Speech by Acting SJ at reception of National Day of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (English only) (with photo)
******************************************************************************************
Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the reception of National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today (September 23):
Your Excellency Mr Hamad Aljebreen (Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Hong Kong), Deputy Commissioner Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. I’m pleased to be here tonight, in celebration of the national day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Tonight’s gathering is also a welcome opportunity to meet, once again, with the Consul General and members of the Saudi business community.
As the Consul General noted, the past year, and more, has seen remarkable growth in co-operation between our two economies, governments and peoples.
And those welcome ties continue to grow and diversify. Just earlier this month, His Excellency Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, conducted an official visit to Hong Kong, during which he met with a variety of senior officials of our government.
Hong Kong is the natural springboard for Saudi companies looking to the Greater Bay Area, and beyond, for opportunity.
Next month, Cathay Pacific begins a thrice-weekly service between Hong Kong and Riyadh. That cheering link can only expand our rising business, trade and cultural exchanges.
I’m pleased to say, we’re making progress, too, in legal co-operation. In March this year, I led a delegation of the legal sector to Riyadh to attend Riyadh International Disputes Week to share Hong Kong’s strengths in legal and dispute resolution services. The Secretary for Justice was also in Riyadh, in May this year, meeting with senior Saudi justice officials. His visit followed the signing, in April, of an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) strengthening co-operation between the two places on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution. The arrangement underscores Hong Kong’s status as an international legal and dispute-resolution hub.
Ladies and gentlemen, that barely touches on the wide-ranging initiatives bringing us together, working to create a rewarding, far-reaching future for us all.
Consul General, over the years, you and your colleagues have taken an important role in forging closer economic ties and cultural exchanges with Hong Kong. For that, I would like to express my gratitude for your contribution to making the ties stronger.
This evening, may I extend my best wishes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its people, on its national day, and to our enduring ties and friendship. And may I propose a toast: “To the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.
Thank you.