Sala Sihombing writes in the FACES ADR Chatroom that the Secretary of Justice has gazetted the new Mediation Ordinance and confirmed it will come into effect on 1 January 2013. Although the Ordinance establishes a statutory duty of confidentiality, the Ordinance also provides several exceptions. How practice will evolve around these exceptions will be an area of keen focus for both mediators and parties in Hong Kong.