[dotdotnews Report]
On the morning of May 30, the signing ceremony for the International Mediation Institute Convention was held in Hong Kong, China. dotdotnews conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. So Man-kit, Chairman of the Hong Kong Mediation and Arbitration Centre. Mr. So stated that Hong Kong possesses multiple advantages in international mediation. This time, with the mainland taking the lead and joining forces with countries along the “Belt and Road” to jointly develop procedures, the unprecedented establishment of the International Mediation Institute in Hong Kong marks an important milestone for Hong Kong’s development as an international financial center and a “global hub for conflict resolution.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPnP4G3sarM
Mr. So pointed out that Hong Kong has always been active in international affairs, but the establishment of a United Nations-level institution in Hong Kong will significantly enhance the city’s status as an international legal hub. As the only special administrative region in the country that adopts the common law system, Hong Kong enjoys the dual advantages of strong support from the motherland and an excellent common law judicial mechanism, making it a key bridge between the mainland and the rest of the world. The establishment of the International Mediation Institute headquarters in Hong Kong will undoubtedly further elevate Hong Kong’s position in the field of international law and conflict resolution.
Mr. So mentioned that Hong Kong holds multiple advantages in the area of international mediation. Firstly, as a place where Eastern and Western cultures converge, Hong Kong boasts outstanding language capabilities, with a wealth of talent fluent in both Mandarin and English. Additionally, Hong Kong possesses an international perspective, a solid legal foundation, and the status of an international financial center. Therefore, in resolving disputes, Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages in terms of culture, legal system, and language. Looking ahead, if major international mediation cases are handled in Hong Kong, it will undoubtedly mark another important milestone. The selection of the type of independent mediator to handle such cases will also be a subject of future exploration.
Apart from having a strong legal foundation and a pool of high-quality mediators, Mr. So reiterated that Hong Kong’s most important asset is its unique position—having the backing of the motherland while also maintaining a common law system and an excellent legal mechanism. If disputes between different jurisdictions are handled here, Hong Kong can serve as an ideal conflict resolution platform, participate in more international affairs, and enhance its position in the legal, conflict resolution, and talent supply chains, bringing substantial benefits to its future development.
