Hong Kong, 1 December 2021: “Please, sir, I want some more.” These, of course, are the famous words spoken by the eponymous young orphan in Charles Dickens’ celebrated novel Oliver Twist as he timidly asks the master of the workhouse for a further helping of gruel. As with many of his epic works, the lauded […]
By Arthur Chan and Jasmine Kwong Hong Kong, 24 November 2021: The Immigration Department appears to be taking a stronger stance over its requirement that foreign domestic helpers should have a clear criminal record in order to obtain a work visa. However, this toughening of attitude gives rise to fresh questions about how future applications […]
By Colin Cohen Hong Kong, 19 November 2021: In a much-anticipated judgment, the Court of Final Appeal has upheld the exclusive right of male indigenous villagers in the New Territories to build their own homes, ruling that the so-called Small House Policy is constitutional in its entirety. The judges have declared this right is protected […]
Hong Kong, 17 November 2021: Do you think Carrie Lam listens to music? Unlikely, given that our famously workaholic Chief Executive insists she never relaxes. A pity, because an hour with Frank Sinatra and his swinging songs certainly puts a spring in your step and makes you think wistfully of happier times and alluring locations. […]
By Colin Cohen Hong Kong, 10 November 2021: A landmark Court of Final Appeal judgment has provided welcome clarity on the question of prosecutions for unlawful assembly and rioting, ruling that the doctrine of “joint enterprise” does not apply but stressing that anyone involved – whether directly or indirectly – in such activities could face […]
By Arthur Chan and Gabriel Brettell Hong Kong, 5 November 2021: The non-consensual photography of intimate parts (colloquially known as up-skirting) and the recording of others engaging in intimate acts when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy (voyeurism) are acts that should be punished in a civilised society. They offend a person’s privacy and […]
Hong Kong, 3 November 2021: Who doesn’t have a sneaking admiration for Viz, the British comic for (not so) grown-ups that is full of profane, childish cartoons and surreal humour? The readers’ letters are legendary, to wit: “I was delighted when the kind people at the Inland Revenue wrote to me recently telling me that […]
Hong Kong, 27 October 2021: I love football refereeing. Not only is it healthy exercise and a fulfilling social activity, its core components – rule of law, equitable decision-making and appraising each case on its merits – appeal to my instincts as a legal professional. Almost 50 years after my debut as a teenaged match […]
Hong Kong, 20 October 2021: Having lived in Hong Kong for 40 years, I’m sometimes guilty of being blasé about this wonderful city’s unique appeal. Boasting an exotic blend of ancient and modern, East meets West, downtown bustle versus country park tranquility, there is nowhere quite like it. And it appears many people agree, given […]
By Insurance and Personal Injury Team Hong Kong, 19 October 2021: Parties involved in long-running personal injury cases have been warned that the courts will no longer tolerate unacceptable delays that result in even straightforward claims taking years to resolve. In particular, the courts will be prepared to impose sanctions on costs against anyone who […]
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Spotlight on biotech trade secrets
By Alex Liu Hong Kong, 23 February 2026: In a significant High Court judgment, a Hong Kong biotech company has won its claim that former employees and close associates misappropriated confidential and proprietary information – in other words, trade secrets – to set up a rival business. In upholding the plaintiff’s action, the ruling highlighted […]
Hong Kong, 12 February 2026: Our Senior Partner Colin Cohen drew on his vast experience as one of Hong Kong’s leading criminal defence lawyers to deliver a compelling talk to the Rotary Club of Wanchai. In his presentation, entitled “In Defence of Murder”, Colin outlined the challenges facing a lawyer whose client is accused of […]
Hong Kong, 11 February 2026: Roaring Twenties icon Josephine Baker maintained a menagerie as exotic as her dancing. She kept a goat and pig in her Paris nightclub while various dogs and monkeys, plus a horse, tortoise, snake, parakeet and two goldfish, inhabited her palatial home. But her favourite was Chiquita the cheetah, who rode […]
By Arthur Chan and Jasmine Kwong Hong Kong, 6 February 2026: A defendant’s right to remain silent, a facet of the presumption of innocence that places the burden of proving guilt solely on the prosecution, has been reinforced in a significant judgment by the Court of Final Appeal. The ruling underscores that prosecuting counsel are […]
Hong Kong, 29 January 2026: Our Consultant John Zhou and Associate Jasmine Kwong were pleased to represent BC&C and hone their advocacy skills at the eighth annual HK45 x Alvarez & Marsal Cross-Examination Workshop. Held at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), it was the latest edition in a flagship programme designed to give […]