As well as visiting Shergroup's Braintree headquarters, the three guests joined the company's enforcement officers as they executed a writ of Fieri Fascias, to reclaim money owed to a debtor, and a Writ of Possession.

Claire Sandbrook, Shergroup Chief Executive, said: "It was a privilege to be chosen to host our colleagues from Hong Kong on their fact-finding mission. They had many interesting questions for us, ranging from how our system is structured, to our legislation and technology.”

The Bailiff’s Office in Hong Kong serves two key roles as part of the Judiciary; one to serve summonses and other legal documents, as well as promoting full compliance with Court and Tribunal judgments and orders.

Sunny Kwan, Chief Bailiff (Administration and Admiralty) of the Hong Kong Judiciary Court Orders Section, said: “It was a fascinating insight for us into how a progressive and forward-thinking company operates. Shergroup sets an excellent example as to how High Court enforcement is undertaken in the UK and we will return home, having seen and learned about many new and exciting initiatives.”

Their trip was organised by Barrie Minney, Senior Bailiff for Brighton and Hove City Council, who accompanied the Hong Kong delegates to Shergroup’s new headquarters in Braintree.

Barrie, chair of the Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum was contacted by Sunny and arranged for the Hong Kong team to visit the Department for Constitutional Affairs, a County Court and a private bailiff firm to get a wide picture of the way the UK’s enforcement service operates.

Barrie said: “I knew Claire from the early days of the then Lord Chancellor’s Department Enforcement Review when we sat on its advisory group. I asked her if the delegation could see the way her people operated. I’m so grateful to her and others who helped out because they gave their time for free.”