Building on our existing relations from last year, the China Committee has once again been working closely with the Legal Department and the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR (“CLO”). In the past year, various training courses and trip invitations have been extended to FIDA members, to maintain contact with Mainland women lawyer bodies such as those from Shenzhen and Beijing, and further encourage knowledge exchange and the sharing of experiences between Hong Kong women lawyers, and those from Mainland China.

Seminars held covered a plethora of topics. These ranged from the general macro policies and economic situation of China, to focused areas such as the legal services offered in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, discussions and exchange of legal advice between the Hong Kong and Mainland China’s legal profession, and the provision of cross-border cooperation between small and medium-sized law firms. The 3-4 days seminars were also held at prominent universities in China, such as the Peking University in Beijing, and the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai.

This year, the CLO further extended their invitation to FIDA members to a visiting tour to Guizhou (貴州) China in May 2017. With the aim to facilitate FIDA members on deepening their understanding of Chinese history, culture and ethnic customs, in addition to the development of women and the local economy, participants had the opportunity to visit local women’s organizations of the Guizhou Province, such as the Provincial Women’s Federation (省婦 ). They were also able to explore the local service points of the Lifeline Express Foundation (貴州省健康快 基 會服務 點).

Separately, preparatory work was being carried out between the China Committee and the women lawyers’ bodies in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing later this year and early next year.