On 30 June 2020, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (NSL) came into operation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Broadly speaking, the NSL criminalizes four types of acts: (1) secession, (2) subversion, (3) terrorist…
Whistle-blowers have been a prominent feature of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. From the medics across the globe who have blown the whistle on supply shortages, misleading information regarding effective treatments and risk measures, whistle-blowers have been a vital source of information during the pandemic.
Companies have also been challenged with increasing numbers of whistle-blowing reports during this period in areas including fraud, corruption and harassment. Although there is no comprehensive law in Hong Kong requiring companies to implement a whistleblowing policy and procedure, it is a best practice component to any compliance program and an essential tool to combat internal misconduct and to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
On 16 April 2020, the Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) introduced significant reforms to its leniency policies, publishing:
Substantial revisions to its corporate leniency policy, aimed at businesses (Revised Corporate Leniency Policy)
A new leniency policy aimed at individuals (Individual Leniency Policy)
In brief With the slowdown in economic activity globally due to COVID-19, the number of cyber fraud cases from around the world has surged. The Hong Kong Police, the Action Fraud (UK’s National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre), and the Australian Cyber Security Centre, have all recorded a significant…
Our Global PIPE Guide sets out a comparison of the key features and requirements applicable to PIPE deals…
In continuation of Baker McKenzie’s Asia Pacific webinar series on the business impact of COVID-19, we bring you…
A number of high-profile listings including Facebook, Snap, Alibaba and LinkedIn have thrust dual class shares back into the spotlight. In 2018 both the Hong Kong SAR and Singapore stock exchanges revised their listing rules within months of each other to permit the listing of companies with dual class or…
Download full alert For insurers in Hong Kong, the outbreak of novel coronavirus may cause potential disruption to…
Download full alert For insurers in Hong Kong, the outbreak of novel coronavirus may cause potential disruption to…
In five recent judicial review applications brought against the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Magistrate (HCAL 2132, 2133, 2134, 2136 and 2137/2018), the Court of First Instance dismissed challenges to the SFC’s decisions to seize and retain digital devices during its search operations. The Court has confirmed the…