Maurellet leads HKBA delegation to Beijing, aims to deepen legal dialogue with central authorities

Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA) Chairman José Antonio Maurellet SC will lead a delegation to Beijing next Monday in the Association’s first official visit to the capital following the Tai Po fire and the Legislative Council election.

It will be Maurellet’s first trip to Beijing since assuming the chairmanship. He noted that the central government places strong emphasis on Hong Kong’s legal community under the “one country, two systems” principle.

The delegation will visit Beijing from next Monday (Dec 15) to Thursday (Dec 18), meeting with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the NPC Standing Committee, the Ministry of Justice and other bodies.

Maurellet said the HKBA has traditionally conducted such visits annually, and each trip involves “professional and sincere exchanges” on legal issues of mutual concern.

“The Bar Association hopes to continue this dialogue to directly reflect important legal views to the central government,” he said.

The delegation will include more than a dozen members, ranging from senior counsel to junior barristers with fewer than seven years’ experience.

Maurellet said bringing a mix of seniority and professional backgrounds allows the HKBA to present a wide spectrum of perspectives, which he described as essential to the long-term continuity of the Association’s engagement with Beijing.

Addressing the recent tragedy at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Maurellet said that if the subject is raised during their meetings, the Association stands ready to offer its professional views on potential legal reforms aimed at strengthening building safety regulation.

He highlighted that more than 300 HKBA members have registered to provide legal assistance to affected residents, alongside widespread financial donations. “We hope to contribute through our professional expertise,” he said.

Maurellet previously visited Beijing as HKBA Vice-Chairman and has lectured on common law at institutions including Peking University and the East China University of Political Science and Law. He is also an active participant in international conferences on foreign-related rule of law, arbitration and mediation in the mainland.

In addition, he is known for promoting Hong Kong’s common law system and its strengths in international arbitration and mediation across jurisdictions such as the UK, France and Italy.