A. LEGISLATION, TRENDS AND TENDENCIES
A.1 Changes to the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules
The revised version of the HKIAC Administered Arbitration
Rules (“Revised Rules”) took effect on November 1, 2013. Some
important new features introduced under the Revised Rules
include (i) provision for joinder and consolidation to allow
tribunals to handle complex disputes involving multiple parties
and multiple contracts; (ii) a broadening of the circumstances in
which the expedited arbitration procedure may be used, but
subject to an increase in the monetary threshold; (iii) standard
terms of appointment and payment of arbitrators based on an
hourly rate as the default, with the option of instead electing to
pay an amount based on the sum in dispute and (iv) a new
procedure for applying for emergency relief with a decision on
the application normally being made within 15 days from the
date on which the emergency arbitrator receives the file from the
HKIAC.