Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group

The Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group (“HKMAG”) was established in February 2000 as a division of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) and over the years has enjoyed a particularly close relationship with HKIAC. HKMAG was originally set up by a group of maritime professionals with diverse backgrounds, expertise and industry experience, with the aim of promoting the use of maritime arbitration and mediation in Hong Kong.  The changing nature of the maritime business and the increasing complexity of disputes now warrant the establishment of a focused specialist group to spearhead, enhance and serve Hong Kong’s competitive position as a maritime centre.  The decision has therefore been taken to establish HKMAG as a separate institution.

The development is timely given the recent announcement that HKIAC and HKMAG are confirmed as qualified arbitral institutions for the purposes of Article 2(1) of the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the “Arrangement”). Under the Arrangement, any party to arbitral proceedings seated in Hong Kong and administered by a qualified institution, such as HKIAC or HKMAG, may, prior to the issuance of the arbitral award, apply to the relevant Mainland Chinese courts for interim measures in relation to the arbitral proceedings in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Mainland China. HKMAG has reported on the Arrangement here, and HKIAC here and here.

HKMAG and HKIAC will continue to work closely together for the promotion and improvement in dispute resolution services in Hong Kong.

For further information, please contact:

Arthur Bowring, President, Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group
president@hkmag.org.hk

Sarah Grimmer, Secretary General, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
sgrimmer@hkiac.org