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Aggregated China Law Information

The Customs & Excise Department arrested seven people for smuggling almost 4,100kg in powdered formula today.

 

Five were arrested at Lo Wu Control Point with 20kg of formula. Two masterminds of the operation were also arrested in a Sheung Shui industrial building, when 4,050kg formula worth $1.1 million was seized.

 

The syndicate was moving the formula from a central store house in Hong Kong to the Mainland via the smugglers who travelled to the Mainland several times a day, bringing two tins or more of formula each time.

 

The three men and four women, aged 20 to 51, are all Hong Kong residents.

With a top quality legal profession comprising local and international law firms, an independent judiciary and modern legal infrastructure, Hong Kong is well placed to be the regional hub for legal services.

 

This was the message from Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen, speaking at the Hague Conference in the Netherlands today.

 

Mr Yuen said Hong Kong for years has been, and will remain, a cosmopolitan and international city, and is internationally known for its commitment to the rule of law and its independent judiciary.

 

"As confirmed in our Chief Executive's latest Policy Address, it is our Government's policy to enhance Hong Kong's status as a regional hub for legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia Pacific region.

 

"Such policy and attributes of Hong Kong would be of considerable value in assisting the Asia Pacific Regional Office of the Hague Conference, which was set up in Hong Kong last December, in the performance of its function and fulfilment of its objective of harmonising private international law."

 

Mr Yuen said the Hague Conference has become a global forum representative of the international community in all important aspects concerning private international law.

 

The establishment of the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Hong Kong is a logical and desirable development in the history of the Hague Conference, he added.

 

Noting there are vast diversities among the jurisdictions within the Asia Pacific region, Mr Yuen said the Hague Conventions, which bridge different cultures and legal traditions, are very useful in providing a common framework for legal co-operation.

 

Upon his arrival in the Hague yesterday, Mr Yuen met a group of Hong Kong students studying in the Netherlands, and briefed them on Hong Kong's latest developments.

 

He also met with Hague Conference Secretary General Hans van Loon, and visited the Permanent Court of Arbitration today.

 

He will call on the Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Chen Xu before returning to Hong Kong tomorrow.

Chief Executive C Y Leung today endorsed four senior appointments to the Court of Final Appeal, as advised by the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission.

 

The recommendations are for Justice Joseph Fok to become a permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal from October 21, for Justice Patrick Chan to become a non-permanent Hong Kong judge of the Court of Final Appeal upon his retirement from the office of permanent judge also on October 21, and for James Spigelman and William Gummow to be made non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions of the Court of Final Appeal.

 

All appointments will be made under Basic Law Article 88, and are subject to Legislative Council endorsement.

 

On Justice Fok's appointment, Mr Leung said: "Mr Justice Fok is an outstanding lawyer who has considerable experience in handling civil (including constitutional) cases and criminal cases. He is a judge of eminent standing and reputation."

 

On Justice Chan's appointment, he said: "He has been instrumental in promoting the use of Chinese in judicial proceedings. He would be an invaluable addition to the list of non-permanent Hong Kong judges having regard to his long established judicial experience in the Court of Final Appeal."

 

On the appointments of Messrs Spigelman and Gummow, he said: "Mr Spigelman has been the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Mr Gummow has been a Justice of the High Court of Australia. They are judges of considerable eminent standing and reputation. I am confident they will be a great asset to the Court of Final Appeal."

 

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma welcomed the Mr Leung's acceptance of the recommendations, saying the Government will next seek Legislative Council endorsement.

 

He said the appointment of Messrs Spigelman and Gummow will increase the number of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions from 10 to 12, providing greater flexibility in dealing with the Court of Final Appeal's caseload.