Hong Kong's Department of Justice has initiated a one-month public consultation on proposed amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance. The reforms aim to enhance the city's competitiveness as an international dispute resolution hub by focusing on speed, convenience, confidentiality, scope, and fairness.
The reforms aim to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international arbitration hub, potentially attracting more businesses and legal disputes to the city.
Hong Kong's Department of Justice (DoJ) has initiated a one-month public consultation on proposed legislative amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance, aiming to bolster the city's standing as a premier international dispute resolution center. The consultation, which runs until October 27, is a key policy initiative under Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and aligns with the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address.
The proposed reforms are guided by principles of enhancing speed, convenience, finality, and confidentiality, with the goal of attracting more businesses to choose Hong Kong as their seat of arbitration. These changes are based on recommendations from the Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform, established in October 2025, which reviewed 25 issues to ensure the framework aligns with international best practices.
The amendment proposals are categorized into four key areas: speed and convenience; confidentiality; scope; and fairness and justice. Following the consultation, the DoJ aims to introduce an amendment bill to the Legislative Council in early 2027 and complete the legislative process within the same year.
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