As the annual signature event of the Asian Academy of International Law, 2020 Colloquium on International Law (the Colloquium) gathered an array of highly distinguished speakers and attracted almost 500 online audiences, including academics, legal practitioners, business professionals and government officials, coming from 39 jurisdictions.

It provided a timely response to address one of the pressing issues, i.e. Sanctions, amidst the increasing use of unilateral sanctions proposed by certain countries, which in turn escalated international tension and divergence. Against this background, speakers furnished the audiences with a very informative and insightful discussion on this topical issue in the context of international law. It was graced with the presence of the Honourable Mrs Carrie Lam-Cheng Yuet-ngor GBM GBS, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, who delivered the Opening Address; Mr Xie Feng, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR and Ms Teresa Cheng GBS SC JP, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, who gave Keynote Addresses.