Hong Kong as a Belt and Road Initiative Dispute Resolution Hub

Cross-border investment and merger and acquisition activities have increased since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. The demand for legal services for dispute resolution has also been increasing due to the differences in cultural, political, and social systems between China and participating countries along the Belt and Road. This chapter explores the potentials of how the well-established judicial and dispute resolution systems in Hong Kong and the city’s strong reputation for the rule of law can contribute to the BRI. It first discusses the findings of interviews with four types of legal professionals – solicitors, barristers, arbitrators, and mediators – to assess Hong Kong’s function as a dispute resolution hub under the BRI. The chapter then analyses what might be done to strengthen that role in terms of two interrelated aspects: arbitration and mediation. Hong Kong’s legal infrastructure for arbitration has been well developed and is well suited to develop arbitration services under the BRI. However, the confidence of stakeholders is essential and part and parcel of this capacity, so the chapter argues that effective political communications are essential in rekindling confidence and trust in Hong Kong’s capacity to deliver world-class dispute resolution services. © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Linda Chelan Li and Phyllis Lai Lan Mo; individual chapters, the contributors. All rights reserved.