Sun Zhenping, head of the Political Department of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), led a delegation on a visit to Hong Kong and Macao from Sept 20 to 24 at the invitation of the judicial authorities of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao SAR.

During the visit, Sun met separately with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR John Lee Ka-chiu and Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Sam Hou Fai.

Sun said the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period is crucial for advancing China’s modernization drive and the great cause of national rejuvenation. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan sets out important arrangements for promoting the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, creating major historical opportunities for the two regions to consolidate and enhance their development strengths, better integrate into and serve the country’s overall development, and achieve high-quality development, he noted.

Sun said the SPC fully supports Hong Kong and Macao in leveraging their unique advantages and important roles under the framework of “one country, two systems” with the support of the motherland and close links to the rest of the world. He stressed the importance of continuing to deepen judicial and legal exchanges between the mainland and the two regions, strengthening cooperation in the cultivation of foreign-related legal professionals, and contributing to the country’s broader efforts to strengthen the rule of law in foreign-related affairs.

He also expressed support for Hong Kong and Macao in actively engaging in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. He called on the two regions to capitalize on their respective strengths to meet the country’s needs, achieving greater development of their own while contributing to the country’s overall development.

During his stay in Hong Kong, Sun also met with Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR, and Paul Lam Ting-kwok, secretary for justice of the HKSAR government. He also visited City University of Hong Kong.

In Macao, Sun held talks with Song Man Lei, president of the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao SAR; Wong Sio Chak, secretary for administration and justice of the Macao SAR government; Andre Cheong Weng Chon, president of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR; and Tong Hio Fong, procurator-general of the Public Prosecutions Office of the Macao SAR. Sun also visited the University of Macao.