Hong Kong Launches Consultation on Arbitration Ordinance Amendments

The Department of Justice has begun a one‑month stakeholder consultation, running until 27 October, on proposed amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance. The initiative, part of Hong Kong’s First Five‑Year Plan and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address, seeks to keep the city’s arbitration framework aligned with international best practices. The proposals, drawn from a Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform, cover four key areas: speed and convenience, confidentiality, scope, and fairness and justice. The consultation will be distributed to a broad range of stakeholders, including legal bodies, arbitral institutions, banks, and commercial end‑users. After the consultation, the DoJ plans to table an amendment bill in early 2027, aiming to complete the legislative process within the same year.