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Mediation Figures and Statistics

Mediation Statistics for Civil Justice Reform related cases

Various Practice Directions set out a mechanism to facilitate parties to enter into dialogue on mediation. Empirical data is also collected from cases in court where mediation has taken place. The number of mediation related documents and that of cases directed by the court to report progress of mediation, together with summary of the mediation reports of those cases, where Civil Justice Reform is applicable (“CJR related cases”), are tabulated below. It should be noted that: a) only those mediation reports filed with filing date falls within the reporting period would be included; and b) some cases have undergone mediation without proceeding further with the proceedings.

Number of Mediation related documents filed in the Court of First Instance*

  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Mediation Certificate 2,759 2,977 2,878 3,271 3,668 3,623 3,716 3,590 2,138 1,793 1,703 1,348
Mediation Notice 1,030 1,146 1,164 1,223 1,381 1,380 1,399 1,248 958 627 642 555
Mediation Response 949 1,062 1,031 1,078 1,258 1,181 1,249 1,140 876 553 550 456
Mediation Minutes 444 508 541 602 652 666 663 634 478 266 303 211

* It only includes cases commenced by the 6 CJR related case types in the Court of First Instance, i.e. Civil Action (HCA), Admiralty Action (HCAJ), Commercial Action (HCCL), Construction and Arbitration Proceedings (HCCT), Miscellaneous Proceedings (HCMP) and Personal Injuries Action (HCPI).

Number of Mediation related documents filed in the District Court#

  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Mediation Certificate 8,810 9,126 9,014 9,628 9,731 9,439 9,801 10,281 10,635 10,988 11,331 11,187
Mediation Notice 1,459 1,663 1,714 1,742 1,640 1,568 1,542 1,461 1,567 1,745 2,119 1,754
Mediation Response 1,008 1,127 1,196 1,214 1,060 900 932 905 941 969 1,325 1,059
Mediation Minutes 223 308 372 440 487 429 372 381 325 377 459 339

# It only includes cases commenced by the 6 CJR related case types in the District Court, i.e. Civil Action (DCCJ), Employee’s Compensation Case (DCEC), Equal Opportunities Action (DCEO), Miscellaneous Proceedings (DCMP), Personal Injuries Action (DCPI) and Tax Claim (DCTC).

Number of cases directed by the Court to report the Progress of Mediation in the Court of First Instance

  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
CJR related cases
(excluding HCPI cases)
338 244 195 151 175 162 179 156 119 45 122 44
CJR related cases
(HCPI cases only)
802 795 677 796 625 914 1,004 1,043 561 229 266 227
Total 1,140 1,039 872 947 800 1,076 1,183 1,199 680 274 388 271

Number of cases directed by the Court to report the Progress of Mediation in the District Court

  2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
CJR related cases
(excluding DCPI cases)
419 381 409 368 500 307 259 255 277 274 321 370
CJR related cases
(DCPI cases only)
1,751 1,614 1,504 1,418 1,370 1,343 1,226 873 71 1,119 2,234 2,239
Total 2,170 1,995 1,913 1,786 1,870 1,650 1,485 1,128 348 1,393 2,555 2,609

Please note: Mediation services are provided by mediators in the private sector. Parties would usually directly approach the accredited mediators or professional bodies outside the Judiciary to seek mediation.


Mediation Statistics for cases in Matrimonial / Family proceedings

Family Mediation Co-ordinator’s Office

In 2000, a pilot scheme on family mediation was launched by the Judiciary. The Family Mediation Co-ordinator’s Office (“FMCO”) was set up within the Family Court building to assist in implementing the pilot scheme. The pilot scheme ended in July 2003. However, because of its proven record of helping separating/divorcing couples to resolve their problems without the need for expensive litigation, a decision has been made to maintain the FMCO. The Office would hold information sessions on family mediation, provide pre-mediation consultation, generally assist couples seeking mediation to help resolve their problems in a non-adversarial way. The Office also acted generally as a liaison office, answered public enquiries and facilitated those willing to mediate to select mediator. Mediations were conducted by independent mediators or NGOs outside of the Judiciary.

Integrated Mediation Office

Since 2 May 2018, the Integrated Mediation Office (“IMO”) has succeeded FMCO to facilitate the parties in seeking family mediation information. Arrangements would be made for any parties who are interested in seeking mediation or have approached the office to attend an information session on mediation. IMO would provide the parties seeking mediation a list of mediators who have indicated their willingness to participate in mediation, from which the parties may choose their mediator. Mediation referrals would be made for the parties through IMO. Some parties may approach private mediators or mediators from NGOs for mediation service on their own motions. Judiciary does not keep such statistics.


Mediation Statistics for Small Claims Cases

Integrated Mediation Office (West Kowloon)

Integrated Mediation Office (West Kowloon) (“IMO(WK)”) is an extension of the existing Integrated Mediation Office, which is established to facilitate the greater use of mediation services for dispute settlement primarily for cases in the Small Claims Tribunal (“SCT”). The IMO(WK) aims at assisting members of the public to understand more about mediation and helping parties of SCT cases to resolve their disputes through mediation. Adjudicators of the SCT will identify suitable cases for referral to the IMO(WK) for mediation services. Free mediation sessions would then be arranged for parties who agree to mediate. Judiciary does not maintain statistics on number of cases where the parties approach mediators in the community for mediation services on their own motions.


Mediation Statistics for Building Management Cases

Building Management Mediation Co-ordinator’s Office

Mediation has been introduced in the Lands Tribunal to cover building management cases filed since 1 January 2008. The Building Management Mediation Co-ordinator’s Office (“BMMCO”) was set up in the Lands Tribunal by the Judiciary to help litigants in building management cases to consider using mediation to resolve their disputes. The role of the BMMCO is to act as a focal point for mediation enquiries relating to building management cases filed with the courts. The BMMCO conducts information sessions on mediation and provides pre-mediation consultation and facilitates those willing to mediate to select mediator. Mediation is however conducted by independent mediators outside of the Judiciary.

BMMCO aims to facilitate the parties in seeking mediation. Arrangements would be made for any parties who are interested in seeking mediation or have approached the office to attend an information session on mediation. BMMCO would provide the parties seeking mediation a list of mediators who have indicated their willingness to participate in mediation, from which the parties may choose their mediator. Mediation referrals would be made for the parties through BMMCO. Some parties may approach private mediators or mediators in the community for mediation service on their own motions. Judiciary does not keep such statistics.