Two veteran mediators embroiled in a defamation case announced in court yesterday that they had settled their dispute - through mediation.
The settlement in the Court of First Instance cut short a five-day hearing that had resulted from legal action started by Helena Chan Suk-yee, former vice-chairwoman of the Mediation Council, against its chairman, Chan Bing-woon, for defamation in August 2006.
Kenneth Lam Ka-yan, the counsel who read a statement for the plaintiff, said: 'They see the settlement as proof that mediation is a worthwhile and effective means of dispute resolution.'
Ms Chan was angry at Mr Chan's claims that she had been involved in holding a police training course in mediation in November 2005. But he now accepted that she was not involved in the course, Mr Lam said.
This was confirmed by a letter from the police commissioner to Ms Chan's solicitors, he said.
'Helena for her part accepts Bing-woon's position that he had never said to anyone that Helena was involved in giving the course,' Mr Lam said. 'Both Helena and Bing-woon acknowledge and accept that this settlement has removed the misunderstandings which have arisen between them.'