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The article “Businesses look at cutting Hong Kong from contracts over fears for rule of law” (Report, February 1) unfortunately illustrates an incomplete picture of Hong Kong. Notwithstanding the violence in 2019, statistics from one of the arbitral institutions in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), show that the number of arbitration cases handled in Hong Kong last year actually increased, with 318 new cases, the highest number since 2009. This is a clear endorsement of the city’s reputation as an effective and neutral international legal hub. The total amount in dispute was close to $9bn — the highest since 2011. The vast majority of cases have the “seat” of arbitration in Hong Kong. From July to December 2020 — the six months following the introduction of the National Security Law — the HKIAC received 182 new cases, an increase of 39 per cent from the same period in 2019. We are never complacent about our existing competitive edge. Of particular importance to international companies is Hong Kong’s advantages in matters related to doing business in China. Under a game-changing arrangement signed in 2019, the HKIAC has received applications covering assets totalling $1.9bn and to date mainland courts have granted orders totalling $1.5bn. Hong Kong is the only jurisdiction outside the Chinese mainland that can provide this service. A specialist list of judges in the Hong Kong Court of First Instance deals with arbitration matters. Courts in Hong Kong have a long record of neutral decision-making that is strongly supportive of the arbitration process. We continuously strive to meet market demands to ensure Hong Kong remains one of the world’s leading international legal hubs for dealmaking and dispute resolution services. Teresa Cheng Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong

By Teresa Cheng
Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
Hong Kong