HKICAdj’s Adjudication Conference 2026 "Navigating the First-Year: Industry Reactions, Adaptation Strategies, and Emerging Best Practices"

Panel 1: "From SOPP to SOPL in Action: Is Adjudication Delivering Faster & Fairer Payments for All?"

Moderated by Sr Dr Stephen YF Lai · Panelists: Mr Nick Chan, BBS, MH, JP, Mr Warren Suen, Ms Joanne Lau — speaking from the front line of the Adjudicator Nominating Bodies (ANBs)

• The numbers so far — First-hand ANB statistics on adjudication cases received and administered since SOPL came into operation, shedding light on caseload distribution and claimant profiles.
• The road ahead — Drawing on nomination trends and the pipeline of qualifying contracts, the panel projected steady growth in SOPL adjudication cases as awareness spreads down the supply chain.
• The speed test — Whether strict statutory timelines are preventing long-standing payment bottlenecks, or creating a new administrative rush of their own.
• Fairness in focus — How effectively the law is levelling the playing field for sub-contractors and suppliers, without compromising the commercial viability of main contractors and employers.
• Cultural shift — Moving past the "teething issues" of year one, the industry is steadily shifting toward proactive contract management rather than reactive dispute handling.

Photo of Panel 1

Photo of Sr Dr. Stephen YF Lai

Photo of Ms. Joanne Lau

Photo of Mr. Nick Chan

Photo of Mr. Warren Suen

Moderated by Mr Kaiser Leung · Panelists: Ir Do Do Chan, Mr Stanley Lo, Cr Johnason Ko

• For claimants — Precision in issuing a Payment Claim is critical: documentation must be watertight, quantified, and submitted strictly within statutory windows. Cash-flow pressure travels up and down the supply chain, making timeline discipline a matter of survival.
• For respondents — Do not sleep on a Payment Claim. Delay in preparing a Payment Response can restrict what grounds may later be raised at adjudication and create real provisional payment exposure.
• Legal preparedness — Structuring evidence bundles and readying materials to be marshalled quickly once a claim or response is triggered — especially for organisations that are claimant on one contract and respondent on another.
• Evidence is king — The compressed adjudication timeline leaves little room for retrospective "file hunting." Real-time, concurrent record-keeping is the ultimate shield and sword.

Photo of Panel 2

Photo of Mr. Kaiser Leung

Photo of Ir. Do Do Chan

Photo of Mr. Stanley Lo

Photo of Cr. Johnason Ko

Moderated by Mr Richard Poon · Panelists: Mr James Johnson, Mr Robert Gerrard, Mr Philip Nunn — representing NEC Contracts® and legal practice

• The numbers so far — First-hand ANB statistics on adjudication cases received and administered since SOPL came into operation, shedding light on caseload distribution and claimant profiles.
• The road ahead — Drawing on nomination trends and the pipeline of qualifying contracts, the panel projected steady growth in SOPL adjudication cases as awareness spreads down the supply chain.
• The speed test — Whether strict statutory timelines are preventing long-standing payment bottlenecks, or creating a new administrative rush of their own.
• Fairness in focus — How effectively the law is levelling the playing field for sub-contractors and suppliers, without compromising the commercial viability of main contractors and employers.
• Cultural shift — Moving past the "teething issues" of year one, the industry is steadily shifting toward proactive contract management rather than reactive dispute handling.

Photo of Panel 3