ADR Notebook HK

ADR · 2026-01-10

Recommended ADR Legal Information Platforms: A Roundup of Online Resources for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Judiciary launched the Integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) in phases from 2022, with full civil case e-filing mandated for the District Court and the Court of First Instance by early 2025. This digital shift has accelerated the need for litigants-in-person and in-house legal teams to access reliable, free guidance on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes. The Department of Justice’s 2023 Policy Statement on Mediation and the 2024 amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) have further embedded ADR into the mainstream litigation landscape. For parties facing a commercial dispute, a workplace grievance, or a family matter, knowing where to find authoritative procedural information is no longer optional—it is the first step to avoiding the costs and delays of a full trial. This article curates the key online platforms that provide accurate, court-endorsed, and ordinance-referenced resources for ADR in Hong Kong.

Government and Judiciary-Led Platforms

The Judiciary’s Mediation and Arbitration Pages

The most authoritative source for ADR procedures is the Hong Kong Judiciary’s official website. The Mediation page under “Services for Litigants” provides the Practice Direction on Mediation (PD 31), which sets out the court’s expectation that parties consider mediation before trial. The page also links to the Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620), the statutory framework governing mediated settlement agreements.

The Arbitration page contains the Practice Direction on Arbitration (PD 6.1) and the full text of the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609). A key resource is the “Guide to Arbitration in Hong Kong,” which explains the difference between ad hoc and institutional arbitration. The site also publishes the List of Accredited Mediators, maintained by the Mediation Council, and the Panel of Arbitrators.

Step 1: Navigate to the Judiciary website and locate the “Alternative Dispute Resolution” section under “Court Services.”
Step 2: Download the relevant Practice Direction for your case type—PD 31 for mediation, PD 6.1 for arbitration.
Step 3: Check the “Forms and Fees” page for the prescribed Form 1 (Notice of Mediation) and Form 2 (Mediation Certificate).

Department of Justice’s Mediation and Arbitration Resources

The Department of Justice (DoJ) operates a dedicated Mediation page under its “Legal Policy” division. The page publishes the “Mediation in Hong Kong” brochure, which explains the mediation process in plain language. It also links to the “Mediation Code of Conduct” and the “Accreditation Scheme for Mediators.”

The DoJ’s Arbitration page provides the “Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance: A User’s Guide,” which breaks down each part of Cap. 609 into plain-English summaries. A critical resource is the “List of Approved Arbitration Institutions,” which includes the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Hong Kong.

Practical tip: The DoJ site also hosts the “Cross-Border Mediation” section, which explains the enforcement of mediated settlement agreements under the Singapore Convention on Mediation, signed by China in 2019 and effective in Hong Kong since 2020.

Institutional and Professional Body Resources

Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)

HKIAC is the leading arbitral institution in Hong Kong. Its website provides the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules (2024), which include provisions for emergency arbitrator procedures and expedited arbitration for disputes under HKD 25 million. The site also publishes the “HKIAC Mediation Rules” and a “Mediation Clause Generator” for contract drafting.

The “Case Law Database” allows users to search anonymised HKIAC awards and mediation outcomes. This database is particularly useful for HR professionals and compliance officers who need to understand how tribunals have treated similar workplace or commercial disputes.

Step 1: Use the “Clause Generator” to draft an arbitration clause for a commercial contract.
Step 2: Select the “Expedited Procedure” if the dispute value is under HKD 25 million.
Step 3: Review the “Cost Calculator” to estimate arbitrator fees and administrative charges.

Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited (HKMAAL)

HKMAAL is the body that accredits mediators under the Mediation Ordinance. Its website maintains the “Register of Accredited Mediators,” searchable by practice area (commercial, family, construction, etc.). The site also publishes the “Code of Conduct for Mediators” and the “Complaint Procedure” for parties dissatisfied with a mediator’s conduct.

For litigants-in-person, the “Mediation Process” page explains the four stages of mediation: Opening, Exploration, Negotiation, and Agreement. The page includes a sample mediation agreement and a checklist of documents to bring to a mediation session.

Practical tip: HKMAAL’s “Continuing Professional Development” page lists upcoming mediation training courses, which are useful for HR professionals seeking to become accredited workplace mediators.

Specialist Sectoral Resources

Labour Department’s Mediation and Arbitration Services

The Labour Department operates a dedicated “Mediation and Arbitration” section under its “Employment Services” division. The page explains the statutory mediation scheme under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) for wage claims and dismissal disputes. The department also administers the “Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board,” which handles claims up to HKD 15,000.

The “Guide to Labour Tribunal” page explains the pre-trial mediation process mandated by the Labour Tribunal Ordinance (Cap. 25). The guide includes a flowchart showing the steps from filing a claim to the mediation hearing.

Step 1: File a claim at the Labour Tribunal for employment disputes.
Step 2: The tribunal will issue a mediation notice and schedule a mediation session.
Step 3: Attend the mediation session; if unresolved, the case proceeds to adjudication.

Land Registry’s Mediation for Boundary and Title Disputes

The Land Registry’s “Mediation Services” page, launched in 2023, provides a voluntary mediation scheme for boundary disputes and title irregularities. The page links to the “Land Registration Ordinance (Cap. 128)” and the “Practice Direction on Land Dispute Mediation.” The scheme is free for the first two hours of mediation.

Practical tip: Use the “Mediation Application Form” on the Land Registry site to initiate the process. The form requires a description of the dispute and a copy of the relevant land title.

HKLII is a free, searchable database of Hong Kong case law and legislation. For ADR practitioners, the “Mediation and Arbitration” case law category contains over 500 judgments from the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal on enforcement of arbitration awards and mediation confidentiality. The site also hosts the full text of the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap. 609) and the Mediation Ordinance (Cap. 620).

Step 1: Search for “mediation privilege” on HKLII to see how courts have applied section 8 of Cap. 620.
Step 2: Search for “enforcement of arbitral award” to review cases under section 89 of Cap. 609.

CLIC, run by the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law, provides plain-language guides for litigants-in-person. The “Dispute Resolution” section explains the differences between mediation, arbitration, and litigation. The site includes a “Mediation Checklist” and a “Sample Mediation Agreement.”

Practical tip: CLIC’s “Court Procedure” page explains how to apply for a stay of court proceedings under section 20 of Cap. 609, which triggers mandatory arbitration if a valid arbitration agreement exists.

Actionable Takeaways

  1. Start with the Judiciary’s Practice Directions – Always check PD 31 for mediation and PD 6.1 for arbitration before filing any court proceedings.
  2. Use HKIAC’s Clause Generator – When drafting commercial contracts, generate a tailored arbitration clause to avoid jurisdictional disputes later.
  3. Verify mediator accreditation – Search HKMAAL’s Register before appointing a mediator to ensure they are accredited under Cap. 620.
  4. Check the Labour Department’s scheme – For employment disputes under HKD 15,000, use the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board before resorting to the Labour Tribunal.
  5. Leverage free case law databases – Use HKLII and CLIC to research how Hong Kong courts have interpreted ADR legislation, without incurring legal research costs.

This does not constitute legal advice. Consult a solicitor for your specific case.