The China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) inaugurated its Hong Kong Arbitration Centre on 19 November 2014, its first centre outside Mainland China. The inauguration ceremony was coupled with an international maritime arbitration seminar, to discuss latest trends in maritime arbitration and to promote the use of maritime legal and dispute resolution services in Hong Kong. The seminar was organised by the Department of Justice of Hong Kong SAR, CMAC, HKIAC and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Both the seminar and the inauguration ceremony formed part of the 2014 Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference in Hong Kong.
In addition, the new arbitration rules of CMAC will take effect on 1 January 2015. Earlier this year, CMAC appointed its new panel of arbitrators, consisting of a total of 279 arbitrators, of whom 24 are from Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan and 39 from overseas.