Hong Kong Department of Justice: Consolidating the Position of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre through Multiple Means to Build the Forefront of International Development.

On June 24th, Hong Kong Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng responded to questions from lawmakers in writing, stating that in order to strengthen the position of Hong Kong as an international arbitration center, the government is taking a multi-faceted approach to implement measures. In terms of legal and infrastructure, the Arbitration Law Reform Working Group established in 2025 is continuously improving the Arbitration Ordinance to ensure Hong Kong's arbitration system is responsive to global trends and at the forefront of international development. Additionally, the Hong Kong government is planning to build the Hong Kong International Legal Hub, aiming to bring together the headquarters of the Hong Kong Academy of International Law and facilities for international legal and dispute resolution services to generate synergies and provide better arbitration facilities for parties involved. Furthermore, through visa policies for the Hong Kong Academy of International Law and facilitation of arbitration experts coming to Hong Kong to participate in procedures, Hong Kong aims to create a supportive environment for the gathering of international high-end talents. Cheng stated that currently there are at least nine arbitration institutions in Hong Kong operating independently, with the exception of eBRAM Center Limited, which has received temporary government funding. The goal is for eBRAM Center to operate on a self-sustaining basis after the government funding ends. In terms of facilities, since November 2020, the Hong Kong government has established the Hong Kong Legal Hub to provide office space for international and local legal and dispute resolution institutions. If arbitration institutions are accepted as tenants of the Legal Hub, the government will provide corresponding office facility support to help these institutions develop services in Hong Kong, deepen international exchanges and cooperation, and enhance their unique advantages as an international legal hub. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government has been actively promoting Hong Kong as an international arbitration center through various measures and activities. Regarding the promotion of arbitration services in Hong Kong, the government has been promoting high-quality arbitration services through events such as Hong Kong Legal Week, co-organizing the Belt and Road Summit with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, hosting themed forums on dispute resolution at events like the Asia IP Business Forum, and organizing the Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Mooting Competition with the Willem C. Vis East Foundation. Cheng also mentioned that the government has not established a set of rigid performance indicators for arbitration-related measures. The effectiveness of arbitration-related measures involves multiple aspects that are difficult to quantify, but international recognition directly reflects the effectiveness of current measures. For example, in the 2025 International Arbitration Survey by Queen Mary University of London, Hong Kong was selected as the preferred arbitration destination in the Asia-Pacific region and tied with Singapore as the second most popular arbitration destination globally, fully reflecting the effectiveness of current measures.