The Hong Kong Institute of Legal Translation Limited (the Institute) was founded by a group of professionals and academics in laws and translation in August 2009 with a view to strive for legal bilingualism and to promote legal translation professionalism. The Institute provides a forum for legal translation practitioners, academics and any professionals of related disciplines for experience-sharing and for exchange of knowledge and ideas on translation. The Institute also encourages members in formulating principles by study of and research into translation as a science and an art.

Initiated by Dr. Poon Wai Yee Emily (Former Associate Professor of the Open University of Hong Kong), bolstered by a number of prestigious founding members including Senior Counsel Neoh Anthony Francis (Former Chairman of Securities and Futures Commission), Dr. Leung Oi Sie Elsie, GBM JP (Former Secretary of Justice, and Solicitor), Dr. Lau Kit Hung (Solicitor) in Hong Kong, and supported by a group of academic staff and students of the Open University of Hong Kong, HKILT aims to be the first professional institute in legal translation.