HKIE CDRC Seminar Highlights: "Adjudication in Practice: Implementing the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance" – 28 May 2026
AALCO-HKRAC joined the HKIE CDRC seminar on implementing the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance, held 28 May 2026 at HKCEC.
Details
The AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) was pleased to participate as a supporting partner in the seminar "Adjudication in Practice: Implementing the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance", organised by the Construction Dispute Resolution Committee (CDRC) of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Funded by the HKSAR Government’s Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS), the event was held on 28 May 2026 at Theatre 2, HKCEC, in a hybrid online and in-person format.
The seminar brought together the engineering sector, legal profession, adjudication practitioners, in-house counsel, project managers and policymakers for in-depth exchanges on the practical rollout of statutory adjudication under the Ordinance, procedural strategy and international perspectives, and on how the industry can prepare early for the new regime.
Guests of Honour and Keynotes
Guest of Honour: Dr. CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice
Keynotes (in order of appearance): 1) Ir CHOW Kin-tak, HKIE President 2025/2026; 2) Ir CHAN Chi-ho, JP, Deputy Secretary for Development (Works); 3) Prof. CHAN Hiu-fung, BBS, MH, JP, Legislative Council Member (Legal) and AALCO-HKRAC.
Key points from Prof. Chan Hiu-fung’s address
Prof. Chan noted that the Ordinance is a milestone for Hong Kong’s construction industry. Payment disputes have long placed contractors, subcontractors and suppliers under cash-flow pressure; statutory adjudication provides a fast, cost-effective and temporarily binding mechanism to resolve interim payment disputes, reflecting the "pay now, argue later" objective and keeping projects moving.
He stressed that capacity building and professional training of adjudicators are critical to effective implementation, noting that AALCO-HKRAC and HKIE are both appointed Adjudicator Nominating Bodies under the Ordinance. He reaffirmed that AALCO-HKRAC will continue working closely with HKIE on effective application of adjudication and, through training, accreditation and professional development, support the building and expansion of the adjudicator talent pool.
He also recalled Hong Kong’s first cross-professional joint adjudicator training course (jointly organised by HKIA, HKIE and HKIS, with AALCO-HKRAC’s support and participation), highlighting the importance of cross-professional collaboration.
Seminar highlights
1) Conflicts of interest, disclosure and grey areas: Mohammed Talib (Pinsent Masons) on common conflicts and disclosure issues in statutory adjudication.
2) Claim procedure, drafting technique and strategic impact: Ir Chan To-cheung, CDRC Chairman, on procedural essentials and common pitfalls.
3) International perspectives: Raagini Sama Sundaram (AIAC) on comparative insights from other jurisdictions.
4) Delay analysis under tight timeframes: Prof. Ir To Wing, past CDRC Chairman, on pitfalls and preparation strategies.
5) Fairness, jurisdiction and time limits: Dato’ Justice Lee Swee Seng (Malaysian Federal Court) on which deadlines can and cannot be extended.
6) Beyond adjudication: Man-wah Ng (DLA Piper) on the complementary roles of mediation, arbitration and expert witnesses.
7) Adjudicator decision-making and reason writing under pressure: Ir Yeung Ming-tai, CDRC Vice-Chairman, on maintaining procedural fairness and writing clear, credible reasons.
AALCO-HKRAC’s adjudication role and services
As an Adjudicator Nominating Body under the Ordinance, AALCO-HKRAC will continue supporting effective implementation through training, accreditation and CPD; building the adjudicator talent pool under the accreditation framework; engaging stakeholders; and promoting practical tools and best practices for dispute prevention and efficient resolution.
AALCO-HKRAC thanks HKIE-CDRC for organising this timely and forward-looking seminar, and looks forward to continued collaboration with HKIE and industry stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the payment security regime.
