Security Law Doesn't Worry Middle East: Horace Cheung

Deputy justice minister Horace Cheung on Thursday said political and business leaders he met in the Middle East are not concerned by Hong Kong's national security law, adding that business leaders are trying to seize investment opportunities in the SAR.

The official is visiting Dubai along with Chief Executive John Lee for the last leg of their week-long trip to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Asked if people he met were concerned the national security law would affect the business environment in Hong Kong, Cheung said their friends in the Middle East were able to make an objective judgement on their own, and they were not easily affected by inaccurate information.

"Nobody asked me about the national security law. They asked me about arbitration and mediation, they asked me something about the common law system, they asked me how the Hong Kong legal system can facilitate their country to set up companies in Hong Kong. So in my experience here, that is not their concern," he said.

Cheung told media that investment projects in the Middle East from mainland China, like those under the Belt and Road initiative, will offer opportunities for legal professionals from the SAR since they are familiar with mainland policies.

He said authorities will try to facilitate the development of the legal profession in the Middle East, adding they need to promote Hong Kong more as an arbitration centre.

"We have the best service, we have the best legal talents. Especially if one of the contracting parties is from mainland China, and one is from the Middle East, then Hong Kong will be the best to serve both as the arbitrator."