The GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice, endorsed by the third Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Legal Departments Joint Conference on December 10, were officially released and came into effect today (December 30).

　　The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) comprises three different legal systems of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. The mediation models, systems and development are also different among the three places. The promulgation of a set of unified accreditation standards and code of conduct best practice for mediators in the GBA is a major milestone in the building of the rule of law in the GBA and Hong Kong's integration into the GBA development. It will also foster the professional development of the mediators in the GBA, thereby enhancing the confidence of mediation users within the GBA.

　　Enacted and published by the GBA Mediation Platform, the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards will be implemented by the legal departments of the three places when formulating their accreditation rules, while the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice will serve as a reference and basis for the GBA mediation institutions when developing their respective standards of professional code of conduct in detail, having regard to their actual circumstances and operational needs.

　　The English cursory translation of the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice can be viewed on the Department of Justice's website.

Ends/Thursday, December 30, 2021