What Changed
- Expansion of GBA measures for HK-invested enterprises regarding governing law and arbitration seat selection across Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and all nine Mainland GBA cities.
- Launch of LawTech financial support scheme and Guidance Note on the Use of LawTech in Legal Practice in November 2026.
- Planned establishment of a dedicated GBA alignment Task Force in Q1 2027 and double-digit cases handled under the Sports Dispute Resolution Pilot Scheme.
Background
On November 11, 2026, the Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, Mr Paul Lam, SC, provided a written reply to the Legislative Council regarding official initiatives supporting Hong Kong's legal and dispute resolution sectors. The reply addressed questions raised by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng concerning Hong Kong's role under the National 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region. The official response detailed dispute resolution statistics, promotional efforts across emerging markets, developments in sports dispute resolution, legal alignment within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and LawTech policies.
Dispute Resolution Statistics and Overseas Promotion
Under the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) and the Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620), mediation and arbitration processes are generally confidential. Consequently, the Department of Justice (DoJ) does not track overall case statistics. However, data published by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) indicates that in 2025, 388 arbitrations were submitted to the HKIAC, of which 84.3 per cent were international arbitrations. Additionally, 45.4 per cent involved no Hong Kong parties, 58.2 per cent involved no Chinese Mainland parties, and 13.7 per cent involved no parties from Asia. In 2024, out of 352 arbitrations submitted to the HKIAC, 76.4 per cent were international, 41.5 per cent involved no Hong Kong parties, 59.4 per cent involved no Chinese Mainland parties, and 14.5 per cent involved no parties from Asia. HKIAC statistics do not provide a separate breakdown for emerging markets.
To attract enterprises from the Middle East, ASEAN, and Belt and Road regions to select Hong Kong law as governing law and Hong Kong as a dispute resolution seat, the DoJ has executed targeted outreach. Key actions include:
- A delegation led by the Secretary for Justice to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in August 2026.
- Participation in regional ASEAN events, including the China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference, China-ASEAN Commercial Law Forum, and China Conference: Southeast Asia.
- A May 2024 visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates led by the Secretary for Justice with approximately 30 delegation members representing legal, financial, exchange, and investment bodies.
Sports Dispute Resolution Initiatives
The DoJ launched the Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution on February 13, 2026, with support from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB). As of September 2026, the total number of sports dispute mediation and arbitration cases handled reached double digits. The Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre acts as the administering body and has published a model clause for sports dispute resolution. Furthermore, the DoJ and legal professional bodies plan to co-organise the Sports Dispute Resolution Summit in December 2026.
Complementing this, the CSTB introduced a three-year pilot scheme in April 2026 offering an operational grant of up to $800,000 per year for three years to Asian or international sports organisations establishing headquarters or regional headquarters in Hong Kong. As of late October 2026, six international and regional sports bodies have set up headquarters in Hong Kong: the Asian Bowling Federation, Asian Squash Federation, International Shuttlecock Federation, International Dragon Boat Federation, Asia Flying Disc Federation, and Asian Rowing Federation.
Greater Bay Area Legal Integration
The DoJ's Action Plan on the Construction of Rule of Law in the GBA, published in April 2024, sets out the guiding framework of "Three Interfaces, Two Connects and One GBA."
Since February 2025, policy measures permitting Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose Hong Kong law and Hong Kong arbitration seats have expanded:
- "Allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law" expanded from Qianhai to cover all of Shenzhen and Zhuhai.
- "Allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong" expanded beyond Free Trade Zones to cover all nine Mainland municipalities in the GBA.
Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao legal departments have jointly established GBA Standards, including accreditation standards, code of conduct, cross-boundary dispute mediation model rules, and arbitrator panel working guidelines. In addition, the DoJ plans to set up a Task Force on Expediting the Alignment of Rules and Mechanisms in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in the first quarter of 2027, led by the Deputy Secretary for Justice.
LawTech Policy and Support
Following the establishment of the Consultation Group on LawTech Development in January 2025, the DoJ implemented key measures in November 2026:
- Launched the Funding Scheme for LawTech Solution Subscription by the Hong Kong Legal Sector to support small and medium-sized law firms and junior barristers.
- Released the non-binding Guidance Note on the Use of LawTech in Legal Practice to establish principles for responsible, secure, and ethical LawTech adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Why does the Department of Justice not maintain official case statistics for mediation and arbitration in Hong Kong?
Answer: Under the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) and the Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620), mediation and arbitration are generally confidential processes, so the Department of Justice does not maintain these case statistics.
Question: What financial support is available for international sports organisations setting up in Hong Kong?
Answer: Under a three-year pilot scheme launched by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau in April 2026, eligible Asian or international sports organisations setting up headquarters or regional headquarters in Hong Kong can receive an operational grant of up to $800,000 per year for three years through national sports associations in Hong Kong.
Question: How far have the measures for Hong Kong-invested enterprises to select Hong Kong law and arbitration been expanded?
Answer: Since February 2025, adopting Hong Kong law has expanded from Qianhai to the entire cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai, while choosing Hong Kong as an arbitration seat has expanded beyond Free Trade Zones to cover all nine Chinese Mainland municipalities in the GBA.
Question: Is the Guidance Note on the Use of LawTech in Legal Practice legally binding?
Answer: No, the Guidance Note released by the DoJ in November 2026 is not legally binding. It provides practical guidance and key principles for responsible and ethical LawTech usage.
Question: When will the new GBA Task Force on legal mechanism alignment be established?
Answer: The DoJ plans to set up the Task Force on Expediting the Alignment of Rules and Mechanisms in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in the first quarter of 2027, led by the Deputy Secretary for Justice.
Who May Be Affected
Legal practitioners, arbitrators, mediators, Hong Kong-invested enterprises operating in the GBA, international sports associations, and businesses contracting across ASEAN, Middle East, and Belt and Road regions.
Cross-Border Context
Deepening integration between Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Guangdong Province in the GBA, alongside international promotional campaigns targeting ASEAN, Middle East, and Central Asian states.
What to check next
- Monitor the formal establishment and outputs of the Task Force on Expediting the Alignment of Rules and Mechanisms in Q1 2027.
- Review the specific eligibility criteria and operational details of the Funding Scheme for LawTech Solution Subscription launched in November 2026.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.