Article and photos contributed by Kenneth Ang, Special Projects & International Liaison, Bar Council Secretariat
In September 2017, the Bar Council organised a market visit to Hong Kong to attend two main events. On Day 1 (11 Sept 2017), 10 Members of the Bar from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor Bahru and Penang participated in the Belt and Road Summit. Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, the Belt and Road Summit is an international flagship event organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (“HKTDC”). Working with the HKTDC Malaysia office, the Bar Council managed to secure a group fee which provided a discount of 85% from the Summit’s regular registration rate. The one–day Summit saw an attendance of more than 3,000 delegates from various countries.
Members of the Bar who attended the Summit had direct contact and networking opportunities with a specially arranged group of investors and corporations (from Shanghai) from construction, hotels, financial investment, real estate and urban planning.
On Day 2 (12 Sept 2017), the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Bar Council jointly organised a seminar on “Cross–border Trade and Investment Opportunities between Hong Kong and Malaysia under the Belt and Road Initiative”. This half–day event consisted of a panel discussion featuring Gan Ping Sieu, Member of the Malaysian Bar as a panellist; as well as a networking session that was attended by approximately 60 members from the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong–based Malaysian business entities and organisations, bank representatives, and trade associations including the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong & Macau). The event was graced by Tengku Dato’ Sirajuzzaman b Tengku Mohamed Ariffin, Consul–General of the Consulate General of Malaysia, Hong Kong who was also the keynote speaker; and Ezzwanee Ahmad, Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Malaysia, Hong Kong who acted a moderator for the panel discussion. The event on Day 2 was attended by 12 Members of the Malaysian Bar.
After the seminar on Day 2, the Law Society of Hong Kong arranged an official visit for the Malaysian Bar delegation, to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (“ICAC”). Members of the Bar had an eye–opening session at the ICAC learning about the Commission’s work, especially on how the Commission’s persistent work resulted in bringing down corruption in Hong Kong’s public service to almost zero today.
The Bar Council thanks the HKTDC (Hong Kong and Malaysia), the Law Society of Hong Kong and all Members of the Bar who participated in the market visit.