The Hong Kong Judiciary has announced plans to establish the Hong Kong International Commercial Court (HKICC) within the coming year, in a move aimed at strengthening the city’s position as a leading dispute resolution hub and international financial centre.
The HKICC will operate as a specialist division of the High Court, adjudicating complex, high-value international and cross-border commercial disputes.
Preparatory work is underway for the launch of the HKICC, which aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and responds to growing demand for mechanisms to address increasingly complex legal and factual issues arising from cross-border commercial activities. Such disputes require specialist judicial expertise, as well as court procedures and practices.
Located within the High Court Building, the HKICC will offer a comprehensive range of dispute resolution options, with cases to be heard by judges with substantial experience in commercial law.
A dedicated Practice Direction will set out the categories of cases within the HKICC’s jurisdiction, along with detailed procedural rules. These will include measures to streamline the litigation process, introduce a more flexible approach to appeals, and ensure the timely disposal of cases and appeals, drawing on best practices from other international commercial courts.
The HKICC will also leverage technology in its proceedings, including remote hearings, electronic filing, electronic bundles and voice-to-text transcription.
