Settlement speech: Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung speaks at the Mediation in Hong Kong: The Way Forward conference luncheon.

Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung says the Government plans to establish mediation in matrimonial cases as a permanent feature of the legal aid service.

Speaking at the conference luncheon today Mr Wong said a cross-sector working group will be formed to develop mediation services in Hong Kong. The group includes representatives from the Department of Justice, the Judiciary, the legal profession and mediation bodies as well as academic experts.

While noting the importance of educating the public on what mediation is and what benefits it can bring, Mr Wong said the group will look at the overall strategy in promoting the services.

Dispute resolution

As a global financial centre, Hong Kong must have a full range of dispute resolution facilities to strengthen its position in such a competitive world, Mr Wong said.

"We want to improve access to justice. We want to help ordinary people resolve disputes by quicker and more cost-effective ways. We also want to foster a more harmonious society."

Mr Wong said mediation has already established very steady foothold in specific areas, such as construction, family and building management disputes. The Lands Tribunal recently introduced a pilot scheme to encourage parties in building management disputes to resolve their cases by mediation before or after they issue proceedings in the Lands Tribunal.