香港律政司司长
二○二五年法律年度开启典礼致辞
香港律政司司长林定国资深大律师
终审法院首席法官、各位司法机构人员、大律师公会主席、律师会会长、各位嘉宾、女士们、先生们∶
在「一国两制」的原则下，香港的普通法制度无疑是香港最重要和最独特的制度优势之一。
坚持「一国两制」原则
二○二四年十二月二十日，习近平主席在庆祝澳门回归祖国二十五周年大会暨澳门特别行政区第六届政府就职典礼上的讲话中指出，「一国两制」是保持香港、澳门长期繁荣稳定的好制度，是服务强国建设、民族复兴伟业的好制度，是实现不同社会制度和平共处、合作共赢的好制度，因此我们必须长期坚持「一国两制」原则。
《政府租契续期条例》（第648章）已于二○二四年七月五日生效，是证明「一国两制」原则不会改变的重要法律措施。根据该条例，除了少数例外，二○二四年七月五日或之后到期而无权续期的政府租契，可藉该条例的实施续期五十年而无须补缴地价，意味着这些租契的年期可延长至二○四七年之后。新机制消除了所谓「二○四七年最后期限」的疑虑，让物业业主、投资者和金融机构安心。
习主席还在该篇讲话中指出，「一国两制」体现了和平、包容、开放、共享四个重要价值理念，这四个价值理念不限于中国，而是放诸四海皆准。香港的普通法制度正正是这些重要价值理念的体现，不仅符合香港特区和中国的利益，也符合国际社会的利益。
和平
让我从和平说起。此刻在世界其他地方发生的事件提醒我们，和平及安全不能视为理所当然。和平及安全绝对是法治的基本要素。《维护国家安全条例》于二○二四年三月制定，履行了香港已经拖延了超过二十六年，在《基本法》第二十三条下的宪制责任。该条例旨在确保我们今天得来不易的和平及稳定能够并且将会得到维护，使我们能够专注于社会和经济发展。除非安全首先受到保障，否则香港不可能在「一国两制」的原则下，充分发挥其独特优势，继续作为国际金融、航运及贸易中心。
该条例第二条明确指出，条例所依据的其中一项原则是尊重和保障人权，依法保护根据《基本法》、《公民权利和政治权利国际公约》和《经济、社会与文化权利的国际公约》适用于香港的有关规定所赋予的权利和自由。在参考其他主要普通法司法管辖区的相关法理观点后，我们在条例加入了旨在落实这项原则的详细条文。
必须牢记的是，国家安全法的执行受行使独立司法权的香港法院监督。尽管普通法早已确立司法机关须尊重行政机关对国家安全的评估这个概念，但上诉法庭在二○二四年五月的一项重要判决中裁定，法院在尊重行政机关的同时，至少在三个范畴下有资格自行作出判断：第一，涉及受措施影响人士的基本权利；第二，涉及公平审讯规定的争议；第三，涉及司法公开的问题。鉴于香港司法机构在维护国家安全方面具有重要职能，任何人威吓审理国家安全案件的法官或以任何方式干预相关司法程序，都不可能是真正关心香港的法治。
和平意味着以和平方式解决争端，这是法治的另一个基本要素。香港一向积极推动和促进以和平方式解决本地及国际纠纷。有关《关于建立国际调解院的公约》的谈判已于去年十月在香港完成，而该公约的签署仪式将于今年在香港举行。国际调解院将成为全球首个致力以调解解决种种国际纠纷的政府间国际法律组织。最重要的是，参与谈判的缔约国已同意把国际调解院的总部设于香港。把旧湾仔警署改建为国际调解院总部的工程将于今年年中完成，预计可于今年年底开始运作。
包容和开放
谈到包容和开放，香港司法制度其中一个最独特之处，就是根据《基本法》的规定，法官可从其他普通法司法管辖区聘用。去年终审法院部分外籍非常任法官以不同理由离任，引起公众关注。但不容忽略的是，前英国最高法院院长廖柏嘉勋爵已同意自二○二四年三月一日起延长任期三年；前澳洲联邦法院首席大法官欧颂律法官自二○二四年五月二十四日起获委任，任期三年；而早于一九九八年首次获委任、历来任期最长的外籍非常任法官贺辅明勋爵最近也同意自今年一月十二日起再续任三年。
外国知名法官参与终审法院的工作，不单香港受惠，对所有普通法适用地区也有好处。让我举一个最近的例子，终审法院在二○二四年十二月二十三日作出了一项标志性判决，有关判词由贺辅明勋爵撰写，其他法官亦表同意，解决了一个极其重要和困难的法律问题，即追讨代理人违反受信责任而获得的财产的申索是否受《受托人条例》（第29章）中的条文所订的六年时效期限限制。该条文根据英国《时效法》的一项条文制订，许多其他普通法司法管辖区也有相同条文。该项终审法院判决已成为这方面最权威的法律陈述，无疑与其他普通法司法管辖区有关，并且适用于这些司法管辖区。
然而，令人十分遗憾的是，有主要来自海外的人士试图向外籍法官施加不当压力，要求他们与香港法院撇清关系。这些企图不仅对香港的法治构成威胁，也波及普通法的整体发展。政府会全力支持司法机构日后继续致力委任和保留外籍非常任法官的工作。
分享
接下来我想分享的是，香港一直是为不同司法管辖区法律专业人员提供能力建设和经验分享的国际中心。让我再举一个例子。有「国际商事仲裁界奥林匹克」之称的国际商事仲裁理事会（ICCA）于二○二四年五月五至八日在香港举行第二十六届大会，吸引了来自七十多个司法管辖区的一千四百多名代表参加，出席人数是ICCA大会历年之冠。
为加强法律专业人员能力建设方面的工作，律政司于二○二四年十一月成立香港国际法律人才培训学院，由专家委员会为学院提供意见。委员会成员包括海牙国际私法会议秘书长及国际统一私法协会秘书长等国际法律专家。
以我们今年在这方面的计划为例。气候变化是人类目前最大的挑战之一。有见及此，律政司和联合国国际贸易法委员会将于二○二五年三月合办一个有关国际贸易法和气候变化的会议。
总结
香港政府会继续竭尽所能，善用香港的普通法制度，在本地和国际间维护和推广和平、包容、开放、共享的重要价值理念，但是，政府不能，也不会独力行事。司法机构、律政司和两个独立法律专业团体是香港法律制度的四大支柱。尽管角色和职能不同，但我们都有同样强烈的使命感，以及坚定维护和加强香港法治的决心。我深信，我们团结一心，定能克服日后的任何挑战。
最后，谨祝各位与家人在新的一年健康快乐。农历新年快到了，谨此祝愿各位蛇年大吉！
SJ's speech at Ceremonial
Opening of Legal Year 2025
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2025 today (January 20):
Chief Justice, members of the Judiciary, Chairman of the Bar Association, President of the Law Society, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
The common law system of Hong Kong is undoubtedly one of the most important and distinctive institutional strengths of Hong Kong under the principle of "one country, two systems".
Adherence to the principle of "one country, two systems"
