XN000022-1981-10-08 — Page 2

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1981

RIGHT ATMOSPHERE FOR ARBITRATION HERE, SIR JACK SAYS

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HONG KONG HAS THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE AND THE NECESSARY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR A FLOURISHING INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION ORGANISED BY THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS, SIR JACK SAID THAT ARBITRATION, AS A METHOD OF RESOLVING DISPUTES, WAS A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE.

+AS THE MAJOR FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF ASIA,+ SIR JACK SAID, HONG KONG HAS OUTSTANDINGLY THE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES NECESSARY TO AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE: IT IS INDEED THE CROSS-ROADS OF ASIA.+

IN THE FIELD OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, SIR JACK SAID HONG KONG OFFERED THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY +A SOPHISTICATED AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE WHICH IS MORE THAN EQUAL TO ITS EVER DEVELOPING NEEDS+.

SIR JACK SAID THE RANGE OF COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG INCLUDED TELEX, BUREAUFAX, INTERNATIONAL DATABASE ACCESS SERVICE AND DATA SWITCH, IN ADDITION TO TELEPHONIC

INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DIALLING TO OVER 80 COUNTRIES.

AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS +DEDICATED TO A POLICY OF FREE TRADE, DEDICATED TO A PHILOSOPHY OF HAVING AS FREE AN ECONOMY AS POSSIBLE+, SIR JACK ADDED.

SIR JACK POINTED OUT THAT ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE

CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS PROVIDED A VALUABLE SERVICE

IN THE SEARCH FOR EVER MORE EFFICIENT WAYS OF RESOLVING INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE DISPUTES.

THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION IS AT PRESENT UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION BY THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.