10
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1982
GOVERNMENT CO-ORDINATING ROLE IN ARBITRATION URGED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY AND VIABLE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATIONS.
TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL DURING ITS SECOND-READING, CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PLAY A CO-ORDINATING ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AS A CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
MR PETER C. WONG POINTED OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BILL WAS PASSED INTO LAW, MUCH REMAINED TO BE DONE.
+RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF ARBITRATION IN HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO BE DRAFTED, AND THIS WILL REQUIRE THE SAME DEGREE OF CARE, EXPERTISE AND CONSULTATION AS THE DRAFTING OF THE BILL ITSELF,+ HE SAID.
+AT A TIME WHEN THINGS ARE MOVING VERY QUICKLY, IT WOULD BE WISE TO PROCEED AS SWIFTLY AS IS PRACTICABLE WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE NECESSARY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
THERE WAS ALSO THE NEED TO PROVIDE SUITABLE ARBITRATION FACILITIES, MR WONG NOTED, ADDING THAT THIS WAS AN AREA WHERE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED WITH ARBITRATION WOULD NO DOUBT WISH TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE.
+SIMILARLY, THE SHORTAGE OF ARBITRATORS IN HONG KONG WILL BE ANOTHER AREA WHERE THESE INSTITUTIONS WOULD WISH TO CONSIDER AND SEEK WAYS AND MEANS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, HE SAID.
MR F.K. HU FELT THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION SERVICES WOULD FURTHER ENHANCE THE POSITION OF HONG KONG AS A LEADING FINANCE AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE.
HOWEVER, HE SUGGESTED THAT AFTER THE BILL WAS ENACTED, SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS THE SHIP OWNERS' ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS, SHOULD BE HELD ON THE WAYS AND MEANS OF MAKING HONG KONG AN ARBITRATION CENTRE.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE BY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ARBITRATION FACILITIES.
+THE GOVERNMENT CAN FURTHER ASSIST IN PUBLICISING AND PROMOTING ARBITRATION IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
+ IT CAN ALSO HELP GREATLY IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING.+