PUTRAJAYA: The recent working visit to Hong Kong by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has successfully opened a new chapter of collaboration in the legal sector.

The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU) said the two-day visit followed the passing of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2024 on July 16 in Parliament, further cementing Malaysia’s status as a premier centre for international arbitration and dispute resolution.

Azalina held high-level discussions with senior government officials and representatives from several leading arbitration institutions to deepen professional ties and promote the exchange of knowledge, it said in a statement.

The visit commenced with a courtesy call on the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee Ka-Chiu, where both parties discussed the long-standing relationship between Malaysia and Hong Kong, particularly focusing on strengthening legal sector cooperation as both regions stand as prominent hubs for alternative dispute resolution in Asia.

This was followed by meetings with Hong Kong’s Deputy Secretary for Justice, Horace Cheung Kwok-Kwan, Secretary of the Hong Kong Law Reform Commission, Wesley Wong, and representatives from the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, BHEUU said.

It said Azalina also witnessed the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) Malaysia during her visit.

"This MoU embodies the shared vision of HKIAC and AIAC to enhance cooperation in the promotion of arbitration and capacity-building initiatives, serving the best interests of the global alternative dispute resolution community," read BHEUU's statement, reported Bernama.

Azalina also engaged with Hong Kong’s arbitration community, including the China Hong Kong Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and the Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation.

According to BHEUU, these engagements provided a platform to reaffirm Malaysia's commitment to upholding the principles and integrity of international arbitration, establishing appropriate regulations for third-party funding, emphasising the importance of ethics among arbitrators and sharing Malaysia's experience in dealing with the fraudulent Sulu claims through international arbitration.

As part of the working visit, BHEUU said Azalina also launched a new informational video on the Sulu case for the Malaysian diaspora in Hong Kong.

"This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard Malaysia’s sovereignty and interests against fraudulent Sulu claims, while the Madani government continues to pursue the full and final annulment of the fraudulent Sulu award," the statement said.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/09/azalina039s-hong-kong-visit-ushers-in-new-era-of-legal-collaboration