Page:International Arbitration Act (Cap, 143A, 1995Ed.).pdf/28

 1995 Ed. FIRST SCHEDULE—continued :(b) the respondent fails to communicate his statement of defence in accordance with Article 23 (1), the arbitral tribunal shall continue the proceedings without treating such failure in itself as an admission of the claimant’s allegations;
 * (c) any party fails to appear at a hearing or to produce docu­ mentary evidence, the arbitral tribunal may continue the proceedings and make the award on the evidence before it.

''Article 26. Expert appointed by arbitral tribunal''

(1) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal—
 * (a) may appoint one or more experts to report to it on specific issues to be determined by the arbitral tribunal;
 * (b) may require a party to give the expert any relevant information or to produce, or to provide access to, any relevant documents, goods or other property for his inspection.

(2) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if a party so requests or if the arbitral tribunal considers it necessary, the expert shall, after delivery of his written or oral report, participate in a hearing where the parties have the opportunity to put questions to him and to present expert witnesses in order to testify on the points at issue.

''Article 27. Court assistance in taking evidence''

The arbitral tribunal or a party with the approval of the arbitral tribunal may request from a competent court of this State assistance in taking evidence. The court may execute the request within its competence and according to its rules on taking evidence.

''Article 28. Rules applicable to substance of dispute''

(1) The arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute in accordance with such rules of law as are chosen by the parties as applicable to the substance of the dispute. Any designation of the law or legal system of a given State shall be construed, unless otherwise expressed, as directly referring to the substantive law of that State and not to its conflict of laws rules.

(2) Failing any designation by the parties, the arbitral tribunal shall apply the law determined by the conflict of laws rules which it considers applicable. 15. 3. 1995