Hong Kong 2020/2021 Budget

On 26 February 2020, Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan Mo-po, GBM, GBS, MH, JP,[1] delivered the government’s 2020/2021 Budget Plan to the Legislative Council. Given the tough economic environment, an expansionary fiscal stance is being adopted making optimal use of fiscal reserves to implement counter-cyclical measures. Read More… Hong Kong Law Newsletter | Chartlons

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

SFC Bulletin gives Update on SFC’s Front-loaded Regulatory Approach

On 7th February 2020, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published its SFC Regulatory Bulletin (Issue No. 4) to provide an update on its front-loaded approach to regulating market quality and corporate misconduct. The latest SFC Regulatory Bulletin includes case studies featuring the SFC’s principal areas of concern and its recent regulatory actions in relation […]

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

Gall Contributes Hong Kong Chapter on Asset Recovery for Lexology Getting The Deal Through

Nick Gall and Ashima Sood have contributed the 2020 Hong Kong Chapter on Asset Recovery for Lexology Getting The Deal Through. The publication provides expert summaries of the laws and regulations which have been developed to freeze and repatriate the proceeds of fraud and corruption, and Gall’s Hong Kong chapter explores both civil and criminal […]

Nick GallSenior Partner, Gall Solicitors

COVID-19 and the Operation of Force Majeure in Hong Kong

In this article, partners Nick Gall, Evelyn Chan, Kenix Yuen and Trainee Solicitor Adriel Wong explore whether a force majeure clause applies to COVID-19 and to a party’s performance, and the various actions to take if a party considers that it is entitled to invoke a force majeure clause. The outbreak of COVID-19 novel coronavirus has brought about disruptions […]

Nick GallSenior Partner, Gall Solicitors

HKEx Publishes Consultation Paper on Corporate WVR Beneficiaries

On 31 January 2020, HKEx announced the publication of its Consultation Paper on Corporate WVR Beneficiaries,[1] seeking feedback on a proposal to allow corporate entities to benefit from weighted voting rights (WVR) subject to additional conditions and investor protection measures. Under the current regime, WVR can only be held by individuals. Read More… Hong Kong […]

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

Latest SFC Decisions Against SFC Licensed Corporations and Unlicensed and SFC Licensed Individuals for Compliance Failures under the Securities and Futures Ordinance

SFC Reported Cases for Compliance Failures under the Securities and Futures Ordinance: mid-December 2019 to mid-February 2020 The SFC has published updates on over ten disciplinary actions and related prosecutions between 17 December 2019 and 14 February 2020, including the following: Read More… Hong Kong Law Newsletter | Chartlons

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

Hong Kong Stock Exchange and SFC Issue a Joint Statement on Results Announcements of Listed Issuers in light of Travel Restrictions related to the Corona Virus

On 4 February 2020, in light of travel restrictions that have arisen in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Securities and Futures Commission (the SFC) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the HKEx) issued a joint statement[1] (the Statement on Financial Results Announcements) providing guidance to listed companies and their auditors […]

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

SFC Issues Licensing Guidance for Hong Kong Private Equity firms and Family offices

On 7 January 2020, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)  announced[1] the publication of two SFC circulars providing guidance on the SFC licensing obligations of private equity firms (Hong Kong private equity firms) and family offices (Hong Kong family offices) which conduct business in Hong Kong, in response to enquiries from industry participants and their […]

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

HKEx Consultation Conclusions on Review of the ESG Reporting Guide and ESG Listing Rules

On 18 December 2019, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx) published its Consultation Conclusions: Review of the Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting Guide and Related Listing Rules with respect to its May 2019 Consultation Paper, the consultation period for which closed on 19 July 2019.   The Consultation Conclusions were published together with the […]

Julia CharltonPartner, Charltons

Criminal defence team gives a seminar on competition and anti-corruption laws

Our Partner Felix Ng, Associates Timothy Wan and Christina Ma were invited by a Tokyo-listed company to give a seminar to its employees on the Competition Ordinance and the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance in Hong Kong. The seminar outlined the core principles of the two legislations and illustrated examples of potential violations in employees’ daily work, followed by a comparative analysis of the investigation powers of the […]