The Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (“HCCH”) and the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Government, supported by the Asian Academy of International Law, are pleased to host the first international conference marking the adoption of the 2019 HCCH Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial matters (“2019 HCCH Judgments Convention”), which will take place in Room N201, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on 9 September 2019.

The 2019 HCCH Judgments Convention will offer parties in civil or commercial matters a viable cross-border dispute settlement regime, since civil and commercial judgments emanating from national courts covered by it will be capable of being recognised and enforced in its Contracting States.

The Conference is the first global conference to promote the 2019 HCCH Judgments Convention. Many of the speakers are experts in private international law who have also participated in its negotiations. The Conference, to be conducted in English, will provide an international forum for experts and interested parties to exchange views on the various aspects of the Convention, including its origin, salient features, benefits to parties and its implications on cross-border trade and dispute resolution. It will thereby help promoting deeper understanding and greater participation of the international community in the Convention.

The Conference will be open to any interested parties including lawyers, in-house counsel, and Chambers of Commerce. Participation will be free of charge but advance online registration is required. 6 CPD points have been accredited to the conference by the Law Society of Hong Kong. Further information including speakers, the programme and the registration process can be found in the dedicated website <http://www.hcchjudgmentshk.org/>. The number of participants will be limited, and registrations on the website should be made as soon as possible and in any case before 31 August 2019. Please note that all participants will have to make their own travel and hotel arrangements and cover all related costs. Enquiries may be sent to Mr Frank Poon, Representative of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific by e-mail: fp@hcch.net.