Intl mediation center to open in HK by early 2026

Renovation work on the future headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong is in full swing, with the facility expected to open as early as the end of this year or early next year, Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Cheung highlighted that Hong Kong’s selection as the home of the IOMed will significantly elevate the city’s reputation as a global “mediation hub” while delivering wide-ranging benefits in economic, political, cultural, and international influence.

The IOMed, initiated in 2022 by China and nearly 20 countries, aims to provide a platform for resolving international disputes through mediation.

Cheung emphasized that establishing Hong Kong as a premier destination for mediation and alternative dispute resolution will reinforce its position as a leading center for international legal services, attracting global organizations, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.

The establishment of the headquarters is expected to create jobs in mediation, research, and administration while boosting the hospitality, catering, and logistics sectors.

He also predicted that the IOMed’s headquarters, housed in the revitalized old Wan Chai Police Station, will become a must-visit landmark for tourists.

Cheung added that the IOMed will expand Hong Kong’s international ties, fostering multicultural exchange and positioning the city as a legal and scholarly hub for global cooperation.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation signing ceremony in Hong Kong on May 30.

The event will bring together representatives from nearly 60 countries and about 20 international organizations, including the United Nations.

A global forum on international mediation will follow in the afternoon, featuring discussions on key topics such as state-to-state dispute mediation and international investment and commercial dispute resolution.

(Ayra Wang)