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The Secretary for Justice, Mr Rimsky Yuen, SC, today (May 28) attended the opening ceremony of the Court-Connected Mediation Center of the Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone People's Court and conferred appointment letters to Hong Kong mediators at the ceremony.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Yuen said that the establishment of the Court-Connected Mediation Center will enhance both the quality and efficiency of mediation services in Hong Kong and Shenzhen when handling cases involving Hong Kong parties. At the same time, it will help both places to accumulate more experience in improving the handling of cross-boundary commercial mediation.
He said that under the 13-5 Plan, the Central People's Government supports Hong Kong's role as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. Besides, the Central People's Government also supports Hong Kong to further its cooperation with coastal provinces and cities in the context of professional services and internationalisation of talents, create innovative models of cooperation, and jointly explore markets along the Belt and Road.
"I believe that through cooperation, the mediation sectors in Shenzhen and Hong Kong would be able to capitalise on the opportunities, provide more professional and diversified services, integrate each other's strengths, and seize the opportunities brought about by national and global developments."
Established by the Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone People's Court, the Court-Connected Mediation Center is responsible for mediation before and during litigation. Special features of the centre include the introduction of a neutral third party evaluation mechanism for cases involving Hong Kong parties and the engagement of Hong Kong mediators in mediation. Under this mechanism, Hong Kong mediators will make neutral third party assessment of the possible outcomes according to applicable Hong Kong laws and help the parties resolve disputes through mediation or other appropriate means.
After the ceremony, Mr Yuen attended the first Hong Kong-related commercial mediation forum in Qianhai. Jointly organised by the Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone People's Court, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Shenzhen Qianhai, the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau Mediation Alliance, and the Joint Mediation Helpline Office, the forum explored diversified models of dispute resolution and the latest developments of commercial mediation worldwide as well as in Hong Kong and Qianhai.
Mr Yuen will return to Hong Kong tonight.
Ends/Saturday, May 28, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:54
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