A Hong Kong think tank under the chief executive says now is the right time for the city to go paperless on arbitral decisions, a move that could boost its edge as an arbitration hub. The recommendation by the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) follows a recent forum with leading figures from the legal, academic and business sectors exploring pathways to digital arbitration. Electronic arbitral awards (e-Awards) – decisions produced, signed and delivered entirely in electronic form – would allow Hong Kong to harness digital transformation in dispute resolution.
A Hong Kong think tank under the chief executive says now is the right time for the city to go paperless on arbitral decisions, a move that could boost its edge as an arbitration hub. The recommendation by the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) follows a recent forum with leading figures from the legal, academic and business sectors exploring pathways to digital arbitration. The CEPU said electronic arbitral awards (e-Awards) – decisions produced, signed and delivered entirely in electronic form – would allow Hong Kong to harness digital transformation in dispute resolution. The move would enhance efficiency, security and user confidence, while reinforcing the city’s position as one of the world’s leading arbitration centres.
Hong Kong is actively pushing – and being positioned by national strategies – to solidify its status as a premier international arbitration hub in the Asia-Pacific region. This effort is driven by a combination of government initiatives, institutional leadership from the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and alignment with mainland China’s broader goals for rule of law and cross-border dispute resolution.
The city ranked joint first with Singapore in the Asia-Pacific region and joint second, after London, as the most preferred seat of arbitration worldwide, according to the 2025 International Arbitration Survey conducted by Queen Mary University of London in April last year.