華南﹙香港﹚國際仲裁院成為「先導計劃」下可為在港舉行的臨時仲裁出具「證明書」之機構
发布时间：2024-01-15 18:24:46
自2024年起，華南﹙香港﹚國際仲裁院成為「為來港參與仲裁程序的人士提供便利先導計劃」（先導計劃）下可為在香港舉行的臨時仲裁出具「證明書」的機構，詳情請參閱香港特區政府律政司先導計劃之網頁（可在文末打開“閱讀原文”）。
先導計劃於二O二O年六月二十九日由香港特區政府律政司推出，為合資格可免簽證訪港國家的國民（免簽證國國民）以及持有「證明書」的人士提供入境便利，他們可以訪客身分來港參與仲裁程序，無須取得工作簽證。先導計劃涵蓋四類免簽證國國民，即（1）仲裁員；（2）專家證人和事實證人；（3）代表仲裁程序任何一方的律師；以及（4）仲裁程序各方（合資格人士）。他們可在港參與仲裁程序的期限不得超過目前的免簽證訪港期限。先導計劃的適用範圍現已擴大至涵蓋須簽證國國民以及內地、澳門和台灣居民的合資格人士。
先導計劃項下的「證明書」可循兩種方式獲取，一種是由仲裁機構管理的仲裁，「證明書」須由其中一間符合《關於內地與香港特別行政區法院就仲裁程序相互協助保全的安排》第二條第一款資格並設於香港的仲裁及爭議解決機構和常設辦事處簽發（已包括華南（香港）國際仲裁院）；另一種是在香港舉行的臨時仲裁（即非由仲裁機構管理的仲裁），「證明書」須由聆訊設施齊備及信譽良好的場地提供者發出，華南（香港）國際仲裁院今年被增列為該類機構，拓寬了國際仲裁當事人選擇香港作為臨時仲裁開庭地的選項，有利於鞏固香港作為亞太區國際法律及爭議解決服務樞紐的地位。
Starting from 2024, SCIAHK has been included to the list of venue providers that can issue Letter of Proof for ad hoc arbitration held in Hong Kong under the “The Pilot Scheme on Facilitation for Persons Participating in Arbitral Proceedings in Hong Kong (The Pilot Scheme)” (please click Read More).
First launched by the DoJ HKSAR on 29 June 2020, the Pilot Scheme provides immigration facilitation for eligible nationals of countries who may visit Hong Kong visa-free (Visa-free Nationals) and possess a Letter of Proof (the Letter) to participate in arbitral proceedings in Hong Kong as visitors without the need to obtain an employment visa. It covered four categories of Visa-free Nationals, namely: (i) arbitrators; (ii) expert and factual witnesses; (iii) counsel in the arbitration; and (iv) parties to the arbitration (Eligible Persons). The duration that they may stay in Hong Kong for participating in arbitral proceedings shall not exceed the current visa-free period for visit. The scope of the Pilot Scheme is now expanded to also cover Eligible Persons who are Visa-required Nationals and residents of the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan.
The Letter can be obtained in two scenarios: (a) For arbitrations that are being administered by an arbitral institution, the Letter shall be issued by one of those qualified arbitral and dispute resolution institutions and permanent offices in Hong Kong, including SCIAHK, which satisfies the criteria set out under Article 2(1) of the "Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR"; or (b) For ad hoc arbitrations (i.e. arbitrations not administered by an arbitral institution) that are held in reputable venue(s) with established and well-equipped hearing facilities, the Letter shall be issued by such venue provider(s). This year’s inclusion of SCIAHK to the list of venue providers diversify the options for parties of international arbitration to have their ad hoc arbitration held in Hong Kong and strengthens Hong Kong’s status as an international hub for international legal service and dispute resolution in the Asia Pacific.