In President Xi Jinping's speech delivered on December 20, 2024, at the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, he stated that "one country, two systems" is a good system that sustains the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao; it is a good system that facilitates endeavours to build China into a great country and achieve national rejuvenation; it is a good system for ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit between different social systems; and, therefore, it must be adhered to in the long run.
As an important legal measure proving that the principle of "one country, two systems" will not change, on July 5, 2024, the Extension of Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 648) has come into operation. Under that Ordinance, subject to a few exceptions, Government leases which would expire on or after July 5, 2024, without any right of renewal may be renewed by operation of law for 50 years without any additional premium, which means that the term of these leases can be extended beyond 2047. The new mechanism has removed doubts with regard to the so-called "2047 deadline" and brought peace of mind to property owners, investors and financial institutions.
In the same speech delivered in Macao, President Xi also pointed out that four crucial values are embodied in the principle of "one country, two systems", namely, peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing - they are relevant to not only China but also the whole world. These important values are indeed manifested by the common law system of Hong Kong, which serve not only the interests of the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) and China but also the international community.
Peace
Let me start with peace. Events taking place in other parts of the world at this very moment remind us that peace and security cannot be taken for granted. Peace and security are indeed essential elements of the rule of law. The enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in March 2024 discharged Hong Kong's constitutional duty under Article 23 of the Basic law, which had remained unfulfilled for over 26 years. The Ordinance aims to ensure that the hard-won peace and stability that we enjoy today can and will be preserved so that we can focus on social and economic development. Unless security is first safeguarded, it will be impossible for Hong Kong to utilise its unique strengths at full strength under the principle of "one country, two systems", and serve as an international financial, shipping and trade centre.
Section 2 of the Ordinance expressly states that one of the principles on which the Ordinance is based is that human rights are to be respected and protected, the rights and freedoms enjoyed under the Basic Law, the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong are to be protected in accordance with the law. Detailed provisions, which aim at giving effect to this principle, have been put into the Ordinance after consulting the relevant jurisprudence in other leading common law jurisdictions.
