On 23 May 2025, the Hong Kong government gazetted the Companies (Amendment) (No.2) Ordinance, enacting a comprehensive re-domiciliation regime that allows non-Hong Kong incorporated companies to re-domicile to Hong Kong while preserving corporate identity and business continuity. Applications for re-domiciliation may now be made to the Companies Registry.
In an era of intensifying geopolitical tensions, companies with operations in the U.S. must navigate an increasingly fragmented and national security-driven regulatory landscape governing cross-border transfers of many different types of data, including personal data and technical information used in R&D and patent filings. The US Department of Justice’s new Data Security Program (DSP) essentially prohibits US persons from making certain volumes of Americans’ personal data available to entities headquartered or residing in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, or North Korea, or their subsidiaries in other countries, unless an exception applies.
In a landmark ruling, the Pretoria High Court in Standard Bank v South African Reserve Bank ruled that cryptocurrencies do not constitute “capital” under South Africa’s Exchange Control Regulations. This means crypto assets are not subject to the country’s strict exchange control regime, offering long-awaited clarity for the crypto industry. While this judgment removes the need for SARB approval to export crypto, the relief may be temporary, as future legislative amendments could reassert regulatory oversight. For now, the decision marks a significant shift in how digital assets are treated under South African financial law.
The recently introduced obligations on Queensland businesses regarding implementation of a tailored sexual and sex-based harassment prevention plan are particularly significant for employers operating in the construction and renewables industries given the workforce is typically male-dominated and often working in remote environments. Although these changes only apply to Queensland employers, these should be viewed as a prescriptive step for fulfilling existing work, health and safety obligations and the positive duty to eliminate unlawful behavior at work, which apply to all businesses in Australia.
In April 2025, Italy’s competition authority (AGCM) launched an investigation into a clothing retailer over alleged unfair commercial practices. The company is accused of using dual-price tags—featuring a crossed-out higher price—to allegedly suggest discounts on items that were never actually sold at the inflated price. This potentially misleading tactic could deceive consumers into believing they are receiving a bargain.
On 10 April 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released Consultation Paper 383 ‘Reportable situations and internal dispute resolution data publication’. Through the Consultation Paper, ASIC has proposed publication of data on Reportable Situations (RS) and Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR), respectively, across two separate interactive dashboards.
RS data is proposed to be published annually, by the end of October each year. IDR data will be published biannually.
On 6 May 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it will expand the use of unannounced inspections at foreign manufacturing facilities that produce foods, essential medicines, and other medical products intended for US consumers and patients. The announcement came one day after the White House issued an Executive Order instructing FDA to provide regulatory relief to promote domestic production of critical medicines and improve FDA’s risk-based inspection regime to enhance routine inspections of foreign facilities.
On 16 April 2025, the decrees enacting the Law of Acquisitions, Leases and Services of the Public Sector and amending the Law of Public Works and Related Services, both proposed by the Federal Executive Branch, were published in the Federal Official Gazette (DOF).
On 12 May 2025 the newly issued Criminal Division White-Collar Enforcement Plan, the Head of the US Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti, set out the Department’s priorities for corporate criminal enforcement under the new Administration and issued a number of updated policy documents.
These changes affect the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, its policy on the Selection of Monitors (memorialized in the Memorandum on Selection of Monitors in Criminal Division Matters, and the Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program.
On 3 May 2025, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued a consultation paper proposing to remove the current exclusions under the Financial Advisers Regulations and the Securities and Futures (Licensing and Conduct of Business) Regulations (SF(LCB)R) that exempt certain financial institutions from complying with advertising regulations.
This proposal is part of MAS’s broader initiative to enhance market conduct standards, following its 2023 Consultation Paper on Enhancing Safeguards for Proper Conduct of Digital Prospecting and Marketing Activities.