China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) and the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government have signed a judicial assistance arrangement, the sixth since 1997.

The sixth arrangement covers the broadest range of matters till date, with only arbitration cases, bankruptcy and certain patent cases excluded. This means that almost all civil and commercial judgments between the mainland and Hong Kong will be reciprocally recognized and enforced between courts of the two sides. 

According to a news release from the SPC, the two sides have made efforts to extend the scope of judicial assistance to reduce re-litigation and improve mutual trust under the principles of “One Country Two Systems.” 

内地与香港特区签署第六项司法协助安排

最高人民法院和香港特别行政区政府律政司签署了《关于内地与香港特别行政区法院相互认可和执行民商事案件判决的安排》。这是1997年香港回归以来，内地与香港商签的第六项司法协助安排。

这也是覆盖面最广、意义最为重大的一项安排。该安排的签署标志着两地民商事领域司法协助已基本全面覆盖，尽可能扩大了两地相互认可和执行民商事案件判决的范围，但目前两地在仲裁保全协助和跨境破产协助仍待进一步磋商，部分知识产权案件的判决也仍未涵盖。

据最高人民法院的新闻稿称，《安排》尽可能扩大了两地相互认可和执行民商事案件判决的范围，充分体现了最大限度减少重复诉讼、增进两地司法互信、贯彻“一国两制”方针的精神。

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