It is vital to bear in mind that the enforcement of the national security law is subject to the supervision of the Hong Kong court exercising its independent judicial power. While the concept of judicial deference to the executive's assessment on national security is well established under common law, the Court of Appeal in an important judgment decided in May 2024 that there are at least three areas where the court has been held to be qualified to make its own judgment while giving the executive deference: first, where a fundamental right of the person affected by the measure is engaged; second, where the requirement of a fair trial is in issue; and third, where the question of open justice is raised. Having regard to the important function of the Hong Kong Judiciary in this respect, anyone who intimidates judges handling national security cases or interferes with the relevant judicial proceedings in whatsoever manner cannot be genuinely concerned about the rule of law in Hong Kong.
Peace entails resolving disputes by peaceful means, which is yet another essential ingredient of the rule of law. Hong Kong is keen on promoting and facilitating the resolution of not only domestic but also international disputes by peaceful means. Negotiations on the Convention on the Establishment of The International Organization for Mediation were concluded in Hong Kong in October last year, and the signing ceremony for the Convention will be held in Hong Kong this year. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) will be the world's first intergovernmental international legal organisation dedicated to resolving international disputes of different natures through mediation. Most importantly, the state parties to the negotiation have agreed that the headquarters of IoMed shall be established in Hong Kong. The conversion of the old Wan Chai Police Station into the headquarters of the IoMed will be completed in mid-2025 in anticipation that it may start operation by the end of this year.
Inclusiveness and openness
Moving on to inclusiveness and openness, one of the most distinctive characteristics of Hong Kong's judicial system is that, as provided by the Basic Law, judges may be recruited from other common law jurisdictions. The departure of some foreign Non-Permanent Judges (NPJs) of the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) on different grounds in 2024 has attracted public attention. But one must not overlook that Lord Neuberger, the former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, has agreed to extend his term for three years from March 1, 2024; and Justice Allsop, the former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, was appointed for a term of three years from May 24, 2024. And most recently, Lord Hoffmann, the longest serving foreign NPJ first appointed back in 1998, has agreed to be reappointed for another three years from January 12 this year.
The participation of eminent foreign judges in the work of the CFA does not only benefit Hong Kong, but also the common law world as a whole. Let me give a most recent example. On December 23, 2024, the CFA delivered a landmark judgment written by Lord Hoffmann, with whom other judges agreed, which resolved an extremely important and difficult legal question of whether a claim to recover property obtained by an agent breaching his fiduciary duty is subject to a six-year limitation period by a provision in the Trustee Ordinance (Cap. 29). This statutory provision was based on a provision in the United Kingdom Limitation Act, and many other common law jurisdictions have the same provision. The judgment of the CFA has now become the most authoritative statement of the law in this respect, which will undoubtedly be relevant to and applied in other common law jurisdictions.
It is most regrettable that there were attempts mainly from overseas to exert improper pressures on foreign judges to dissociate themselves from the Hong Kong court. These attempts pose a threat to not only the rule of law in Hong Kong but also the development of common law in general. The Government is in full support of the Judiciary in its continuous efforts to appoint and retain foreign NPJs in future.
Sharing
Turning to sharing, Hong Kong has always been an international centre of capacity building and experience sharing among legal professionals from different jurisdictions. Again, let me give one example. The 26th Congress of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), known as the "Olympics of international commercial arbitration", was held between May 5 and 8, 2024, in Hong Kong. The Congress had attracted more than 1 400 delegates from over 70 jurisdictions, making it the best attended ICCA Congress ever.
To strengthen our efforts in this respect, the Department of Justice established the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy in November 2024. The Academy is advised by an expert committee, which consists of international legal experts such as the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), and the Secretary-General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT).
Let me give one example of our plan for this year in this respect. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that mankind is facing. In March 2025, the Department of Justice and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) will co-organise a conference on international trade law and climate change.
Conclusion
The Hong Kong Government will continue to do its best to utilise Hong Kong's common law system to uphold and promote the important values of peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing both locally and internationally. But the Government cannot, and is not, doing it alone. The Judiciary, the Department of Justice and the two independent legal professional bodies represent the four main pillars supporting Hong Kong's legal system. While we perform different roles and functions, we share the same strong sense of mission, and the same high degree of determination to maintain and enhance the rule of law in Hong Kong. I am confident that our solidarity would enable us to overcome whatever challenges that may lie ahead.
I wish to conclude by wishing you and your families a happy new year and, as the Chinese New Year is approaching, also a happy Chinese New Year of the Snake.
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