On 14 October 2022, South China International Arbitration Center (Hong Kong) (SCIAHK), together with the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and the Department of Justice of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (hereinafter referred to as the “HKSAR”), co-hosted a seminar on “Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR” (hereinafter referred to as the Arrangement) in hybrid format of “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Interaction”. The seminar focused on the topic of “Recent Developments and Implementation of the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of Mainland and of the HKSAR”. Nearly 1,500 arbitrators, lawyers, corporate legal counsels and academics participated at the venue and joined online .
Mr. Anthony Neoh SC, Chairman of the Board of SCIAHK, Vice Chairman of the SCIA Council, delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of SCIAHK and SCIA. He highlighted that SCIAHK and SCIA have been devoted to promoting and deepening the arbitration cooperation and communication among Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, and have established a new development strategy of “two cities and two institutions” for cross-border cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.
Mr. Paul Lam SC, Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR, delivered the opening speech. He said that under “One Country, Two Systems”, the Mainland and Hong Kong have been actively exploring mutual legal assistance in arbitration. The implementation of the Arrangement has established a convenient aid mechanism for mutual assistance in arbitration between the Mainland and Hong Kong, which greatly facilitates the parties from both places to resolve their disputes through arbitration, and it significantly enhances Hong Kong’s preponderance as a leading legal and dispute resolution center in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ms. Zhang Xinmeng, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Judicial Affairs Office of the Research Department of the Supreme People’s Court, gave an in-depth interpretation of the content and features of the Arrangement.
Ms. Sabrina Ho, Barrister at Des Voeux Chambers, SCIA Arbitrator, Mr. Edward Liu, Partner at the Hong Kong office of Haiwen Law Firm, SCIA Arbitrator, Ms. Jessica Fei, International Partner at King & Wood Mallesons, SCIA Arbitrator; and Mr. Sun Wei, Partner at Zhonglun Law Firm, SCIA Arbitrator shared their views on the latest interpretation of the Arrangement, as well as the new developments and practical experience regarding the cross-border interim measures in aid of arbitral proceedings in the Greater Bay Area from the perspectives of lawyers practicing in Hong Kong and the Mainland respectively.
Mr. Huen Wong, Executive Chairman of SCIAHK, Council Member of SCIA, delivered a closing speech. He underlined that SCIAHK and SCIA will treasure the preferential policy of the Arrangement and seize the unique advantages of the “two cities and two institutions” to actively promote the integration of rules and convergence of mechanisms for cross-border legal services in the Greater Bay Area.
This seminar is also the annual theme event of the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government regarding the Arrangement and one of the series of South China In-house Counsel Forum.
Posted on 21 October 2022
