eBRAM Hosts “Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration Platform Development Forum”

(Hong Kong, 20 April 2026) — eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”), an independent not-for-profit arbitration and mediation institution established with the support of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, successfully held the “Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration Platform Development Forum” on 18 April at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone in Hetao, Shenzhen. Under the theme “Digital Synergy · Platform Interconnection – Building a New Ecosystem for GBA Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration”, the seminar brought together representatives from 13 arbitration and mediation institutions across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao to exchange views on platform collaboration mechanisms, rules alignment, legal technology applications and talent development, promoting the digitalisation and integrated development of dispute resolution services in the Greater Bay Area.

The forum took place at a critical juncture as Shenzhen actively prepares for the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2026. eBRAM seized this opportunity to echo APEC’s core concepts of “openness, innovation and cooperation”, and to align with the policy objectives set out in the Guiding Opinions on the Rule of Law Construction in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the 2025 Policy Address of the Chief Executive to establish a “Greater Bay Area Commercial Mediation Platform” by the end of 2026, further advancing the coordinated development of dispute resolution mechanisms in the region.

Dr Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM, said in his opening address: “With the staunch support of the Department of Justice, eBRAM officially launched the ‘Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Institutions Collaboration Platform’ in July 2024. To date, 16 major arbitration and mediation institutions from the ‘9+2’ cities in the Greater Bay Area have joined. Today’s seminar marks an important milestone in the development of the Collaboration Platform. We look forward to deepening information sharing and resource pooling among institutions to jointly build an efficient, transparent and internationally competitive online dispute resolution ecosystem, contributing to the rule of law development in the Greater Bay Area.”

Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR Government, delivered a pre-recorded video address. In his speech, he affirmed the positive role of the Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration Platform in promoting interconnectivity among arbitration and mediation institutions across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. He noted that efficient and diverse dispute resolution mechanisms help provide enterprises with greater legal certainty and efficiency, assisting them in managing risks and challenges arising from cross-border operations and their “going global” efforts. He expressed confidence that the platform would continue to deepen collaboration with member institutions, leverage the complementary strengths of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao systems, and promote the high-quality development of dispute resolution services in the Greater Bay Area.

The seminar also received support from the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government and the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR. Representatives attending in person included Ms. Wong Ka Wai, Acting Head of the Legal Information and Public Relations Department of the Macao Legal Affairs Bureau; Ms. Natalie Sin, Acting Deputy Principal Government Counsel of the Rule of Law Office, Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government; and Ms. Peggy Ma, Government Counsel of the Rule of Law Office, Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government.

Three‑Jurisdiction Institutions Gather to Discuss Collaboration Mechanisms and Legal Tech Applications

Mr. Albert Leung, Acting Chief Executive Officer of eBRAM, introduced the current development and future plans of the Collaboration Platform, noting that the platform will further promote the standardisation and interconnection of online dispute resolution mechanisms. The subsequent roundtable discussions were divided into two parts: the first part, themed “Building the GBA Online Dispute Resolution Ecosystem – Institutional Collaboration, Talent Cultivation and Institutional Alignment to Support Chinese Enterprises ‘Going Global’”, featured presentations from representatives of the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, Zhuhai Court of International Arbitration, Foshan Arbitration Commission, Huizhou Arbitration Commission, Dongguan Arbitration Commission, and the Macao World Trade Centre Arbitration Centre, sharing their practical experiences and challenges under the collaboration mechanism. The second part focused on “Technology-Enabled Commercial Mediation – Legal Technology Applications and Platform Synergies to Support Chinese Enterprises ‘Going Global’”, with representatives from the Guangzhou International Commercial Mediation Centre, Hetao International Commercial Mediation Centre, Hengqin International Commercial Mediation Centre, Foshan Zhenghe Mediation Centre, and the Macao Professional Mediators’ Association discussing how legal technology can enhance mediation efficiency and accessibility.

Continuing to Drive Deep Integration of Legal Technology and Dispute Resolution Services

eBRAM stated that the successful hosting of this seminar marks a new phase for the Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration Platform, moving from “institutional connection” to “mechanism synergy”. Participating institutions reached important consensus on core issues such as rules alignment, mutual recognition of procedures, and data interoperability. Looking ahead, eBRAM will continue to work closely with all member institutions to promote the establishment of the Greater Bay Area Commercial Mediation Platform, enhance the efficiency and transparency of cross-border dispute resolution through innovative legal technology applications, and consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a premier international legal and dispute resolution services hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The detailed seminar report has also been uploaded to the eBRAM Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Institutions Collaboration Platform webpage (https://gbadrplatform.org/conference/report/20260418) for reference.

Photo Captions

Dr. Cheung Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice of HKSAR, delivers welcome remarks by video at the event.

(Front row, from left to right): Ms. Natalie Sin, Acting Deputy Principal Government Counsel of the Rule of Law Office, Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government; Dr Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM; Ms. Wong Ka Wai, Acting Head of the Legal Information and Public Relations Department of the Macao Legal Affairs Bureau; and Ms. Peggy Ma, Government Counsel of the Rule of Law Office, Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government, together with representatives of arbitration and mediation institutions from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, gathered at the “Greater Bay Area Online Dispute Resolution Collaboration Platform Development Forum” for exchanges.