调解——一场文化变革

民事司法制度改革大约在两周前的2009年4月2日开始生效，这场改革被称之为“（香港）几乎每一个开业者从业生涯期间民事诉讼业务的最重要的变革”。民事司法制度改革最根本的目的之一是有助于解决纠纷，为达此目的，法官被授予可自行运用的案件处理手段，其中包括鉴定并缩小纠纷、鼓励纠纷双双采用替代的解决纠纷的程序，并为采用这种程序提供帮助。司法部已颁布关于调解的第31号从业指导文件，

Mediation - A Cultural Change

The Civil Justice Reform came into effect on the 2rid April 2009, i.e. about a fortnight ago, and is described as ＂the most important change in the practice of civil litigation during the working life of almost every practitioner （in Hong Kong）. One of the underlying objectives of the Civil Justice Reform is to facilitate settlement of disputes, and to this end, judges are given case management tools at their disposal including, inter alia, identifying and narrowing issues, encouraging the parties to use an alternative dispute resolution procedure and facilitating the use of such procedure. The Judiciary has issued a Practice Direction No. 31 on Mediation, but has postponed itscommencement until I January 2010 to enable practitioners more time to become acquainted with the mediation process.