Editor’s note: The sixth part of this data series focuses on the city’s role as a center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

Experts’ Views

The strong support from the nation has helped Hong Kong become the third most preferred arbitration seat in the world. First, under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has preserved its traditional common law legal system and a wealth of highly specialized legal practitioners. Second, the rapid development of the Chinese mainland’s economy has brought a good deal of arbitration cases for Hong Kong. Third, legal cooperation arrangements signed between the mainland and Hong Kong give the city a unique advantage in handling arbitrations involving Chinese parties. These advantages are not available in any other major arbitration centers across the world.

Wu Yingpeng, Hong Kong barrister

Hong Kong is the only jurisdiction in the world that has a truly bilingual common law system, English and Chinese, and is the only common law jurisdiction in our country. It is in the best interest to leverage on the advantages of the common law to contribute to the development of Hong Kong and our nation.

Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, former secretary for justice of the HKSAR