Mediation Week 2026 Launches with Focus on Harmony and Conflict Resolution in Schools and Communities

Five-day Mediation Week 2026 launched today

Mediation Week 2026, organised by the Department of Justice (DoJ), was officially launched today (May 4) under the theme "Mediate First: An Attempt of Mediation, Harvests Abundant Harmony". The five-day programme comprises seminars on disputes related to schools, sports, the elderly and neighbourhoods, with a view to promoting mediation as a friendly way to amicably resolve disputes and conflicts, and to build a more harmonious community.

The opening of Mediation Week was marked by a School Mediation Seminar with the theme "Capital of Mediation: You are the Future" this morning. In the first session, students trained in peer mediation showcased how mediation builds communication skills and fosters peaceful resolutions, discovering the benefits of peer mediation in creating a harmonious school environment and empowering students to address disputes collaboratively. The second session featured winners from different divisions of the Mediation Essay Competition 2026 sharing their views on mediation, followed by a prize presentation ceremony. This year, for the very first time, the Competition extended beyond Hong Kong, reaching out to students in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to share their stories and thinking about mediation.

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in his closing remarks at the event, encouraged students to flexibly make use of mediation skills and attain win-win solutions in a peaceful and rational manner. He said that young people are the future and hope of society, and that the DoJ is committed to embedding a mediation culture in their hearts. Kicking off with the School Mediation Seminar, this year's Mediation Week aims to promote, starting from schools, the values of diversified solutions and harmonious relationships, Mr Lam added.

With the support of the DoJ and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy as the key sponsors, the Global Mediation Summit, organised by the International Organization for Mediation, will be held as the finale on Friday (May 8) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The summit will bring together leading mediation experts, policymakers and industry leaders from around the world to explore frontier topics such as cross-cultural international mediation, financial and investment dispute mediation, and the development of a global mediation ecosystem, thereby building Hong Kong into a "global capital of mediation".

Fully supported by dispute resolution services organisations, government departments and other relevant organisations, Mediation Week 2026 will also feature the following events this week:

May 5

*Sports Mediation Seminar

May 6

*Elder Mediation Seminar - Conflict to Care: The Role of Mediation in Elder Disputes

May 7

*Building a Leak-Free Future

For more details of Mediation Week 2026, please visit its dedicated website.

Mediation Week 2026, organised by the Department of Justice, was officially launched today (May 4). The opening of Mediation Week was marked by the thematic event: School Mediation Seminar this morning. Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, delivering his closing remarks. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mediation Week 2026, organised by the Department of Justice, was officially launched today (May 4). The opening of Mediation Week was marked by the thematic event: School Mediation Seminar this morning. Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (back row, seventh right), and the Law Officer (Civil Law), Mr Clifford Tavares (back row, sixth right), with students representatives from 2025/26 Hong Kong Mediation Council Limited Peer Mediation Training. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mediation Week 2026, organised by the Department of Justice, was officially launched today (May 4). The opening of Mediation Week was marked by the thematic event: School Mediation Seminar this morning. Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (centre), and the Law Officer (Civil Law), Mr Clifford Tavares (second right), with the representatives of the co-organisers. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mediation Week 2026, organised by the Department of Justice, was officially launched today (May 4). The opening of Mediation Week was marked by the thematic event: School Mediation Seminar this morning. Photo shows the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC (back row, centre), and the Law Officer (Civil Law), Mr Clifford Tavares (back row, fifth right), with winners of the Mediation Essay Competition 2026. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mediation Week 2026, organised by the Department of Justice, was officially launched today (May 4). The opening of Mediation Week was marked by the thematic event: School Mediation Seminar this morning. Photo shows Past District Governor of Rotary International District 3450 Dr Peter Pang (first right) with the top three winners in the senior division of the Mediation Essay Competition 2026 at the sharing session. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority mount joint anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) today (May 4) mounted a joint anti-illegal worker operation to combat illegal workers providing tourist guide and tour escort services in Hong Kong. A Mainland visitor, who is a suspected illegal worker, was arrested.

As there have been suspected illegal workers utilising social media platforms to advertise tour guide and tour escort services in Hong Kong, the ImmD and the TIA initiated an operation. Officers disguised as customers enquired about and booked services from the suspect. The suspect was subsequently arrested while providing such services in Hong Kong. The arrested illegal worker was a man, aged 27. The ImmD will consider prosecution against him for the offence of breaching conditions of stay.

The ImmD and the TIA have also deployed officers to distribute leaflets to the public and visitors at tourist hotspots, conveying the message of "Don't employ illegal tour escorts or tourist guides".

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 185 185, fax at 2824 1166, emailanti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit the "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form atwww.immd.gov.hk.

Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority mount joint anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Immigration Department and Travel Industry Authority mount joint anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases