Introduction

The long-awaited new Arbitration Ordinance (Chapter 609) ("the Ordinance") was recently enacted in Hong Kong and is expected to come into force in the first half of 2011. The Ordinance heralds significant reform of the arbitration regime in Hong Kong and reflects the Government's attempt to promote Hong Kong as a regional centre for international arbitration. This article outlines the background and object of the reform, and summarises two key changes contained in the Ordinance.