and it covered the broadest range of matters.

The document includes 31 items covering aspects such as application for reciprocal recognition and enforcement, procedural mattersand methods and regulations pertaining to judicial assistance.

It also includes regulations related to intellectual property rights.

At the signing ceremony, Yang Wanming, vice-president of the SPC, said the number of disputes across the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong is growing as exchanges and cooperation increase.

Setting up regulations on mutual recognition of basic laws of the two parties plays a significant role in properly resolving disputes and promoting a sound and stable economic development in the two regions.

Yang pointed out that he hopes the judicial departments in the two regions will negotiate on aspects of judicial assistance such as security for costs in arbitration and cross-border bankruptcy.

Hong Kong Justice Chief Teresa Cheng said the document reflects the principle of "one country, two systems" and provides parties in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong with better and clearer judicial guidance.

Also present at the signing ceremony were staff members of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the SPC and the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.