萧咏仪：My Story with SCIA

发布时间：2021-02-10 11:12:37

编者按：

深圳国际仲裁院（又名华南国际经济贸易仲裁委员会、深圳仲裁委员会，曾用名中国贸促会对外经济贸易仲裁委员会深圳办事处、中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会深圳分会、中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会华南分会，中文简称“深国仲”，英文简称“SCIA”）由广东省经济特区管理委员会和深圳市委、市政府创立于1983年，是中国改革开放和经济特区建设的产物，是中国改革开放以来各省市设立的第一家仲裁机构，也是粤港澳地区第一家仲裁机构。

近40年来，深国仲锐意改革，持续创新，积极推动中国仲裁的国际化、现代化和专业化：1984年，在中国内地率先聘请境外仲裁员；1989年，开创中国内地仲裁裁决依照联合国《承认及执行外国仲裁裁决公约》获得境外法院强制执行的先例；2012年，在全球仲裁机构中率先探索法定机构管理机制，成为中国内地首个推行国际化法人治理机制的仲裁机构；2017年，创建中国国际仲裁第一个海外庭审中心，并开创常设仲裁机构合并的先例；2019年，率先探索国际仲裁“选择性复裁”制度……目前，深国仲仲裁员覆盖77个国家和地区，仲裁和调解当事人遍及全球119个国家和地区。特区国际仲裁已经成为国际化营商环境的重要组成部分。

为庆祝深圳经济特区建立40周年，深国仲和深圳商报以“深圳特区40年·我与特区国际仲裁的故事”为主题，广泛征集特区国际仲裁机构的初创者、特区仲裁治理机制改革的参与者、仲裁员、调解员、谈判专家、律师代理人和中外企业当事人的故事，共同回顾特区国际仲裁伴随着中国改革开放而持续创新发展的历程。今天分享的是粤港澳仲裁调解联盟副主席、香港仲裁司学会前任会长萧咏仪女士的文章。本文已收录在北京大学出版社2020年8月出版的《泉眼无声：国际仲裁的特区故事》之中。

Ms. Sylvia Wing Yee Siu, JP is the Vice Chair of Guangdong-HongKong-Macau Arbitration & Mediation Alliance. She is also the Chairlady of Joint Mediation Helpline Office, the Chairlady of Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers’ ADR Committee, the Immediate Past President of Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators and an arbitrator of SCIA.

My Story with the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration

Sylvia Wing Yee SIU

I had the privilege of going to Mainland China in late 80s with my mentor Ms Elsie Leung Oi-sie GBM, JP. to give lecture to the law students. Students were extremely attentive and eager to learn about Hong Kong’s common law system, they took full notes of everything we said. It was a pleasant surprise to find students following us even after the lecture, asking lots of intelligent questions. I knew then that Mainland China will have a bright future.

Upon taking courses on arbitration and mediation, I developed a fervent interest in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). I joined the Trade Development Council and the HK Law Society on mission trips to Mainland China, South East Asia and other parts of the world to promote our legal services. I also attended ADR conferences internationally, locally and in Mainland China as participant and/or speaker.

My first contact with Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), (then known as CIETAC Shenzhen) was back in 2002 at an ADR Conference. There I met Dr. Guo Xiaowen, then the Vice Chairman of CIETAC in charge of CIETAC Shenzhen (renamed as CIETAC South China Commission in 2004, and changed the name to SCIA in 2012). Dr. Guo impressed me with his wealth of knowledge in arbitration law in Mainland China and his willingness to share his knowledge.  

In 2004, on behalf of Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators, I invited Dr. Guo to hold a seminar in Hong Kong on “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards”. HK Law Society, HK Federation of Women Lawyers and China Appointed Attesting Officers participated as supporting organizations. Over 300 participants enrolled. Elsie in her then capacity as Secretary for Justice of HKSAR delivered a welcome remark. A quick acknowledgement to Elsie should be made, as it was through her efforts which resulted with the “Arrangement Concerning Mutual Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between the Mainland and HKSAR” in 2000.   

In Hong Kong, with Civil Justice Reform officially launched in 2009, mediation became “The Way Forward”. In all civil cases, lawyers are to advise parties to attempt mediation, failing which and if without justification, judges can depart from their usual cost orders. Courses were offered to train up mediators, seminars and talks on mediation were well attended.

Upon learning that I have been giving talks on mediation, Dr. Liu Xiaochun (now President of the SCIA) invited me to speak at the 1st Commercial Expert Mediators’ Training at CIETAC South China Commission. 

At that training session, I expressed my concern with “Arb-Med-Arb”, meaning the arbitrators for the parties, when requested by the parties to conduct mediation, changed their roles to mediators to conduct mediation for the parties. If the mediation fails, they then change back to their role as Arbitrators to conduct the arbitration for the parties. When I raised my concern at other ADR Conferences in Mainland China, I was told that CIETAC Beijing and CIETAC Shanghai, as well as other leading arbitration commissions have been using this method and it worked well. 

