HKIAC Announcement

PRESS RELEASE

HKIAC Announces Deputy Secretary-General’s Departure for Important New Role and Appointment of New Beijing Chief Representative

After seven years with HKIAC, Dr Ling Yang, Deputy Secretary-General and Head of China Relations, will depart to take on the role of Director of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Office from 1 November 2024. Established by the Department of Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the office is mandated to develop Hong Kong as a capacity-building centre for domestic and international legal talents.

Dr Yang leaves behind a strong legacy and her contributions over the years have put HKIAC in good stead in pursuing new opportunities in Mainland China. One significant opportunity is the imminent opening of a new Beijing office. The Beijing office will be HKIAC’s third office outside of Hong Kong, following the establishment of the Seoul Office in 2013 and the Shanghai Office in 2015.

HKIAC has appointed Ms Xi Zhang as the Chief Representative of the new Beijing Office, effective 10 October 2024. Zhang joins from Sinochem Holdings Co. Ltd, where she spent more than two years overseeing international legal disputes for the Sinochem group. She will bring deep arbitration institutional knowledge and experience, having served as a Senior Counsel in the international case management and business development division of the Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Center from 2015 to 2021. Ms Zhang is qualified to practise law in Mainland China.  She obtained her LLB degree from the Northwest University of Politics and Law and a LLM degree from the American University Washington College of Law.

HKIAC expresses its gratitude to Dr Yang for her significant contribution to the success and achievements of HKIAC and warmly welcomes Ms Zhang to HKIAC.

Rimsky Yuen GBM, SC, JP and David W. Rivkin, Co-Chairs of HKIAC commented, “We sincerely thank Ling for her huge contribution to HKIAC’s success during her tenure. We are sad to see her leave but are proud of her for being appointed to the important role as the Director of the newly established Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Office and look forward to close collaboration with her in her new role. The opening of the Beijing office marks a significant milestone as HKIAC continues to grow and prosper. We warmly welcome Xi as our new Chief Representative in Beijing.”

Joanne Lau, Secretary General of HKIAC, said “I have had the privilege and pleasure of working closely with Ling since joining HKIAC in February this year. With her infectious enthusiasm, tireless efforts and unparalleled insights, Ling is widely respected and will be much missed. I am confident however that we will build on her legacy, including through the opening of a Beijing office.  I am excited to be working with Xi, whose deep professional knowledge and management experience will be invaluable as HKIAC embarks on a new chapter in Mainland China.”

Dr Ling Yang commented, “I am blessed to have served HKIAC for seven years and very proud to have participated in and witnessed HKIAC's growth and success in Mainland China and globally. With the opening of a new Beijing office, I have no doubt that HKIAC will go from strength to strength. I look forward to continuing to work with HKIAC in my new capacity to promote Hong Kong as an international legal services and dispute resolution hub.”

Ms Xi Zhang noted, “I am honored to join the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) as the Chief Representative of the newly established Beijing Office. Under the leadership of Secretary General Ms. Joanne Lau, I am eager to build upon the solid foundation laid by Dr. Ling Yang, to whom I extend my sincere gratitude for her invaluable contributions. As we open this new chapter, I look forward to advancing HKIAC’s mission by bringing our world-class dispute resolution services and expertise closer to users in Mainland China.”

For Chinese version, please click here.