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Legal Updates

  • Legal Recognition of Same‑Sex Parenthood in Hong Kong: Adoption, Surrogacy, and RIVF Rights Explained

    Introduction Legal recognition of same-sex parenthood is a still developing area in Hong Kong. Same-sex couples and their children face significant challenges and discrimination in Hong Kong under the application of outdated laws that fail to account for the reality of modern family structures. This…Read More

  • Judgment Summons in Hong Kong Divorce Cases

    Enforcement, Penalties, and the Real Risk of Imprisonment Many divorce settlements involve one time payments or ongoing financial commitments, such as monthly maintenance, school fees, or staged lump-sum payments. These arrangements often work well at the outset, but real life has a habit of intervening….Read More

  • TDW Employment Law – 2025 End of Year Review

    The Hong Kong employment law environment remained dynamic in 2025, with important developments affecting workplace policies and liability. From landmark court decisions on discrimination and sexual harassment to proposed legislative changes and updated regulatory guidance, employers face a complex array of new considerations.  This overview…Read More

  • Looking back, looking forward: Highlights and prospects in Hong Kong data privacy regulation

    The Hong Kong data privacy landscape saw limited legislative reform in 2025. Yet, the year was far from static. 2025 marked a trend moving from principles to practical playbooks, driven by the rollout of Hong Kong’s first dedicated cybersecurity law and an active data privacy…Read More

  • The law and a deceased person’s remains, what happens when there is a dispute?

    The recent case of Leung Kar Hin Ross v Ma Lai Fong[1] (“Leung v Ma”)   case link has provided important reminders for families dealing with the passing away of loved ones, particularly around who has the legal right to make funeral arrangements and control the…Read More

  • Employers’ Duties in Extreme Weather Conditions – A Timely Reminder

    The recent case of Khan Farooq Ahmed v Delivery Hero Food Hong Kong Limited [2025] HKCFI 4030 (“Khan v Delivery Hero”) outlined an important concern in Hong Kong – what are employers’ duties when it comes to work during a Typhoon 8 or other severe…Read More

  • Hong Kong’s new Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance takes effect in 2026

    The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance (Cap. 650) marks a major development in Hong Kong’s child‑protection landscape. Gazetted in July 2024 and scheduled to come into force today, 20 January 2026, the Ordinance reflects the SAR Government’s commitment to strengthening early identification and intervention…Read More

  • ASPIRe: Looking back and ahead on the regulatory roadmap for virtual assets in Hong Kong

    On 19 February 2025, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published ASPIRe, its regulatory roadmap for Hong Kong’s virtual asset market. It’s a fine document, and an inspired acronym. As we approach the first anniversary of its publication, Pádraig Walsh, who leads our Fintech practice,…Read More

  • I lost my right of abode. What happens now?

    If you have lost your right of abode in Hong Kong, you will automatically acquire the right to land in Hong Kong. With this new right to land status, you will have the right to: Therefore, you may enter Hong Kong to live, work or…Read More

  • Holiday pay and annual leave pay revisited: Wages and commissions covering every day of the month

    The decision of Kan Kin Lan Kenny v Ray White (Hong Kong) Limited [2025] HKCFI 728, the Court of First Instance from early this year revisits and gives useful guidance in relation to calculating holiday pay and annual leave pay in the context of contractual…Read More

  • “There’s always someone watching!” (Ocean’s 11). Updated Privacy Commissioner guidance on CCTV, drone, and in-vehicle camera use

    Hong Kong is actively pushing to become a global innovation hub. Plans include installing cameras in all taxis by 2026, as well as promoting a low-altitude economy of camera-equipped drones. However, such initiatives come with privacy and data concerns. The use of CCTV surveillance, and…Read More

  • Cohabitation in Hong Kong: A Brief Comparison of Comparing the Legal Landscape of Married and Unmarried Couples in 2025

    Cohabitation is on the rise in Hong Kong, as more couples choose to live together before, or instead of, getting married. Yet despite these changing social norms, the law in Hong Kong continues to draw sharp distinctions between married and unmarried couples. Understanding how cohabitation…Read More