Hong Kong plans to establish an international commercial court specialising in adjudicating major cross-border disputes, a move the justice minister says will strengthen the city’s role as a global legal hub under Beijing’s national development plan.

The government said on Thursday the Hong Kong International Commercial Court (HKICC) would serve as a dedicated venue for global enterprises to resolve high-value disputes amid a volatile geopolitical landscape.

The court, which will be set up as a division of the High Court within the coming year, will complement the city’s existing international arbitration and mediation services.

“Amid the current complex and volatile geopolitical landscape, there is a keen demand among various economies for commercial dispute resolution platforms with international credibility,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said.

Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said the court would focus on complex, high-value international commercial disputes arising from cross-border transactions, international trade, finance, infrastructure and investment projects.

“The judges presiding over the cases will include not only judges from Hong Kong, but also those with high prestige and experience in such cases from other common law jurisdictions,” Lam said.