On the afternoon of September 25, 2024, the delegation from the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), led by Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh, Chairman of VIAC, visited and worked with the delegation from the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China), along with representatives from the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Overview of the Working session
Attending the working session are, on the Hong Kong delegation's side, Mr. Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, led the delegation, along with representatives from the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, and delegates of other Hong Kong arbitration institutions and organizations. On the VIAC’s side, Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh, Chairman of VIAC, led the delegation, with the participation of members of VIAC’s Board of Management and some of the Arbitrators.
Mr. Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong
At the meeting, Mr. Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, welcomed Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh and the VIAC delegation for their visit and working session. He shared that, with Hong Kong's strategic position in the region and its independent judicial system, the development of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods has been quite robust. This is evident in the establishment of numerous arbitration and mediation centers, and reports also indicate that dispute resolution activities have been relatively vibrant.
The representative of the Hong Kong delegation noted that, alongside development, both Vietnam and Hong Kong still face many challenges in promoting the widespread adoption of ADRs. He remarked that arbitration and mediation are gradually becoming international trends, especially in Hong Kong, where these methods have received strong support from judicial authorities. However, businesses remain unfamiliar and not yet proactive in utilizing these methods.
Mr. Paul expressed his expectation for collaboration with Vietnam to support the development of the ADRs market. He shared that Hong Kong warmly welcomes the VIAC delegation to participate in events organized by Hong Kong to promote the use of ADRs in the future. He also expressed hope for the cooperation between the arbitration and mediation centers of both sides, with the desire to create opportunities for the ADRs practitioners community to exchange and learn from each other, thereby providing practical conditions for expanding the legal framework on arbitration. He believes that deep and diverse cooperation among individuals and organizations in the international ADRs community will establish a strong foundation for collaboration between both sides.
Mr. Paul highly appreciated VIAC’s pioneering activities and significant contributions to the development of the ADRs market in Vietnam. As the leading organization in arbitration and mediation in Vietnam, the collaboration between the two sides presents a promising foundation for VIAC to gain insights into practical experiences and the development of ADRs across the region. This would, in turn, improve the domestic legal framework on arbitration and enhance the effectiveness of arbitration and other dispute resolution methods in Vietnam. At the same time, it offers Hong Kong the opportunity to engage, learn, and exchange valuable experiences from VIAC's activities in particular and the Vietnamese market in general, establishing a solid foundation for cooperation and spreading the value and effectiveness of ADRs to the legal and business communities.
Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh, Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC)
Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh, Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), expressed his pleasure that Vietnam and Hong Kong have recently become each other's top key partners in both trade and investment. He noted that in 2023, Vietnam became Hong Kong’s seventh-largest merchandise trading partner, and the number of foreign investors from this region accounted for a relatively high proportion, ranking fifth among all countries and regions investing in Vietnam. With many positive signs in the cooperative relationship, Hong Kong is considered one of Vietnam's potential partners in the near future.
In addition to that, according to data from VIAC, disputes involving one party from China (including Taiwan and Hong Kong) account for a significant proportion. Mr. Hạnh emphasized that, given this reality, efforts to promote and raise awareness about mitigating legal risks and dispute resolution should be given more attention.
Regarding the future coordination plan between Vietnam and Hong Kong, he emphasized the focus on legal issues in general and ADRs in particular, aiming to support the investment activities of the business community effectively. Mr. Hạnh noted that establishing exchange and networking activities for the ADRs practitioners community and businesses from both sides is a concept with high practical value. This would not only provide an opportunity for legal practitioners from Vietnam to share experiences, knowledge, and information about arbitration activities in Hong Kong but also serve to enhance the capacity of businesses in preventing legal risks and resolving disputes effectively through out-of-court mechanisms.
Mr. Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong (on the left) and Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh, President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) (on the right)
President of VIAC - Prof. Dr. Lê Hồng Hạnh gave his most sincere appreciation to Mr. Paul Lam and the Hong Kong delegation for taking the time to meet and engage with the Leaders and Arbitrators of VIAC. At the conclusion of the working session, both delegations expressed optimism and confidence that, with the available potential for cooperation, the relationship between VIAC and the legal and arbitration organizations in Hong Kong would become increasingly solid and robust, significantly contributing to the establishment of a transparent and effective legal environment for investment and business activities of enterprises in the region.
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