FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hong Kong – 21 November 2025 AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) announced today its landmark appointment by the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Government (DoJ) to administer the city’s first-ever Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution (“the Scheme”). This pioneering initiative, a key pledge announced in the Policy Address, establishes a dedicated, world-class framework for resolving sports-related disputes in Hong Kong. The Scheme will run for two years and is slated to launch before the end of this year.
The first-of-its-kind Pilot Scheme will provide athletes, coaches, sports bodies, and commercial partners with a professional, fair and efficient mechanism to settle disputes, further enhancing Hong Kong’s position as an international centre for dispute resolution. AALCO-HKRAC will be responsible for the overall administration and institutional support of the Scheme, including formulating specific mediation and arbitration rules, recruiting and appointing mediators and arbitrators, establishing a fee structure, and managing all mediation and arbitration proceedings.
This appointment follows a rigorous and open selection process. DoJ earlier established a sports dispute resolution advisory committee comprising representatives from the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau, the Hong Kong Bar Association, and the Law Society of Hong Kong. The Committee conducted a stringent evaluation of the joint proposals received against published assessment criteria. AALCO-HKRAC sincerely thanks the Department of Justice for its trust and recognition. This appointment is a strong affirmation of our Centre’s professional competence, international standing, and commitment to advancing dispute resolution and legal cooperation.
A spokesman for AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre said: “We sincerely thank the Hong Kong SAR Government for its full support, which makes the first-ever Scheme fully accessible to the Hong Kong sports community and promotes broader adoption of sports dispute resolution mechanisms.”
Leveraging Technology for Global Access
Partnering with eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (eBRAM) as the Technology Provider, AALCO-HKRAC will leverage Hong Kong’s cutting-edge LawTech and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). eBRAM’s self-developed ODR platform will provide a seamless, one-stop solution for filing claims, managing documents, and conducting hearings, enabling efficient dispute resolution for parties across different time zones and geographical locations. eBRAM will be responsible for providing the technological infrastructure and support required to operate the Scheme, promoting the wider use of LawTech and ODR services.
Rule of Law Collaboration Promotes Regional Development
The establishment of the Pilot Scheme synergizes with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policy direction under the Belt and Road Initiative and Greater Bay Area development. It fosters collaboration among the legal, sports, and technology sectors, enhancing Hong Kong’s reputation as a leading international hub for sports dispute resolution.
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About AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre
The Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) is a cornerstone of international cooperation, established as a major outcome of the historic 1955 Bandung Conference. As an intergovernmental organization backed by 49 Member States spanning Asia and Africa—all active partners in the Belt and Road Initiative—AALCO has been a pivotal force in shaping legal frameworks across the Global South for decades.
The AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC), inaugurated on 25 May 2022, is a direct extension of this legacy. It holds the distinct status of being the first and only arbitration institution in Hong Kong established under international law by AALCO. As such, AALCO-HKRAC enjoys the privileges and immunities accorded to international organizations, providing a uniquely neutral and protected legal environment for dispute resolution.
Since its establishment in 2022, the Centre has been proactively reinforcing Hong Kong as a hub for cross-border dispute resolution and professional talent development. The Centre has proactively championed this goal through initiatives like launching Hong Kong’s first Sports Mediation Training Programme and building strategic collaborations with universities and sports institutions.
Building on this robust foundation, AALCO-HKRAC is expertly positioned to handle a wide spectrum of disputes. While our cutting-edge Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform efficiently serves Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), our core expertise and institutional stature make us the ideal forum for high-value, complex commercial arbitration. We specialize in resolving significant B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2G (Business-to-Government) commercial disputes, making us a trusted partner for major projects and investments throughout the Belt and Road region.
Our mandate is to provide a secure, efficient, and authoritative dispute resolution hub that connects Asia, Africa and the world.