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ARTICLE · 26 SEPTEMBER 2025

Hong Kong To Consider Updating Arbitration Legislation

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

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Hong Kong's arbitration legislation will be reviewed to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of international best practice.

Hong KongLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Simon Chapman KC
Simon Chapman KC
Kathryn Sanger
Kathryn Sanger
Antony Crockett
Antony Crockett
Helen Tang
Helen Tang
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Announcement follows recent reviews of arbitration statutes in England, Singapore and PRC

Hong Kong's arbitration legislation will be reviewed to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of international best practice.

The announcement was made during the annual policy address delivered by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Mr John Lee, to the Legislative Council on 17 September 2025. The government will "step up promotion of Hong Kong's arbitration services, while studying the need to amend the Arbitration Ordinance", according to the speech.

The current Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) entered into force in 2011 and has been updated regularly, including to provide for the enforcement of orders made by emergency arbitrators (reported here), confirm the arbitrability of intellectual property disputes (reported here), and permit third party funding and outcome-related fee structures in arbitration (reported here and here).

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