eBRAM Actively Participates in Mediation Week 2026 to Promote Popularisation and Community Engagement of Mediation Culture

(Hong Kong, 6 May 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, has taken as one of the supporting organisations of this year’s Mediation Week and has actively taken part in its events. On 5 May, eBRAM co-organised the “Sports Mediation Seminar” with the Department of Justice and the Asia-Africa Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, exploring the application and development of mediation in Hong Kong’s sports ecosystem.

Co-organising Sports Mediation Seminar to Boost Development of Sports Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong

The Sports Mediation Seminar focused on the increasingly important role of mediation in Hong Kong’s sports landscape, with discussions centred on the mediation first and arbitration later operating model of the Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution and how legal technology can enhance dispute resolution efficiency. The Seminar was opened with a welcoming address by Dr. CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice. Distinguished speakers included Mr. Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of eBRAM, Professor Nick Chan, Director of AALCO Hong Kong Regional Centre, Mr. Keith Chan, Member of the Legal Affairs Committee of The Football Association of Hong Kong, China, Mr. Daniel Chan Ho Yuen, MH, Paralympic Wheelchair Badminton Medallist, and Ms. Queenie Lau SC. Moderated by Mr. Hau Pak-sun, Member of the Advisory Committee on Sports Dispute Resolution, the speakers shared practical experiences and insights on the Pilot Scheme from the perspectives of athletes, legal professionals and sports administrators.

With the commissioning of Kai Tak Sports Park and the booming development of Hong Kong’s sports industry, the number and complexity of related disputes are expected to keep rising, covering athletes’ contracts, sponsorship agreements, selection disputes, disciplinary actions and various competition-related issues. For athletes, whose careers are short and schedules tight, an efficient and timely dispute resolution mechanism is crucial. Launched by the Department of Justice, the Sports Dispute Resolution Pilot Scheme adopts “Mediation First, Arbitration as Backup” as its core, providing a fair, efficient and convenient system for the sports sector. Featuring flexibility, confidentiality and relationship preservation, mediation resolves disputes constructively without disrupting athletes’ training and competitions.

As the technology service provider of the Pilot Scheme, eBRAM utilises its self-developed Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform to conduct case management, video-conference negotiations, mediation and hearings online in one stop, streamlining traditional procedures and enhancing dispute resolution efficiency. The platform offers a number of core features: full-process electronic filing and document management, video-conferencing with real-time interpretation and transcription supporting over 25 languages, e-signature system, and blockchain technology to ensure data integrity and tamper resistance. The platform also complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China (PIPL) and the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance of Hong Kong (PDPO), ensuring a high level of confidentiality and security of case materials. Through the ODR Platform, all parties and mediators can participate in proceedings anytime, anywhere – even when athletes are overseas for competitions, they can seamlessly attend mediation or arbitration hearings without disrupting their professional careers.

Mr Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM, said: “eBRAM draws on its practical experience in online arbitration and mediation and cross-border dispute resolution to share with the industry how mediation can create a constructive communication space in the fast-paced, highly confrontational sports environment. Sports disputes are often time-sensitive and directly affect athletes’ chances to compete or even their entire careers. Traditional litigation is not always suited to the sports industry in terms of time, cost and adversarial nature. Through eBRAM’s ODR Platform, we can conduct mediation in an efficient and flexible manner, reducing time and costs for all parties while preserving relationships – providing a practical and feasible dispute resolution solution for the sports sector and promoting Hong Kong as an international sports dispute resolution hub.”

Advancing Community Engagement of Mediation Culture; Pro Bono Online Mediation Services Benefit the Community

Beyond sports mediation, Mediation Week also covers livelihood disputes such as building water seepage. eBRAM’s contributions to community mediation have been widely recognised by the community. eBRAM has partnered with the Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS) to launch the Pro Bono Online Mediation Scheme for Water Seepage Disputes, dedicated to resolving neighbourhood disputes arising from building water seepage. The Scheme makes full use of eBRAM’s Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform to break geographical and time constraints, integrating advanced technologies such as video conferencing, secure document management and blockchain evidence storage, which significantly shortens processing time and eliminates high legal costs. Since its launch in December 2024, the Scheme has received over 240 enquiries and handled over 80 cases, some of which have been successfully resolved with legally binding settlement agreements or memorandums. Given its effectiveness, the service has been extended to 2026 to continue providing free and professional mediation support to the public.

In response to the 2025 Tai Po Fire, eBRAM also joined hands with AVS to launch the one-year Pro Bono Dispute Resolution Scheme for Tai Po Fire. Through eBRAM’s ODR Platform, the Scheme provides free mediation services covering legal, engineering and property management expertise for affected residents and stakeholders, assisting in resolving disputes related to compensation, tenancy, repairs and management arising from the fire, and facilitating community harmony and reconstruction.

Dr. Thomas SO, JP, Chairman of eBRAM, stated: “Mediation Week is an important platform for promoting mediation culture. eBRAM is honoured to participate in it and collaborate with the Department of Justice and all sectors to advance the popularisation of mediation and legal tech in Hong Kong. Whether it is sports disputes, building seepage disputes or disputes arising from community incidents, eBRAM is committed to delivering efficient and professional mediation services through legal tech. We hope to empower more members of the public and enterprises with convenient dispute resolution services through technology, and jointly drive Hong Kong to become an international legal and dispute resolution services hub in the Asia-Pacific region.”