Hong Kong to Enhance International Status as Legal and Cultural Hub

Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, outlined plans to strengthen the city's international advantages in the 2026 Policy Address. The government aims to deepen Hong Kong's development as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, a regional intellectual property trading centre, and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Key initiatives include supporting the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, advancing the International Commercial Court, and expanding the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. The government will also strengthen the original grant patent system, introduce pilot facilitation measures for patent applications, and launch the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Academy. In the cultural sector, the WestK Performing Arts Centre will open next year, featuring four performance venues, and the WestK Academy will offer courses on Chinese arts and heritage conservation. The government will inject $200 million into the Arts & Sport Development Fund to promote sustainable development of the performing arts.