The Eighth Seminar of Senior Judges from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao opened on Oct 13 in Hong Kong under the theme of challenges and opportunities in judicial work in the new era. 

Present at the seminar were Zhang Jun, president of the China Judges Association; Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR); Song Man Lei, president of the Court of Final Appeal of Macao SAR; and Chen Tzung-chen, chairman of the Chinese Society of Law of Taiwan. 

Zhang Jun, president of the China Judges Association, attends the Eighth Seminar of Senior Judges from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao, and delivers a speech. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Addressing the opening ceremony, Zhang pointed out that while the basic global trends towards peace, development, and cooperation for win-win results remain unchanged, new threats and challenges continue to emerge. The judiciaries must proactively adapt to demands for security, development, people's livelihoods and governance, thereby contributing towards building China into a great country and achieving rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, he said.

Zhang elaborated on the main efforts of the people's courts to serve the overall development of the country and uphold justice for the people, and shared the practices and experiences of how they support and serve Chinese modernization through modernization of judicial work.

The judicial and legal sectors across the Strait, as well as in Hong Kong and Macao, should collectively sustain the outstanding traditions of Chinese legal culture and continue to uphold the rule of law principles - prioritizing the people, ensuring fairness and justice, punishing wrongdoers while rewarding good behavior, and integrating moral values with the law - thus addressing the contemporary challenges, forging greater consensus on the rule of law, and pooling their respective strengths for development, Zhang said.

Zhang expressed his hope that the judicial and legal sectors on both sides of the Strait, as well as in Hong Kong and Macao, would keep abreast of historical developments, uphold the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, stay true to the original intentions of the seminar, and continue to deepen cooperation and create innovative practices in the judicial field under the principle of "one country, two systems". 

In this way, they would work together to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, promote peaceful cross-Strait relations, and work in unity to improve the well-being of all compatriots and contribute to the great cause of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, he added.

In his speech, Cheung noted that in a rapidly changing world, the Hong Kong judiciary faces both challenges and opportunities. Under the premise of upholding the rule of law and judicial independence, the Hong Kong judiciary has been actively adapting and responding to changing circumstances, he noted.

He highlighted that the Hong Kong judiciary has prioritized streamlining procedures and strengthening case management, advancing alternative dispute resolution, as well as strengthening cooperation with the mainland and other jurisdictions. They have also been accelerating, but with prudence, the application of judicial technology, and keen to seize opportunities arising from institutional and technological innovation, he added. 

Courts across the Strait and in Hong Kong and Macao should draw inspiration from one another, pool their wisdom, and jointly enhance their efficiency and capability in their respective jurisdictions, thereby advancing the rule of law, he said.

Song said in her address that practitioners of judicial work bear a significant responsibility of upholding social fairness and justice, as well as safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people. Facing the challenges and opportunities of the new era, it is essential to maintain an open mindset, proactively explore innovation, and continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of judicial work, she added.

Song expressed her hope that the seminar would inject new strength into judicial cooperation and exchanges across the Strait, and between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao, making new contributions towards the judicial progress of the Chinese nation.

While addressing the event, Chen noted that through the seminar, the judicial and legal sectors across the Strait and in Hong Kong and Macao can strengthen exchanges and collaboration, seeking to build more pragmatic and appropriate mechanisms and regulations for effectively addressing judicial issues, adapt to social changes, and collectively promote the progress and prosperity of the Chinese nation.

This seminar, held biennially on a rotating basis, has successfully convened seven times. It serves as a vital platform for promoting the inheritance and innovation of Chinese judicial civilization and advancing  of the development of the rule of law, contributing judicial strength to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao.

During the seminar, about 160 representatives from the judicial and legal sectors across the Strait, as well as from Hong Kong and Macao, held discussions on topics such as building diversified civil and commercial dispute resolution mechanisms, optimizing civil and commercial court procedures, application of artificial intelligence in the judicial field, and practice and development of the doctrine of precedent.  

The Eighth Seminar of Senior Judges from across the Strait, Hong Kong and Macao opens in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Prior to the opening ceremony, Zhang held separate meetings with delegates from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.