Mainland, HK begin mutual recognition of legal judgments

Civil and commercial case rulings can now be enforced reciprocally

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland have implemented reciprocal recognition and enforcement of each other's judgments in civil and commercial court cases, which high-ranking legal officials from both sides agreed will greatly boost the city's standing as an international legal hub.

Also, Hong Kong is expected to establish a standing interfacing platform with the Supreme People's Court very soon, to take forward the research and practical work on judicial and legal matters relating to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and address issues stemming from differences in the legal systems, an official from the SPC told a roomful of about 300 people attending a high-level legal forum on the reciprocal arrangement on Monday in Hong Kong.

The Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR — one of nine arrangements so far regarding mutual legal assistance in civil and commercial matters on both sides of the boundary — came into force on Monday.