Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung hopes Legco can still pass a bill to create a statutory framework for mediation - an alternative to court action to settle disputes - despite delays caused by lawmakers' filibuster of a contentious bill on by-elections.
Mediation involves a qualified independent mediator helping parties to a legal dispute to settle it without resorting to court action.
The legislation, the Mediation Bill, addresses such areas as confidentiality and admissibility as evidence of communications made during mediation.
There are fears the filibustering in the Legislative Council could stall the passage of at least 10 government bills. If Legco doesn't pass a bill before its term ends in July, the legislation dies. If the new administration under Leung Chun-ying wishes to revive a bill, it will have to go through the entire legislative process a second time once the chamber to be elected in September begins its term.
Wong was speaking on the sidelines of a conference yesterday on mediation, at which he and barrister Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung officiated. Yuen has been widely tipped to succeed Wong.
Asked if he might serve another term should the bill not be passed, Wong said: 'We will strive to ensure that the second reading [of the bill] can be resumed, as the bill is very important to Hong Kong.'
Should it be delayed, he said: 'We all think it should be legislated sooner or later.'