Hong Kong, 26 March 2026: Colin Cohen has welcomed Hong Kong’s increasingly close ties with Shanghai and Hangzhou after being part of a Department of Justice legal delegation which visited the two Mainland cities for high-level talks.
The group, led by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, attended a series of meetings to promote Hong Kong professional legal services and learn more about the needs and aspirations of Mainland enterprises seeking to expand overseas.
“The trip was hugely informative and beneficial for all parties. It allowed us to explain the distinctive advantages of Hong Kong as an international financial and trade centre with our common law system and strong talent pool. At the same time, we learned a great deal about the rapid development of Shanghai and Hangzhou and how we can achieve closer co-operation,” says Colin, Senior Partner in BC&C.
“Shanghai has long been the Mainland’s commercial and financial hub. Hong Kong is one of its major export markets and we are also its largest source of foreign investment. Hangzhou, meanwhile, is home to some of the world’s leading tech brands and is driving advancement in e-commerce, cloud computing and fintech, objectives which are closely aligned with Hong Kong’s policy goals.”
The delegation comprised some 40 representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Bar Association, and local and international law firms. Discussions were held with senior Mainland officials including Director-General of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice Gu Quan, Vice President of the Shanghai High People’s Court Wang Guangxian and Vice Mayor of Shanghai Lu Shan. In Hangzhou, the group had an audience with Zhejiang Province Vice Governor Yang Qingjiu before going on to meet other senior officials.
Adds Colin: “We covered an array of topics relating to Mainland enterprises expanding overseas, such as legal issues in using Hong Kong as a fundraising platform, regulation of legal risks in cross-boundary transactions, and the handling of foreign-related commercial disputes. In all, it was an invaluable exercise. I’m grateful to the Department of Justice for the invitation to take part and to our Mainland hosts for their knowledge sharing and wonderful hospitality.”
Colin was previously part of a Department of Justice delegation which visited Guangzhou and Shenzhen in December 2024 to foster closer ties with Greater Bay Area legal institutions and commercial enterprises.
