Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), met with a delegation led by Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in Beijing on May 22.

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), meets with a delegation led by Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), in Beijing on May 22. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang, also chief justice of the country, extended a warm welcome to the delegation. Noting that Hong Kong is in a new stage of transforming to prosperity, its judicial organs are the major guardians of the rule of law and shoulder key responsibilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and security, development interests and long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, as well as maintaining the constitutional order of the region as defined in the Constitution and the Basic Law. He believed that the judiciary in Hong Kong will uphold the spirit of the rule of law and continue to adjudicate cases in accordance with the law.

He introduced mainland courts' practices and experiences on topics of common interest. According to him, judicial exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong have deepened in recent years, yielding regular exchanges platforms such as annual visits of senior judicial officials and trial seminars. Multiple judicial assistance arrangements in civil and commercial matters have been signed, and a closer judicial assistance system between the mainland and Hong Kong under the "one country" principle has been established. He raised the hope of further strengthening judicial cooperation and jointly striving for a more steady and sound implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle in the judicial field.

Cheung extended his appreciation for the meeting and said that the judiciary in Hong Kong has always strictly performed their duties entrusted by the Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, safeguarded Hong Kong's national security and constitutional order in accordance with the law, and complied with the judicial oath to handle cases without fear or partiality. He hoped for further exchanges and cooperation with mainland courts, which will help Hong Kong judges better understand the country's legal system, history and culture, so they can better shoulder the mission of safeguarding the national security of and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

The two sides also exchanged views and reached consensus on deepening judicial exchanges and assistance, safeguarding the national security and constitutional order of Hong Kong in accordance with the law, supporting Hong Kong's integration into the overall development of the country and jointly promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.