I firmly believe mediators should take formal training, while I concur our culture values harmony and would turn to elders to work out differences in the past, it is wishful thinking to expect disputes can be resolved amicably by going to the elders these days. Mediators often face difficult parties, it takes training and practice to acquire skills such as building empathy with the parties, and effective communication methods to carry out a successful mediation process.

I felt ecstatic when Dr. Liu appreciated my concern about “Arb-Med-Arb” and the professional training of mediators! Dr. Liu had vision to equip SCIA to meet challenges in the new era. From articles he wrote, such as “The latest innovation for mediation in China”, one can see that he was for innovative ideas. When Dr. Liu became the President of SCIA, he was instrumental in setting up a Mediation Alliance with Hong Kong Macao and Mainland China, it was an excellent platform for cross border disputes resolutions. I was proud to be present at the Inauguration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Mediation Alliance in 2013 and nominated as the Vice Chair of the Alliance. In 2019, the Alliance changed its name to Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Arbitration & Mediation Alliance at its 5th Anniversary.

The office of SCIA now occupies a whole floor at 41/F, West Square of Shenzhen Stock Exchange, 2012 Shennan Blvd, Shenzhen. Previously going to SCIA to do an arbitration or attend an event there means taking a day off work, as either one takes the train, then a taxi, or hire a car which often met with traffic jam. Nowadays, SCIA is on top of the METRO, we can leave Hong Kong, get on the train, before one finishes reading the newspaper, one arrives the station, and can simply walk right up to SCIA. 

Aside from holding arbitrations at SCIA, many important events were held there, one was a Spanish Arbitration Day in Shenzhen held on 21 Oct 2019. I attended together with my good friends Mr. Paulo Fohlin (Partner of Odebjer Fohlin, Stockholm, Sweden), Mr. Omar Puertas (Partner of Cuatrecasas, Shanghai, China) and Mr. J. Felix de Luis (Partner of Legal 21 Abogados, Spain). I acted as the moderator, and was told by the speakers to be prepared to translate everything they say. Little did they know that Dr. Liu speaks fluent English and all the participants also speak good English. In fact, SCIA has actually been receiving guests from all over the world.   

While watching the panoramic view from the 41/F, I flashed back to the early 80s at my first visit to Shenzhen, no building was in sight, it was bare land. Within 40 years, Shenzhen has become such a vibrant city. Since changing the name from CIETAC South China Commission to SCIA, under the guidance of Dr. Liu SCIA grew from strength to strength. I feel so blessed to be a Chinese, so proud to see how the great leap forward by China, so honored to have the friendship of brilliant leaders like Dr. Guo and Dr. Liu. 

As Chairlady of Joint Mediation Helpline Office, with 9 member organizations (HK Mediation Council, HK Bar Association, Law Society of HK, HK Institute of Arbitrators, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (East Asia Branch), HK Institute of Architects, HK Institute of Surveyors, HK Mediation Centre, HK Institution of Engineers), I look forward to working with SCIA in promoting mediation to resolve the disputes at the Greater Bay Area.

As Immediate Past President of Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators, I also look forward to further collaborations with SCIA in promoting arbitration, mediation, adjudication & other ADR methods to resolve the Greater Bay Area and BRI disputes. 

萧咏仪（Sylvia Wing Yee SIU），太平绅士，粤港澳仲裁调解联盟副主席，香港联合调解专线办事处主席，香港女律师协会ADR主席，香港仲裁司学会前任会长,深圳国际仲裁院仲裁员。

我与SCIA的故事

萧咏仪

20世纪80年代末，我有幸与我的导师梁爱诗女士（大紫荆勋贤、太平绅士）一同前往内地给法学生授课。那时学生们都非常专注，他们渴望了解香港地区的普通法制度，在课堂上认真记录下我们所讲的一切。让我们更为惊喜的是，即便在课程结束后，也有一些学生追着我们，问了很多极富思考力的问题。从那时起我就知道，中国内地一定会有一个光明的未来。

在学习仲裁和调解课程后，我对替代性争议解决机制（ADR）产生了浓厚的兴趣。我加入了香港贸易发展局和香港律师会，并作为考察团的一员访问了中国内地、东南亚和世界其他地区，推广我们的法律服务。我还作为参会者或演讲者参加了中国内地和香港地区以及国际上的ADR会议。

我与深圳国际仲裁院（当时名为中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会深圳分会）的首次结缘要追溯到2002年的一次ADR会议。我因此而结识了郭晓文博士，他当时负责中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会深圳分会（2004年更名为中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会华南分会，2012年更名为华南国际经济贸易仲裁委员会，又称深圳国际仲裁院，英文简称SCIA）的工作，并兼任中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会副主任。郭博士在中国仲裁法方面渊博的学识及其热忱分享的精神，令我印象深刻。

2004年，我代表香港仲裁司学会邀请郭博士参与在香港举行的关于仲裁裁决执行的研讨会。香港律师会、香港女律师协会和中国委托公证人协会有限公司均参与其中，作为会议的协办方。这次研讨会的与会者超过300人。会上时任香港特别行政区政府律政司司长梁爱诗女士做了欢迎致辞。在此需向梁爱诗女士表示致敬，正是因为她的努力，最高人民法院《关于内地与香港特别行政区相互执行仲裁裁决的安排》得以在2000年正式实施。

