Reading Time: 6 minutesIntroduction A US short-seller, Mr Andrew Left (“Mr Left”) of Citron Research, was held liable by the Market Misconduct Tribunal (“MMT”) in August 2016 for publishing false or misleading market information about Evergrande Real Estate Group Limited (“Evergrande”) (Stock Code: 3333). In February 2019, the Court of Appeal (the “CA”) dismissed Mr Left’s appeal against […]
The Hong Kong Court’s Approach to Child Custody Relocation Cases
Reading Time: 7 minutesAs an international finance centre, families from all over the world relocate to Hong Kong for work purposes. In the event that the relationship between the parents break down, can one of them simply return home with his or her children? Parental removal of a child from one country to another may amount to child […]
Hong Kong: Is the test for “substantial connection” for the declaration of parentage the same as that for matrimonial proceedings?
Reading Time: 4 minutesIntroduction In respect of initiating proceedings for divorce in Hong Kong, section 3(c) of the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance (Cap. 179) requires either of the parties to have substantial connection with Hong Kong. There is a line of divorce cases showing that the Courts in determining whether a connection is substantial would take all relevant factors […]
The law on demotions in Hong Kong
Reading Time: 3 minutesA demotion normally involves a reduction in rank or status, or a decrease in job responsibilities and/or salary. An employer may wish to demote an employee for a variety of reasons including poor performance, capability and/or as an alternative to termination. Regardless of the reason for the demotion, an employer should be careful when demoting […]
香港：第二次机会──推翻认罪答辩的法律原则
Reading Time: 1 minutes在某些罕见情况下，被告人虽然有代表律师，但在作出认罪答辩前未获其律师提供适当意见（或被告人并无代表律师），则被告人可能需要以认罪答辩含糊为由，申请推翻其答辩。在最近HKSAR v Chan Chi Ho Lincoln [2018] HKCFA 64一案中，终审法院澄清了规管法院就被告人申请推翻认罪答辩而行使酌情权的原则。
香港：兼职引发的法律问题
Reading Time: 1 minutes不少香港公司规定，雇员若未作出披露或未经同意从事兼职，即属违反合约，可能会面临纪律处分、解雇，甚至被起诉索偿。兼职亦可能触犯《防止贿赂条例》内的刑事罪行。
雇佣合约或人力资源政策须列明准则，规定雇员就其收受的利益及任何外间薪酬（包括兼职）作出充分披露，以及订明审批权谁属。就相关政策提供培训、加深雇员的认识、制订审批权，以及建立申报外间工作的机制都是关键所在。
Hong Kong: Mutual recognition of funds between Luxembourg and Hong Kong
Reading Time: 5 minutesIntroduction The Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) from Hong Kong and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (“CSSF”) from Luxembourg have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) on Mutual Recognition of Funds (“MRF”) on 15 January 2019, which will allow eligible Hong Kong public funds and Luxembourg UCITS fund (a collective investment scheme […]
Hong Kong: Amendments to an employment contract – whether there is “real benefit” to an employer
Reading Time: 4 minutesIntroduction In our previous newsletter “Amendments to an Employment Contract Must Be Supported by Fresh Consideration” (September 2017), we discussed the ruling of the Court of First Instance (“CFI”) in Wu Kit Man v Dragonway Group Holdings Limited HCLA 15/2016, where the CFI held that amendments to an existing employment contract were unenforceable due to lack of […]
Hong Kong: The Competition Tribunal refuses last-minute application to amend pleadings two months before trial
Reading Time: 4 minutesIntroduction In Competition Commission v Wing Hing Construction Co Ltd [2018] HKCT 6, the Competition Tribunal refuses a respondent’s application to amend its Response and file new witness statements in substitution for a statement already filed. Factual background In these proceedings, the respondents were contractors appointed from a reference list of the Hong Kong Housing Authority to […]
Hong Kong: Navigating the money laundering minefield – the Court of Appeal dismissed the constitutional challenge against the “no consent” regime
Reading Time: 10 minutesIntroduction In Interush Ltd v Commissioner of Police [2019] HKCA 70, the Court of Appeal (“CA”) has rejected an argument that two money laundering offences, namely sections 25 and 25A of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) (“OSCO”) under the so called “no consent regime” or “informal freezing” of assets, infringe the property rights and […]
Lao PDR Legal Alert: New Economic Dispute Resolution Law in Effect
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Amended Law on the Resolution of Economic Disputes (Nº 51/NA, 22 June 2018) (the “Amended Law”) came into effect on 6 December 2018 and replaced the previous Law on Economic Dispute Resolution (Nº 06/NA, 17 December 2010) (the “2010 Law”). A key highlight of the Amended Law is the inclusion of more detailed procedures […]
Hong Kong: Court orders boiler room fraudsters to compensate investors
Reading Time: 4 minutesIntroduction On 21 December 2018, the Securities and Futures Commission (the “SFC”) succeeded in its actions against boiler room fraudsters, where the Court of First Instance (the “CFI”) ordered such fraudsters to compensate investors who fell victim to the scams, in accordance with section 213 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the “SFO”). Background Boiler […]