Amendments To Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) (Ordinance)

The Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Amendment Ordinance) was passed on 10 July 2013. Save and except for the amendments governing the enforcement of Macau arbitral awards, which shall commence on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Justice by notice published in the gazette, all other amendments came into operation on 19 July 2013.

The Amendment Ordinance seeks to:

• Implement the "Arrangement Concerning Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards" between Hong Kong and Macau concluded in January 2013 (Arrangement) (this development is the main focus of this article);
• Provide for (i) the enforcement of emergency relief made by an emergency arbitrator in or outside Hong Kong in the same manner as an order or direction of the Court that has the same effect, but with the leave of the Court, and (ii) further guidance about the types of emergency relief granted outside Hong Kong that may be enforced by the Court;