On 31 January 2015, the Dispute Resolution Committee and China Committee co-organized a visit to the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (the “Cooperation Zone”) and Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) in Qianhai, China.

The aim of the visit was to provide FIDA members with the opportunity to exchange information, expertise and experiences with the Qianhai officials on the development of the Cooperation Zone, and to generate a greater understanding with the Mainland counterparts on the development of the arbitration and dispute resolution area in Shenzhen.

A total of 14 FIDA members and 9 FIDA student members and friends attended the trip, including FIDA President Ms. Benita Yu, Vice President and Co-Chair of the China Committee Ms. Carmen Kan, Former President and Co-Chair of the China Committee Ms. Janice Choi, Council Member and Co-Chair of the China Committee, Ms. Judy Ngan, and Former President Ms. Angela Ho.

The group first visited the Shenzhen Qianhai Exhibition Centre, where a meeting was held between FIDA members and directors from the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, including Deputy Director Mr. Tang Shaojie (唐 紹杰, 前海管理局副局長), Deputy Director of Legal System Mr. Zhang Guangchao (張光超, 法制建設處副處長), and Director of Legal System Mr. Song Liang (宋亮, 法制建設處主任). Topics of the discussion included the historical, current and future development of the Cooperation Zone, with specific emphasis on the legal environment and policies, and other initiatives imposed by the Mainland Chinese government to encourage the development of local and international businesses. The meeting was followed with a tour around the Exhibition Centre, and the Qianhai Youth Entrepreneur Innovation Hub.

The group then visited the SCIA, where members met with SCIA Secretary-General Mr. Liu Xiaochun (劉曉春, 深圳國際仲裁院秘書長), SCIA Dean Mr. Wang Suli (王素麗, 院長), Executive Director Mr. Qi Ran (漆染, 行政總監), Deputy Director of the General Office Mr. Yang Tao (楊濤, 綜合處副處長), and Deputy Director of the Secretariat, Mr. Chen Yuming (陳宇明, 前海秘書處副處長及秘書). With the aim of creating a legal environment based on fairness, justice and credibility, the SCIA was established in 1993 to encourage joint cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese law firms, and provide an additional commercial arbitration platform to resolve the contract disputes and other property rights disputes amongst individuals, legal entities and other institutions from domestic China and overseas. The meeting overall was successful and rewarding, as members were able to obtain an in-depth understanding the mechanisms of the SCIA, and the general arbitration and dispute resolution environment in China.

After a busy morning, the group had lunch with members from the Shenzhen Lawyers Association led by Ms. Han Jun, Vice President, whom Angela Ho kindly introduced to FIDA. Ideas for future cooperation were exchanged.

The group visited the Dafen Oil Painting Village – one of the leading oil painting villages in China, in the afternoon, before heading back to Hong Kong in the evening.