Macao signs arbitration enforcement agreement with Hong Kong

The Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan, signed an agreement with the Hong Kong Special Administration Region today concerning reciprocal recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards in the two places.

The Arrangement Concerning Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Between the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) were signed by Ms Chan and the Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR, Mr Yuen Kwok-keung at Government Headquarters in the afternoon.

Under the Arrangement, any arbitral awards made either by the courts of the Macao SAR or by the courts of the HKSAR shall be recognised and enforced in accordance with arbitration regulations of each side.

According to a press release by the Office of the Secretary of Administration and Justice, the Arrangement clearly defines procedures and regulation in implementing arbitral awards by the courts either in the Macao SAR or in HKSAR, adding that it would foster legal and judicial co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao in civil and commercial matters.

The Office said the signing of the Arrangement would better handle civil and commercial disputes between the Macao SAR and the HKSAR and facilitate the development of arbitration systems in both sides due to the increasing economic and commercial exchanges.

The full text of the Arrangement will be published soon in the Macao SAR Gazette.

Macao and the Mainland also signed the Arrangement Concerning Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Between the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region in 2007.

Source : Government Information Bureau