SINGAPORE/HONG KONG - Safety fears in Hong Kong have prompted firms to shift arbitration hearings out of the Chinese-ruled city, industry sources said, another sign that pro-democracy protests are denting its appeal as an international business hub.
Lawyers and other legal professionals told Reuters the unrest also risks undermining the city’s position as one of the world’s top centers for arbitration - a process of settling disputes outside the public court system - with cases moving to rival Singapore. Australian mining firm Kingsgate said last month it had moved hearings related to a dispute with the Thai government from Hong Kong to Singapore early next year over safety concerns.
Sarah Grimmer, Secretary General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, declined to comment. But she said the center’s case numbers were at a record high, up 20% from this time last year.