The Department of Justice will gazette a bill to reciprocate the enforcement of civil or commercial judgments by Mainland and Hong Kong courts on February 23.

The Mainland Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Bill will soon be tabled at the Legislative Council. It will implement the provisions of the arrangement by providing for the registration and enforcement by the Hong Kong courts of money judgments given by designated Mainland courts exercising their jurisdiction pursuant to a valid exclusive choice of court clause contained in a business-to-business agreement.

The department said the proposed law will benefit those doing business with the Mainland, as the court judgments of one jurisdiction can be enforced in the other without going through time consuming and costly litigation proceedings.

It will also be conducive to the city's development as a centre for resolution of commercial disputes involving Mainland parties.