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Thursday, November 21, 2019, 17:16
HK govt throws weight behind maritime mediation
By China Daily
Thursday, November 21, 2019, 17:16 By China Daily

A legal forum organized by the Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Profession Association (HKMLPA) is held during the Hong Kong Maritime Week 2019, Hong Kong. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s Department of Justice encouraged on Tuesday that the city’s shipping industry to explore opportunities in maritime mediation.

It reiterated one of the Hong Kong government’s most highlighted future development strategies – to become the world’s arbitration and mediation center – though the city is currently roiled in social unrest triggered by the extradition bill incident.

Hong Kong is building its online dispute resolution platform, eBRAM.hk, which will serve as a secure, confidential and cost-effective way for cross-border parties to settle disputes

Ada Chen Kit-yi, senior assistant law officer of the Hong Kong Department of Justice, made the call at a legal forum organized by the Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Profession Association (HKMLPA) during the Hong Kong Maritime Week 2019.

She pointed out that mediation is a preferred method of dispute resolution in Hong Kong, with more than 2,000 accredited general mediators in town.

READ MORE: Giant port must take up mediation hub role

Hong Kong’s courts are also mediation-friendly and the law encourages disputing parties in civil litigations to engage in mediation to facilitate the settlement of disputes, Chen said.

Hong Kong is building its online dispute resolution platform, eBRAM.hk, which will serve as a secure, confidential and cost-effective way for cross-border parties to settle disputes.

Chen encouraged the shipping industry to explore the use of maritime mediation to resolve contractual disputes quickly and effectively and avoid the high costs in litigations at the same time.

Beijing’s support

Liu Chunhua, director-general of the Department of Law of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, said that the central government fully supports Hong Kong to develop into an international legal and dispute resolution services hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

ALSO READ: Shipping industry must participate in nation’s initiatives

Hong Kong should leverage the strength of its unique legal system to seize the opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative and Greater Bay Area development, to cooperate with the mainland maritime industry, Liu said.

The forum attracted more than 80 attendees, including mediators, solicitors and barristers, as well as executives from maritime industry. It was supported by various sectors and organizations in the community, the Hong Kong Department of Justice, the Liaison Office, InvestHK, the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, the Hong Kong Maritime Law Association, the Hong Kong Mediation Centre, the China Maritime Arbitration Commission – Hong Kong Arbitration Centre, and the International Dispute Resolution and Risk Management Institute.

The Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Professional Association and the International Dispute Resolution and Risk Management Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the forum to promote cooperation between the two parties.


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