International Organization for Mediation Established in Hong Kong to Promote Peaceful Dispute Resolution

2025-05-30 23:19 Last Updated At：23:48

Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today

The Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) and the Global Forum on International Mediation successfully concluded today (May 30).

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Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi, attended the Signing Ceremony of the Convention in Hong Kong. Mr Wang was the first to sign the Convention on behalf of China. Thirty-three countries, including China and countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, jointly signed the Convention. In addition, more than 50 countries and nearly 20 international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), also sent senior representatives to witness the Signing Ceremony. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Wang said that as an innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations. The establishment of the IOMed is an actualisation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; it is also an example of a civilisational belief in harmony and an epitome of inclusiveness in the culture of the rule of law. The IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes. The success of the "one country, two systems" principle has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. Mr Wang said that he looks forward to all parties working together to let the IOMed play a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes for a brighter future for humanity.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its staunch support of Hong Kong, allowing Hong Kong the honour of housing the IOMed headquarters. He also thanked the international community for placing their trust and confidence in the city. He said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. With a robust, efficient and well-respected legal system, as well as world-class legal and dispute resolution services professionals, Hong Kong is also the most preferred seat of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong goes all out to build bridges with the world and will actively support and facilitate the IOMed's valuable work in settling international disputes through mediation, thereby providing a pathway for countries to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding.

The Global Forum on International Mediation in the afternoon discussed topics such as mediation of disputes among countries and mediation of international investment and commercial disputes. Twenty-three leaders from different countries and international organisations shared their experiences on how a neutral third party can effectively assist in the mediation of disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, highlighting the importance of mediation to the peaceful development of the world and the practice of justice. The speakers also discussed new developments in international investment and commercial dispute mediation and the contributions that the IOMed can make.

Witnessed by forum guests, Mr Lam signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Mrs Cham Nimul, to strengthen co-operation between the two places on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution.

The objective and goal of the IOMed is to promote and facilitate the peaceful settlement of international disputes and to develop friendly relations and co-operation between countries through mediation. It is an important mechanism for implementing Article 33 of the UN Charter to peacefully settle international disputes through mediation and other means. It is of great significance to achieving win-win co-operation among all parties to the dispute, improving global governance, and promoting world peace and stability in the international order. The IOMed will be the first international intergovernmental legal organisation devoted to the use of mediation in resolving international disputes. It will be a beneficial supplement to the current international dispute settlement mechanism and will provide a new legal public good in international rule of law, marking a milestone in promoting the settlement of international disputes through mediation.

The Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation is the legal basis for the establishment of the IOMed, which covers important provisions such as the functions, governance structure, operation, scope of cases accepted, privileges and immunities of the IOMed. With the signing of the Convention, the IOMed will be formally established after signatories' ratification of the Convention and be headquartered in Hong Kong. The IOMed headquarters is expected to be operational by the end of this year or early next year at the earliest, providing friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services to all parties, thereby strengthening Hong Kong's role as an international dispute resolution services centre and a capital for international mediation. Fully harnessing the institutional strengths under the "one country, two systems" principle and integrating into the national development strategy, Hong Kong will contribute to building a world of peace and justice.

The text of the Convention is available on the IOMed's website.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

International Organization for Mediation Established in Hong Kong to Promote Peaceful Dispute Resolution

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