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Mr President, Hong Kong has established itself as a leading centre for arbitration in the region and it is essential that it maintains that position against growing competition from other arbitration centres. It is therefore necessary that the Ordinance be amended to remove anomalies and deficiencies, the more important of which have just been explained. The proposed enhancement of the powers of the court and the arbitral tribunal is consistent with international practice, and recognises arbitration as a consensual process, which has its foundation in the agreement of the parties. The proposed amendments are also in line with developments in other common law jurisdictions and will reinforce Hong Kong's position as the leading centre for arbitration in the region.

Mr President, these amendments were recommended by a committee that was broadly representative of interested groups, and included experts from the legal, engineering and accounting professions. The Bill is supported by the Bar Association, the Law Society, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and various Chambers of Commerce and professional bodies. I therefore commend the Bill to this Council. In view of the broad support that the Bill commands, I hope that this Council will approve its early enactment.

End

Hong Kong Institute of Education (Amendment) Bill

Following is a speech by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in moving the second reading of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (Amendment) Bill 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the second reading of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (Amendment) Bill 1996.

With the objective of upgrading the quality of teacher education and continuous professional development of teachers in Hong Kong, the Administration merged the four Colleges of Education and the Institute of Language in Education into a unified Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) in 1993. Following the enactment of the Hong Kong Institute of Education Ordinance in 1994, the Institute was formally established in September that year.