SJ Lam says IOMed will fill global dispute gap
發佈日期: 2025-05-28 22:48
TVB News
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said the International Organisation for Mediation, or IOMed, would fill the gap in the global dispute resolution mechanism. Lam's comment comes with Hong Kong set to become the headquarters of the IOMed. Reconstruction work is being carried out at the Old Wan Chai Police Station to convert it into the International Organisation for Mediation.
On Friday, the city will host the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of The International Organisation for Mediation. Foreign Minster Wang Yi and representatives from nearly 60 countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will attend the ceremony.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam said the fact China and other nations agreed to set up the IOMed in Hong Kong shows their support and trust in the city.
Secretary for Justice says: People can come to Hong Kong very easily.Hong Kong is very safe. It provides a very convenient, safe and comfortable environment for peopleto come here, to sit down, to resolve the dispute.And then, of course, we have a lot of legal expertise and persons involve in dispute resolution industries who can provide all sorts of support services, including administrative support.
Lam said the IOMed would probably handle three types of disputes:"Firstly, disputes between different countries.The second type would be concerned with dispute between a country and a foreign national. One good example is investor-state dispute.And the third type of dispute would probably be international commercial dispute between private entities coming from different countries.
The Justice Chief added the IOMed would help promote a mediation culture:It would be a very important milestone, for the very first time in human history, an intergovernmental organisation devoted to mediation. The importance attaches to use mediation has been risen to a much higher level. Firstly, we start with Hong Kong. The main task is to give people the confidence. We have to emphasise that mediation is a confidential process. I think the same idea will apply internationally.
When asked about the IOMed's opening time, Lam said it would need to depend on the provision and contract of the Convention. But he says it should be the end of this year or early next year.
