New Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Regime between Hong Kong and Mainland Comes into Effect Today

An arrangement signed between the Supreme People’s Court and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region aims to reduce re-litigation of disputes and provide better protection to parties’ interests. Once effective, it will establish a new Hong Kong-Mainland Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments regime, strengthening Hong Kong’s role in intellectual property trading and legal services.

Signed between the Supreme People’s Court and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on January 18, 2019, the Arrangement is a long-waited effort to reduce the need for re-litigation of identical disputes in the courts of Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Moreover, the Arrangements are designed to offer better protection to parties’ interests.

Once the Ordinance becomes effective, the new Hong Kong-Mainland Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments (REJ) regime will be established. This development is poised to bolster Hong Kong’s standing as a regional hub for intellectual property trading and as a center for international legal and dispute resolution services. The REJ regime positions Hong Kong as the inaugural jurisdiction to establish such an arrangement with the Chinese Mainland, encompassing a broad scope. This holds significance in shaping the future landscape of REJ arrangements between China and other jurisdictions.

This article is republished from China Briefing. Read the rest of the original article.

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