Hong Kong reveals maritime arbitration cases and steps to boost legal services
Hong Kong authorities disclosed maritime arbitration and mediation case numbers for 2023-2025, outlined plans to revise the Arbitration Ordinance, promote Hong Kong law in standard shipping contracts, introduce a "dual-flag" ship registry, and establish a maritime college to train legal talent.
The Hong Kong government has disclosed details of maritime arbitration and mediation cases handled over the past three years, alongside plans to strengthen the city's maritime legal services, in a legislative answer published on 28 October.
According to data provided by the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Association and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, the two bodies handled a combined total of 25 maritime arbitration cases in 2023, 28 in 2024, and 30 in 2025. The International Dispute Resolution and Mediation Centre, headquartered in Hong Kong, was officially inaugurated in October 2025. It mediated an international maritime dispute in May this year involving parties from mainland China and Singapore, resulting in a settlement agreement.
The government said its planned revision of the Arbitration Ordinance, to be completed in 2027, does not include specific measures for maritime arbitration. However, it stated that an overall upgrade of the arbitration regime, guided by principles of speed, finality, enhanced confidentiality, fairness and party autonomy, would benefit maritime and shipping disputes. The reform is being overseen by a working group established in 2025 to review the ordinance.
To promote Hong Kong law as the governing law and Hong Kong as the chosen seat for arbitration in standard shipping contracts, the government noted that Hong Kong is already one of four designated arbitration venues in the Baltic and International Maritime Council's standard contracts. In June, it introduced a tax bill offering a half-tax concession for physical commodity traders, which requires qualifying traders to use specified Hong Kong maritime services, including maritime legal and arbitration services, with arbitration agreements stipulating Hong Kong as the venue. Promotion trips to Geneva, Beijing and Shanghai were conducted in April and September to market the incentives.
On the planned "dual-flag" ship registry, the government said it will table an amendment bill this year to introduce the arrangement, which allows a bareboat charter registration under a second flag while the original owner's registration is suspended. The bill will include provisions to clarify that the first flag's effect is suspended and the second flag takes effect, ensuring no overlapping jurisdiction between the two registries, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Regarding the establishment of a maritime college, the Transport and Logistics Bureau said it will adopt a "college-industry collaboration" model, coordinating with domestic and international maritime institutions and global shipping firms to offer courses for industry practitioners. The bureau has also been operating a Maritime Talent Training Sponsorship Scheme – Law since September 2023, which has funded 11 interns, eight of whom have completed their training. The Hong Kong International Legal Talent Training College is expected to explore cooperation with the future maritime college to combine expertise and resources for training programmes and professional exchanges.