AALCO-HKRAC Celebrates 3rd Anniversary with Strategic MOUs to Advance Sports Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong – 10 June 2025

AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) marked its 3rd Anniversary today with an official ceremony held at its new premises in the Former French Mission Building, a heritage site that once housed the Court of Final Appeal on 10 June 2025.

This celebration marks an important milestone for AALCO-HKRAC in its mission to promote international dispute resolution and legal cooperation in Asia and Africa. Over the past year, AALCO-HKRAC has launched pioneering initiatives, including Hong Kong’s inaugural Sports Mediation Training Programme, and hosted key delegations from Mainland China to foster cross-border legal innovation.

The event was officiated by Mr. Paul Lam Ting-kwok, SBS, SC, JP, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, who delivered the opening speech, highlighting the Centre’s growing role in strengthening Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution landscape. He emphasized:

“Over the past three years, AALCO Hong Kong has not only flourished but has also become a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class destination for international dispute resolution.”

Mr. Liu Chun Hua, Director- General of Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, also attended and addressed the event. Reflecting on the Center’s development, he stated:

“Three years ago, the establishment of AALCO-HKRAC fully demonstrated Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle. Today, with its foothold in Hong Kong, connectivity across Asia-Africa, and global outreach, the Center has achieved remarkable accomplishments through concrete actions. These include: regularly hosting international legal forums; facilitating professional legal dialogues under the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative; promoting rule-of-law cultural exchanges among Asian and African nations; innovating dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation; pioneering Hong Kong’s first sports dispute mediation training program; promoting online arbitration through legal technology – all contributing significantly to advancing Hong Kong’s legal system and innovating arbitration services.”

The anniversary also marked the signing of two MOUs with Hong Kong, China Olympic Academy and Hong Kong Baptist University to promote education, training, and institutional cooperation in sports arbitration and mediation. These partnerships will jointly support the development of Hong Kong as a regional hub for sports dispute resolution, aligning with initiatives outlined in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address.

Mr. Nick Chan Hiu-Fung, BBS, MH, JP, Director of AALCO-HKRAC, said:

“This anniversary is not just a celebration of the past three years—it is a call to action for deeper regional collaboration, innovation in dispute resolution, and nurturing the next generation of legal talent.”

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Liu Chun Hua, Director- General of Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, Ms. Zhou Qian, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR, Dr Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the Government of the HKSAR, Mr. Edgar Yang, PDSM, Honorary Secretary General of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Dr. Hon Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, BBS, JP, Chairman of the Council and Court, along with ambassadors, consulate generals, senior legal professionals, and academic leaders.

The event reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a leading international legal and dispute resolution centre under the Belt and Road Initiative and Greater Bay Area development. The signed MOUs will pave the way for deeper collaboration in sports arbitration, legal education, and cross-border dispute resolution, directly benefiting the growing global legal and sports sectors.