Legal Committee

We were pleased to welcome Mark Woo, CDSM, Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Excise, Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department (C&ED), to the Legal Committee’s committee on 22 June.    Joined by members from across the Chamber’s committees, the sharing session provided a valuable platform to discuss the evolving role of the Customs and Excise Department in facilitating secure and efficient trade while supporting the resilience of Hong Kong’s businesses and supply chains. Mr Woo highlighted key developments shaping the trade and logistics landscape, including emerging opportunities from the Low-Altitude Economy and the continued growth in cross-boundary passenger and cargo flows across land, sea and air transport networks. He also touched on matters relating to regulatory compliance, trade facilitation and the future of customs enforcement in an increasingly digital environment. 

At the same meeting, Gill Meller was reelected Legal Committee Chairman, whilst Brian Ho and Rita Tang were reelected as Vice-Chairmen, respectively.   

The Chamber was pleased to host its first Town Hall Forum of the year on 12 May at the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), bringing together over 50 members for an in depth exchange with its Secretary General, the Honourable Professor Teresa Cheng, GBM, GBS, SC, JP.

The session opened with welcome remarks by Chamber Chairman Ms Agnes Chan, followed by a candid briefing by Secretary-General Cheng and a lively Q&A session that was moderated by Gill Meller, Chairman of the Chamber’s Legal Committee. Discussions explored the evolving role of mediation in global dispute resolution, the mission and vision of the IOMed, and the implications of its presence in Hong Kong for corporates navigating an increasingly complex international landscape.

Participants also took part in a guided tour of selected facilities at the IOMed’s headquarters in the historic Old Wan Chai Police Station. The Chamber extends its sincere thanks to the IOMed team for warmly opening their venue and hosting the session.

We look forward to supporting the continued development of Hong Kong’s role as an international hub for dispute resolution and global business.

The Chamber’s Legal Committee convened its first meeting of the year on 25 February at the revamped headquarters, with discussions focused on risk management and the implications of shifting geopolitical trends.

As part of the committee’s topic-focused agenda, members received a comprehensive briefing from Control Risks representatives Stephen Norris, Partner, and Tom Newell, Associate Director, on how intensifying US-China competition and broader geopolitical changes are contributing to a more unpredictable operating environment for Hong Kong’s business community.

The speakers outlined strategies for legal executives to build practical geopolitical resilience, emphasising the importance of scenario planning, structured risk assessment, and trigger monitoring. These tools, they noted, were essential for anticipating change and managing uncertainty in an increasingly volatile strategic landscape.