On October 14, 2022, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (hereinafter referred to as the "SCIA"), the South China International Arbitration Centre (HK) (hereinafter referred to as the "SCIAHK") and the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR co-hosted a seminar on the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-Ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (referred to as the "Arrangement").

This seminar focused on the recent development and implementation of the "Arrangement", bringing together about 1,500 arbitrators, lawyers, corporate legal counsels, scholars, and others from domestic and international locations to participate.

Anthony Neoh, Vice Chairman of the SCIA Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SCIAHK, delivered a welcoming speech.

Anthony Neoh, Vice Chairman of the SCIA Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SCIAHK, delivered a welcoming speech at the seminar. He said the SCIA and the SCIAHK have been committed to promoting and deepening arbitration cooperation and exchanges with the Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. They have established a new development pattern of cross-border coordination of "Shenzhen + Hong Kong, the SCIA & SCIAHK".

The hosting of this event is of great significance for promoting cooperation and exchanges between the legal and business communities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and for advancing innovative development in dispute resolution mechanisms in the GBA.

Paul Lam Ting-Kwok, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, delivered the opening remarks.

In his opening remarks, Paul Lam Ting-Kwok, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, said that under the principle of "one country, two systems", the Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese mainland have actively explored judicial cooperation in arbitration. The implementation of the "Arrangement" has established a convenient mechanism for arbitration cooperation between the two sides, facilitating parties from both sides to resolve disputes through arbitration. This will significantly enhance Hong Kong's position as a major legal and dispute resolution center in the Asia-Pacific region.

Zhang Xinmeng, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Office of the Research Office of the Supreme People's Court, provided an in-depth analysis of the content and features of the "Arrangement".

She emphasized that the "Arrangement" is a practical measure supported by the central government to promote Hong Kong as a major center for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. It fully reflects the advantages of "one country, two systems" and will continue supporting arbitration in developing the GBA.

Ho Shuk Ying, a barrister at Des Voeux Chambers (DVC) and the SCIA arbitrator; Liu Yang, partner at Haiwen & Partners Hong Kong Office and the SCIA arbitrator; Fei Jia, international partner at King & Wood Mallesons and the SCIA arbitrator; Sun Wei, partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm and the SCIA arbitrator, all shared insights from the perspectives of practicing lawyers in the Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese mainland.

They discussed the latest interpretation of the "Arrangement", new developments in cross-border arbitration preservation in the GBA and practical experiences. The aim was to explore innovations and practices in judicial assistance between the two regions and cross-border dispute resolution services in the GBA.

Kwai Huen Wong, Council Member of the SCIA and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SCIAHK, delivered concluding remarks.

Kwai Huen Wong, Council Member of the SCIA and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SCIAHK, delivered concluding remarks. He expressed that the SCIA and the SCIAHK will leverage the facilitative policies of the "Arrangement" and fully utilize the unique advantages of the "two cities & two arbitration institutions" framework. They will actively promote the alignment of rules and mechanisms for cross-border legal services in the GBA.

Arbitrators, lawyers, corporate legal counsels, and scholars attended the seminar.

This seminar is also the annual themed event of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR on the "Arrangement" and one of the series of seminars under the South China Business & Law Forum of the SCIA focusing on the GBA.