随着2009年香港特别行政区民事司法制度改革的正式启动，调解成为“前行之路”。在所有民事案件中，律师应建议当事人尝试调解，若调解失败且无正当理由，法官可作出背离通常做法的讼费命令。自此之后，为调解员所设置的培训、研讨会、讲座等活动盛极一时。

在得知我一直在做调解相关的讲座后，刘晓春博士（现任SCIA院长）邀请我在中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会华南分会第一期商事调解专家培训研讨会中发言。

在培训中，我表达了对“仲裁—调解—仲裁”（仲裁程序内的调解）机制的担忧，因为这意味着仲裁员将基于当事人的调解需求而转变为调解员的角色，以便对当事人之间的纠纷进行调解，而一旦调解失败，他们又将回归仲裁员的角色，对当事人之间的纠纷进行仲裁。当我在内地的其他ADR会议上表达这种担忧时，我被告知，内地一些仲裁机构一直适用此机制，且该机制运行得还不错。

我坚定地认为，调解员应该接受专业的培训，与此同时我也十分认同我们的文化重视和谐的价值，并拥有寻求长者解决分歧的传统。但如今，寄希望于诉诸长者而友好地解决争端是一厢情愿的想法。调解员通常要面对难以应付的当事人，这使得通过培训和实践获得调解技巧变得非常必要，例如如何对当事人建立同理心，如何运用有效的沟通方法来成功地进行调解等。

让我感到非常欣喜的是，刘博士对我所提出的关于“仲裁—调解—仲裁”（仲裁程序内的调解）机制的担忧以及调解培训的必要性表示赞许，他的远见卓识使SCIA具备了迎接新时代挑战的能力。从他撰写的文章，例如《中国商事调解的最新发展——以深圳国际仲裁院的创新为视角》中，不难看出他本人是“独立调解+独立仲裁”等机制创新的倡导者。刘博士担任SCIA院长后，推动粤港澳三地合作共建调解联盟，打造了一个跨境争议解决的绝佳平台。2013年我有幸出席粤港澳商事调解联盟创立仪式，并被提名为联盟副主席。2019年，联盟更名为“粤港澳仲裁调解联盟”。

现在的SCIA总部办公室位于深圳市福田区深南大道2012号深圳证券交易所西广场41楼，之前从香港出发去SCIA参与仲裁或其他活动需要花费一整天的时间，因为交通方式的不便，先在香港搭地铁再转乘出租车方可到达，即便直接从香港租车前往，也往往会因塞车而被堵在路上。但如今的SCIA总部办公室坐落于福田高铁站旁，我们可以从香港西九龙站直登高铁，期间只需要阅读一份报纸的时间（14分钟），即可到达目的地福田高铁站，然后直接步行抵达SCIA总部办公室。

除了受理仲裁案件，SCIA也承办了非常多重要的活动。如2019年10月21日的“西班牙仲裁日”圆桌研讨活动，我和我的好朋友Paulo Fohlin先生（瑞典斯德哥尔摩Odebjer Fohlin事务所合伙人）、Omar Puertas先生[顾博国际律师事务所（中国上海）合伙人]以及J. Felix de Luis先生（西班牙Legal 21 Abogados律师事务所合伙人）一同参加了该研讨活动，我担任研讨会的主持人。会议开始前，其他受邀的演讲嘉宾告知我做好准备向与会者翻译他们讲的内容，显然，他们并不清楚刘博士流利的英语交流能力，而且现场所有参与者都有很强的英语交流能力，当天的研讨会全程用英文进行，根本无须翻译。事实上，作为一个国际化的仲裁机构，SCIA已经多次接待来自世界各国的宾客来访。

当我从深圳证券交易所41层俯瞰深圳全景时，我不禁回忆起20世纪80年代初第一次来深圳时看到的景象，目之所及没有高楼，一片荒芜。40年的时间，深圳已经成为一座活力四射的城市。自从中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会华南分会改名为SCIA之后，在刘博士的带领下，SCIA蓬勃发展。作为一个中国人，我十分幸运能见证中国取得的巨大飞跃，也十分荣幸能与郭博士和刘博士这样的杰出领导者建立深厚友谊。

作为包括9个成员组织[香港调解会、香港大律师公会、香港律师会、香港仲裁司学会、英国特许仲裁员学会（东亚分会）、香港建筑师学会、香港测量师学会、香港调解中心、香港工程师学会]的香港联合调解专线办事处的主席，我十分期待与SCIA的合作，共同致力于推动粤港澳大湾区以调解方式解决争议。

作为香港仲裁司学会前任会长，我也十分期待与SCIA的进一步合作，以推动运用仲裁、调解、裁决等ADR方式，解决粤港澳大湾区及“一带一路”建设中的争议。

译者简介  迟文卉，深圳国际仲裁院国际合作与发展处（自贸区仲裁处）法律顾问。