Hong Kong: A Global Hub for Dispute Resolution through Innovation

On December 19, 2025, Hong Kong hosted an impactful forum titled "Problem-Solving City: Hong Kong as a Disputes Resolver," organized by Friday Culture Limited in collaboration with the Hong Kong Coalition and the AALCO Regional Arbitration Centre. This high-profile event gathered government officials, legal experts, and business leaders to position Hong Kong as a leading center for dispute resolution across traditional and emerging sectors.

The primary purpose of the forum was to highlight the government's ambition to solidify the city’s status as a global hub for dispute resolution and digital finance. Through initiatives like LEAP, which emphasizes regulatory measures, Hong Kong aims to attract investment and nurture a robust environment for legal services. The AALCO Regional Arbitration Centre in Hong Kong is pivotal, staffed with trained mediators, arbitrators, and judges specializing in sports and digital finance, as noted by Director Nick Chan.

Chan emphasized the Centre's role in developing legal tech capabilities, highlighting its interdisciplinary specialists engaging in global dispute resolution. As part of the initiative, Herman Hu, President of Friday Culture Limited, pointed out that Hong Kong's selection to host the International Mediation Organization signifies the city’s commitment to peacefully resolving disputes, consistent with the “One Country, Two Systems” framework.

During discussions, experts pointed out Hong Kong’s advantages, including its common law system, bilingual legal status, and strategic position between the Chinese and international markets. They explored how these attributes, coupled with access to 1.3 billion consumers and collaboration between Hong Kong, Macau, and the central government, empower it to become a foremost center for sports dispute resolution.

An engaging roundtable led by Witman Hung focused on Hong Kong's comprehensive regulatory framework for digital finance. Experts discussed crucial topics such as interoperability, user security, and protections on decentralized platforms. Industry leaders highlighted Hong Kong’s pioneering efforts in digital bonds and its significant role in resolving disputes in the burgeoning $15 billion digital finance sector.

Johnny Ng underscored the importance of a gradual approach to digital finance to foster public trust, while Au King Lun elaborated on Hong Kong’s role in facilitating cross-border connections among regulatory layers, technical infrastructure, and capital markets. The representative from the Hong Kong Coalition concluded that the city is transitioning from a regulatory role to a rule-making one, bolstered by the support of 30 member organizations driving forward international standards.

This forum convincingly illustrated how Hong Kong's legal framework, strategic positioning, and government backing collectively establish it as a preeminent venue for global dispute resolution. The insights shared underline the city's potential to lead in this competitive landscape, further solidifying its status as a beacon for dispute resolution and digital financial solutions.

For more information on the discussions that took place during the forum, visit the link here.