The society’s president, Roden Tong, is currently on a visit to Qatar and Kuwait as part of an SAR and mainland delegation to the Middle East, led by Chief Executive John Lee.
Tong was received by representatives of Qatar’s Investment and Trade Court and the International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre on Sunday.
Delegates from both institutions previously paid a visit to the Law Society in Hong Kong.
“They actually showed us the court system in here, and also we tried to explain to them about our common law system,” Tong told RTHK.
“We also explained to them about the Greater Bay Area. Now, Hong Kong lawyers, in addition to having common law jurisdictions, if we actually pass the examinations in the Greater Bay Area, we literally have dual qualifications … [to] practise in the Greater Bay Area, and can also understand about the civil law system.”
The Law Society president revealed plans to sign memoranda of understanding with the Qatar Lawyers Association and the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration, before continuing his visit in Kuwait.
Asked about Hong Kong’s status as a super connector, Tong said SAR lawyers have a big role to play.
“So basically in the Middle East countries, Belt and Road countries, they all have different cultural backgrounds,” he explained.
“[Hong Kong lawyers] can actually play as a very important springboard for the overseas jurisdictions and overseas counterparts to come to Hong Kong and actually do business with our mainland counterparts.”
