The Greater Bay Area Cross-Boundary Disputes Mediation Model Rules, endorsed by the fourth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Legal Departments Joint Conference on December 16, were officially released and took effect today.

The bay area comprises three different legal systems of the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau. The mediation models, systems and development among the three places are also different.

In synergy with the GBA Mediator Accreditation Standards and the GBA Mediator Code of Conduct Best Practice, which were endorsed and took effect last year, the mediation model rules will have a demonstrative effect for mediation institutions and mediators in the bay area to refer to and voluntarily adopt.

The Department of Justice said the promulgation of various mediation standards will further promote the wider use of mediation within the bay area and is a major milestone in advancing the rule of law as well as Hong Kong's integration into the development of the bay area.

It will also encourage the use of mediation by the business sector and the public in the three places to resolve cross-boundary disputes, creating complementary and win-win solutions.