Legal hub vow for arbitration push

The Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization held its two-day annual arbitration forum in Hong Kong for the first time, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu saying his administration would continue to build up the SAR as an international legal hub.

The forum's first day at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre yesterday saw diplomats, business leaders and legal experts from 47 member countries of the organization in attendance.

Speaking in a video speech, Lee said Hong Kong enjoys judicial independence and is among the top jurisdictions in the international arbitration rankings.

"Hong Kong has a legal system similar to that of most financial centers in the world and the people of Hong Kong's rights and freedoms have reached international standards," Lee said.

Fang Jianming, deputy commissioner of China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong, said the forum would draw on the SAR's expertise in commercial international arbitration and online dispute resolution to open a new chapter in promoting legal cooperation in Asia and Africa.

"The establishment of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre sets a model for cooperation between China and the AALCO," Fang said.

The theme for the forum is "resolving differences in a changing world by staying true to the Bandung spirit" - referring to a declaration on promoting peaceful coexistence and underlining the core principles of equality, respect, solidarity and cooperation between countries participating in the first conference in Indonesia in 1955.

Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said "the city's civil and commercial law standards are in line with international standards. All of these help promote the effective resolution of cross-border disputes and build up confidence among investors in Asia and Africa."

Issues to be aired on the second day include developments in arbitration law and practice in the two regions, judicial assistance in arbitration, more vigorous online dispute resolution and technology applications in the post-epidemic era.

Participants will also touch on resolution of cross-border e-commerce disputes, environment, society and corporate governance relevant dispute arbitration, and supply chain disruption response and restructuring.

AALCO is the only intergovernmental legal advisory organization in Asia and Africa.