Following is a speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Shanghai International Arbitration
(Hong Kong) Center Inauguration today (May 5):
Mr Ma Yi (Vice-Chairman of Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Center), Mr Yang Xiangbin (Director of Bureau of Public Legal Service Administration of Ministry of Justice of the PRC), Mr Liu Chunhua (Director-General of the Department of Law of the LoCPG in the HKSAR), Ms Anna Joubin-Bret (Secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you all in witnessing the establishment of the Shanghai International Arbitration (Hong Kong) Center (SHIAC Hong Kong). Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC), established in 1988, is an international commercial arbitration institution providing independent, fair, professional, and efficient dispute resolution services for various domestic and foreign commercial participants.
SHIAC has established strong ties with over 25 renowned dispute resolution institutes around the world and recently it co-hosted the seminar on “Prospects for the Development of Arb-Med Mechanism in the Asia-Pacific Region” with the Australian Disputes Centre, the Hong Kong International Mediation Centre, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and the Singapore International Mediation Centre. The international perspective of SHIAC is well illustrated by the bilingual speeches of our distinguished speakers and the presence of international audience today.
SHIAC has achieved rapid development over the last three decades. Commercial entities and individuals from 85 countries and regions around the globe have participated in SHIAC’s proceedings. In particular, Hong Kong was among the top users of SHIAC arbitrations outside the Mainland last year.
To extend the scope of services and provide more efficient dispute resolution services for arbitration users, SHIAC took a strategic and a wise move in setting up its first branch outside the Mainland in Hong Kong. A dedicated chapter has also been added to the latest SHIAC Arbitration Rules to regulate arbitration procedures under SHIAC Hong Kong.
Today’s inauguration ceremony commemorates this auspicious occasion and represents how arbitration in Shanghai and Hong Kong is entering a new era and blazing a new trail.
Governmental Cooperation between Hong Kong and Shanghai
On the governmental level, since 2003, the establishment of the Hong Kong/ Shanghai Co-operation Conference mechanism (formerly known as the Hong Kong/ Shanghai Economic and Trade Co-operation mechanism) has fostered diverse collaborations and exchanges between the Hong Kong and Shanghai in various areas.
With respect to arbitration, the Department of Justice of Hong Kong (DoJ) and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice entered into the Legal Services Cooperation Agreement (the Legal Services Cooperation Agreement) in December 2003 and August 2018 to promote cooperation and exchange among legal professionals. It encourages collaborations and exchanges between arbitration institutions in the two places as well as and the nurture of international arbitration talents in the two places.
In June last year, SHIAC led a delegation to Hong Kong for an exchange visit and I had the pleasure of receiving them at the DoJ office. There were fruitful exchanges and insightful discussions on ways to further deepen the cooperation and prosper the international arbitration industry of the Mainland and Hong Kong. I am happy to meet you all again here in Hong Kong today.
Institutional Cooperation between Hong Kong and Shanghai arbitral institutions
On the institutional level, I am glad to see that arbitral institutions are fostering close ties to promote arbitration services. One of the remarkable examples is a Co-operation Agreement signed between SHIAC and Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) in August 2018 and renewed last year, aiming to enhance international arbitration and other means of dispute resolution between the two places through partnership.
On capacity building, SHIAC has also joined hands with Hong Kong arbitral institutions to co-organise professional forums and seminars to keep practitioners up-to-date on recent arbitral developments and provide a platform for thought-sharing. Events such as the 2019 Shanghai-Hong Kong Arbitration Connect Forum , a seminar on the Interim Measures Arrangement and 2nd Invitational Moot Arbitration Competition for University Students from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau in 2022 help promote industry exchange between the two places and groom international legal and arbitration talents.
Closing
To contribute to the country’s development, Hong Kong and Shanghai shall continue to utilise our complementary advantages under the national development plans, and leverage our strengths to gear up, stride ahead, and pursue higher-level cooperation in the arbitration field. We look forward to seeing stronger collaborative ties between the two places in the years ahead.
On this joyous occasion, I wish SHIAC Hong Kong every success in the future. Thank you.
Ends/Sunday, May 5, 2024
