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Today, 13 December 2022, marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP).

With the endorsement of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy, ROAP officially opened on 13 December 2012, thanks to the generous support of the Governments of the People’s Republic of China and Australia.

Since then, ROAP has developed into a dynamic hub for the wider Asia and the Pacific region, providing an immediate point of contact for the provision of information on the HCCH and its Conventions, as well as the delivery of tailored post-Convention services and assistance, and more generally supporting the active involvement of the region in the work of the HCCH and the expansion of the HCCH’s Membership.

An integral part of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH, ROAP is currently headed by Prof. Yun Zhao, Representative for Asia and the Pacific, who is supported by Mr Levi Gao, seconded Legal Officer, and by Ms Alix Ng, Office Manager. Prof. Yun Zhao was preceded as Representative for Asia and the Pacific by Mr Frank Poon (August 2017 to July 2020), Prof Anselmo Reyes (April 2013 to July 2017), and by The Honourable Justice Michael J. Hartmann (April 2012 to April 2013).

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, earlier this year ROAP hosted the workshop “HCCH Conventions Supporting Transnational Litigation in Civil or Commercial Matters”, held on 8 November 2022 in partnership with the Department of Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. Shortly after the workshop, the Government of the People’s Republic of China expressed its intention to renew its financial support for ROAP’s operations for a further three years, until 2026.

With the renewed financial support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, ROAP will continue to play a vital role in strengthening the HCCH’s inclusiveness and increasing the HCCH’s visibility, capability, and relevance within the region for years to come.