| Hakim Hayat |
RENOWNED Bruneian international barrister and arbitrator, Professor Dr Colin Ong gave a high profile talk in Hong Kong recently, discussing how legal instruments can help accelerate existing trade mechanisms in the region.
Dr Ong gave an overview of the ASEAN Economic Community and its legal instruments including the 2010 Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanism; the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (RCEP) between ASEAN and the People’s Republic of China; The ASEAN-China Investment Agreement 2009; and the Agreement on Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the Framework Agreement signed between the ASEAN and China in 2004.
He also discussed proposals on how to advance the dispute settlement mechanisms to improve business to business dealings between China and ASEAN and also to accelerate the advancement of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) as part of China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative in an effective fair and neutral manner.
Dr Ong touched upon the Framework Agreement on Deepening Guangdong-HK-Macao Cooperative Region in the Development of Hong Kong’s Bay Area as well as important cultural differences that exist in international arbitration between parties from different legal traditions.
He emphasised the importance of a neutral venue with appropriate rules of arbitration that could attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) and build more commerce within the region.
At the conclusion of Dr Ong’s talk, there was a 25-minute panel discussion from the leaders of arbitration centres of ASEAN member countries with Dr Ong and interactive discussions with the attendees.
The Vice President of the Arbitration Association Brunei Darussalam (AABD), Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Negara Pengiran Anak Haji Puteh ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, also joined the panel session together with the other heads of ASEAN arbitration bodies.
The talk, held at the Justice Place Conference Hall in Hong Kong, was organised by the Government of Hong Kong’s Department of Justice. Dr Ong, who is also the President of the AABD was introduced by Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice, Teresa Cheng.
Dr Ong’s talk was attended by senior Hong Kong Government officials including Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau; consul-generals of the ASEAN member countries, consul general from other countries, heads of arbitration bodies, arbitrators, academics; lawyers from ASEAN member countries, and lawyers from the Hong Kong Bar and the Law Society of Hong Kong.
Dr Ong is a member of the Brunei Darussalam, England and Singapore Bars and last year became the first lawyer from an ASEAN member country to have been elevated to the title of Queen’s Counsel (QC) of England and Wales.
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