Can Hong Kong’s arbitration skills help the new global space race take off?

Can Hong Kong’s arbitration skills help the new global space race take off? Experts, top officials say city can turn existing strengths into commercial advantage to tap into fast-growing global space economy Hong Kong is positioning itself as a middleman in the fast-growing global space economy, senior officials and experts have said, noting the city can turn its financial markets, common law system and dispute-resolution capabilities into a commercial advantage. At the 2026 Colloquium on International Law on Friday, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said Hong Kong’s “sharpest competitive edge” lies in professional services for commercial space. He added that the city was “exceptionally well-positioned” to resolve disputes through arbitration and mediation. “Thanks to the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, our common law system, independent judiciary and multilingual pool of experts make us an ideal venue,” Lam said. Hong Kong’s ambitions are also tied to China’s 15th five-year plan between 2026 and 2030, which identifies outer space development as a strategic priority. Zhang Changwei, deputy commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Hong Kong, said the city could serve as a bridge for international space cooperation.