Q&A with Davyd Wong,

Hong Kong Conference Organising Committee for the Asia Pro Bono Conference

The Australian Pro Bono Centre is proud to have been a part of the Asia Pro Bono Conference since its inception in 2012. Now in its seventh year, the Conference has been hosted by Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia. This year the Conference moves to north Asia for the first time, when it will be held in Hong Kong from 25 to 27 October. In 2012 around 100 people attended. Since then the Conference has grown rapidly, becoming a rallying point for pro bono leaders in the Asia Pacific region. This year 500 delegates are expected to converge on Hong Kong to celebrate the force that is pro bono.

We spoke to expat Davyd Wong, Chair of the Hong Kong Conference Local Organising Committee and in-house counsel at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, about this year’s Conference.

Q: Is there much pro bono happening in Hong Kong?

I’ve worked in Hong Kong for almost ten years and compared to when I first arrived, there is so much more pro bono happening now. Despite their fierce reputation for competition and money-making, there has always been an underlying culture among local lawyers of helping those in need. What is different now is the sharpened awareness of the importance of access to justice as a fundamental cornerstone of the rule of law, and also the presence of international law firms and multinational corporations, which are importing and “glocalising” the local best practices here.

Q: How can we be part of the pro bono movement in the Asia Pacific?

I have three suggestions:

1. Share your expertise with colleagues in Asia and work together on global responses to seemingly intractable justice problems. Find out what is trending now in pro bono in the most populous region of the world.
2. Offer financial assistance to help bring delegates from developing countries to the Conference by contributing to the Inclusion Fund. This has been a pillar of this Conference since it began and you can make a donation to the Inclusion Fund by visiting the Conference website. Sponsorship packages for the conference itself are also available for law firms, businesses and justice minded philanthropists! This is a not-for-profit conference and anything earned goes toward waivers for delegates who would otherwise struggle to attend and be heard.
3. Most importantly: attend the Conference and bring your friends and colleagues! Anyone with an interest in a more just, equal and fair world should attend. It is a rare opportunity to meet like-minded lawyers, academics, students and other justice professionals.

Q: What’s the Conference theme this year and what are the main topics?

Our theme this year comprises two verbs, each given equal weight: “Inspire. Impact.”  This simplicity and balance reinforces what we wanted this Conference to focus on, inspiring action and turning action into impact.

Being in Hong Kong we were naturally looking for program content that would build a more tech-aware pro bono community that would be of practical benefit to our clients, while remaining accessible even to non-techie Conference participants. There will be sessions for beginners and global experts; innovations in service delivery from low cost law firms to paralegals building legal empowerment and ADR in refugee camps.

At a thematic level we will look at current issues such as discrimination and ageing in Asia, questions of justice and identity for stateless people, financial abuse of migrant workers, how women have been exploited by some international organisations, and we ask what lawyers in Asia can do for refugees.

There will be pro bono skill building for corporate counsel and awesome stories of pro bono champions who are transforming access to justice in Asia.   You can see the draft program at www.probonoconference.org)

Q: What are the costs involved in attending the Conference? Do I need a visa?

The Conference registration is US$499 with the early bird discount, available now.  Many airlines fly direct to Hong Kong from Australia each day. No visa is required for Australian passport holders.

Q: How do I register for the Conference or find out more about the Conference?

Register now at www.probonoconference.org. Any questions? Email me at 2018APBC@probono.org.hk or davyd@probono.org.hk.