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Legal Updates
Marrying rich? Better safe than sorry.
Ranking 3rd in Forbes’s “Cities With The Most Billionaires In 2015”, it is common for married couples in Hong Kong to live lavishly through the generosity of family members but with no absolute entitlement to wealth. This begs the million dollar question, for spouses who…Read More
Improperly obtained documents in divorce proceedings
For the court or parties to reach a decision on financial relief, parties are required to disclose their financial positions to each other fully and frankly. The fight over financial relief in divorce cases can be long and bitter. If you know or suspect that…Read More
Validity and need for registration of foreign marriage in Hong Kong
When people speak of a white wedding, they used to mean the colour of the bride’s dress. Now they are just as likely to be talking about the colour of the sand on the exotic beach where the ceremony was held. A survey has claimed…Read More
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap 623)
A. INTRODUCTION The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap 623) (the “Ordinance”) came into effect on 1 January 2016. The Ordinance modifies the doctrine of “privity of contract” which states that only those who are named in the contract and have signed it are…Read More
Legal update: The Competition Ordinance – Leniency Policy
INTRODUCTION The Competition Ordinance (Cap 619) (the “Ordinance”) came into force on 14 December 2015. Since our previous overview of the Ordinance (click here), the Competition Commission (the “Commission”) and the Competition Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) have been formally established. The Enforcement Policy published by the…Read More
Legal update: Tax update: Hong Kong is removed from Italy’s blacklists
Following the tax treaty between Italy and Hong Kong that was entered into on 14th January 2013, Italy removed Hong Kong from its list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions (also know as “Italian blacklists”) on 30th November 2015. It is expected that this development will boost…Read More
Legal update: Government launches public consultation on draft Children’s Bill
Further to our article posted on November 20th 2015 entitled “Long-awaited Children’s Bill coming soon to Hong Kong“, we are pleased to announce that the Hong Kong Government launched a four month public consultation on November 25th 2015 in order to gauge the public’s views…Read More
Legal update: Long-awaited Children’s Bill coming soon to Hong Kong
The law in Hong Kong that protects children experiencing divorce and other family issues has been discussed and debated for years. Improvements have been made but no concrete Children’s Bill has been passed. Following the well-attended Third Children’s Forum held recently by CIF HK at…Read More
Legal update: The Serious Risks and Consequences of Using False Academic Credentials – “Fit and Proper”
Introduction Hong Kong’s success as one of the most developed financial hubs in the world is attributable in great part to its well-established financial institutions, which safeguard the integrity of the market and protect the interest of investors big and small. The “Fit and Proper”…Read More
Hiring Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong: Pitfalls and Misconceptions
In Hong Kong when most people mention “helpers” they actually mean a “Foreign Domestic Helper” (“FDH”) employed from overseas via a recruitment agency or directly via an advertisement or referrals. In order to employ a FDH and obtain a work visa for that employment, the…Read More
Financial non-disclosure in divorce proceedings: consent order risk.
On 14 October 2015, the UK Supreme Court handed down two landmark decisions, Gohil and Sharland, overturning two wives’ financial settlement consent orders made in divorce proceedings due to their husbands’ deliberate non-disclosure of assets. The decisions serve as warnings to any divorcing spouse who…Read More
Legal update: Hong Kong Insolvency Law – in need of its own restructuring?
The purpose of this short note is not to conduct a detailed critique of the law in Hong Kong in this very broad and complex area but to provide a brief sketch as to certain of the challenges faced by industry professionals and what steps…Read More
