Since its implementation on August 8, 2025, the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (Cap. 652, SOPO) has reshaped the dispute resolution framework for Hong Kong’s construction sector. To continuously promote the implementation of the Ordinance and cultivate compliant, professional adjudication talents, the Second Security of Payment Adjudication Training for the Construction Industry has been successfully held. The training was hosted by Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC), strongly supported by the Development Bureau (DEVB) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, co-organized with the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS), and the Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers (HKICM), and supported by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), the Hong Kong Bar Association (HKBA), the Law Society of Hong Kong (LawSoc), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the School of Law of City University of Hong Kong, and eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre.
The opening ceremony of the training was held recently. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Dennis Cai, Deputy Director of AALCO-HKRAC, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all co-organizers and supporting organizations. He highlighted the unique advantage of AALCO-HKRAC—bringing together adjudicators from diverse professional backgrounds to fully leverage their expertise on this new AALCO platform, and providing highly efficient and professional dispute resolution services for the construction industry. Deputy Director Cai also pointed out that construction dispute resolution services possess immense development potential along the “Belt and Road” initiative, and the Centre, with its unique core strengths, is well-positioned to help industry practitioners seize these opportunities. Subsequently, Ir Johnny Chi-ho Chan, JP, Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) of the Development Bureau, delivered a speech, highly recognizing AALCO-HKRAC’s unremitting efforts in promoting SOPO and the adjudication system, and encouraging participants to apply what they have learned to actively contribute to the industry.
As a registered Adjudicator Nominating Body (ANB) under SOPO, AALCO-HKRAC has built a one-stop-shop dispute resolution platform integrating adjudication, mediation, and arbitration. Whether for local projects or cross-border construction disputes, parties can rely on the Centre’s highly efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution mechanisms, with arbitral and adjudicative decisions carrying binding and enforceable power. For a long time, the Centre has actively promoted the adjudication system to support the comprehensive roll-out of SOPO. The syllabus of this training program was strictly designed in accordance with all mandatory modules prescribed by the Development Bureau, comprehensively covering core areas such as contract law, the law of evidence, the law of tort, the substantive and procedural provisions of the SOPO, AALCO-HKRAC Adjudication Rules, conflict of interest management, and the practical writing of adjudication decisions, ensuring that participants systematically master the complete knowledge structure required for adjudication work. Continuing its high-standard professional criteria, this training brought together authoritative local and overseas faculty, offering a curriculum that combines theoretical depth with practical value, which was highly acclaimed by all industry participants.
Top-Tier International Faculty: Integrating Local and Cross-Border Multi-Dimensional Professional Perspectives
The faculty for this training comprised leading authorities in the field of construction dispute resolution from both local and overseas jurisdictions. Their expertise spans judicial adjudication, Belt and Road projects, cross-border adjudication, and Hong Kong local ordinance practices, providing participants with professional lectures that combined global vision with local execution:
The Hon. Justice Dato’ Lee Swee Seng, Judge of the Federal Court of Malaysia (the apex court of Malaysia), who has deep expertise in statutory adjudication systems worldwide. He compared security of payment legislations across Hong Kong, the UK, Australia, and Malaysia, analyzing core legal principles, jurisdictional boundaries, and decision-writing standards from a judicial perspective, while dissecting practical risks and compliance points using real-life precedents.
Prof. the Hon. Nick Chan, BBS, MH, JP, Director of AALCO-HKRAC, who conducted case-study workshops utilizing the Development Bureau’s standard decision templates.
Prof. Christopher To, Former Chairman of the Construction Dispute Resolution Committee of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE-CDRC) and an authoritative expert on Hong Kong SOPO practice, who comprehensively explained statutory provisions, construction contract law, construction tort rules, and rules of evidence for disputes, while deeply interpreting the Development Bureau’s complete set of official practice guidelines.
Mr. Zhu Shuying, Founding President of the B&R JT Research who gave a specialized presentation on dispute review mechanisms for construction projects in the Mainland and along the Belt and Road, clarifying the path for aligning and resolving cross-border construction contract disputes between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Sr. Ng Chu Yin, an empaneled adjudicator of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) in Malaysia and a practicing lawyer, who led several practical workshops, systematically explaining the complete structure of adjudication decisions, standardized writing templates, and common operational challenges in drafting documents.
The entire curriculum integrated judicial perspectives, Mainland cross-border project experience, mature Southeast Asian adjudication practices, and detailed local regulations of Hong Kong. It broke through the limitations of single-jurisdiction knowledge to meet the professional advancement needs of both local practitioners and cross-border project professionals, achieving a deep integration of theory and practice.
Gathering of Industry Leaders: Building a Professional Network for Construction Disputes
The participants in this training were leading professionals from Hong Kong’s legal and construction sectors, including registered engineers, architects, chartered surveyors, construction project managers, barristers, solicitors, arbitrators, and senior adjudication practitioners. Throughout the course, professionals from various sectors engaged in in-depth discussions on core issues such as the pain points of SOPO implementation, cross-border construction dispute resolution, adjudication case management, and the drafting of adjudication decisions, sharing practical experiences based on real, front-line project cases. The course also featured practical assessment sessions to help participants consolidate their professional knowledge on the spot.
All participants expressed that the training program was highly systematic and closely aligned with industry practices, serving as an invaluable reference for professional learning in the field of construction payment dispute resolution. The exchange among elites from different professional backgrounds effectively bridged the professional barriers between the legal and construction industries, establishing a high-level, cross-domain talent network to consolidate professional strength for the long-term development of Hong Kong’s construction dispute resolution sector.
With the successful conclusion of the Second SOP Adjudication Professional Training, the Centre once again extends its heartfelt thanks to all lecturing experts, collaborating organizations, and participating industry elites. Future training programs will continue to be launched by AALCO-HKRAC to meet industry development needs, building a regular cross-sector professional exchange platform, and working hand-in-hand with colleagues in the legal and construction sectors to continuously refine and modernize Hong Kong’s construction dispute resolution system.
