Hong Kong advances legal reforms and arbitration law updates

The Hong Kong Department of Justice is advancing legal reforms aimed at strengthening the city's status as an international legal and arbitration hub. The Department has launched a one-month stakeholder consultation regarding proposed amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance. These revisions cover 14 issues categorized into speed and convenience, confidentiality, scope of application, and fairness and justice. The goal is to submit the amendment bill to the Legislative Council early next year, with completion targeted for 2025.

Separately, a debate has emerged within the legal profession regarding the appointment of Senior Counsel. Following a government proposal to update legal terminology in the 2026 Statutory Instruments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, the Law Society of Hong Kong suggested allowing solicitors to be appointed as Senior Counsel. This proposal has met with reservations from the Hong Kong Bar Association, which maintains that the title should be reserved for those with exceptional courtroom advocacy skills. The Department of Justice has clarified that the Senior Counsel appointment issue is not part of the current legislative amendment process.