The Law Society of Hong Kong is proposing the introduction of a new entrance examination, which would ensure that newly admitted solicitors studying different postgraduate law courses have all met the same academic standards on admission. Reform of legal education in Hong Kong was reported here in the ICLR newsletter in 2017, in comments by…
Hong Kong Law Society responses to AML consultation
The Law Society of Hong Kong has released its responses to questions arising from an online consultation on anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) regulation. The consultation was launched on the 3rd November 2020 by the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau. The consultation gave members of the public, as well as private companies the…
Law Society of Hong Kong pairs up with university for ‘future of law’ project
The Law Society of Hong Kong has partnered with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (“HKSTP”) Global Acceleration Academy (“GAA”) to launch a 12-month pilot initiative called the “Future of Law” project. The project aims to find technology solutions and co-create impactful and practical solutions with selected innovation providers that best-fit law society members’…
Hong Kong to consider extending AML and CFT rules to cryptocurrencies
In the Financial Secretary’s 2020 – 2021 budget speech, the Hong Kong government announced that it will consider extending the anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing requirements to cover cryptocurrency service providers. Cryptocurrencies are currently classified as virtual assets in the city and are regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission. By including cryptocurrencies under AML regulations, the…
Law Society of Hong Kong launches law tech fund
In light of the ongoing uncertainty and the potential for change in how court hearings may be undertaken in the future, the Law Society of Hong Kong has lobbied for assistance to be provided to practitioners who may not have access to the technological tools required to conduct remote hearings or transactions. On 8 April,…
Hong Kong Bar Association questions legality of Beijing’s national security law
On the 25th May, the Hong Kong Bar association released a statement saying that Beijing and the National People’s Congress do not have the legal power to enact new national security laws which are currently being drafted. The Bar Association have pointed out that Article 22 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, makes it…
More regulatory responses to COVID-19
Following on from last month’s newsletter, we’ve put together the following list to examine different regulator responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here it is interesting to note the development and changes, as regulators begin to get a grasp on the crisis and develop innovative responses to meet the changing environment. If you have any questions…
Outcome of Hong Kong foreign lawyers consultation
The Law Society of Hong Kong has been considering changes to their foreign lawyer practising rules for the past three years. The principal proposed changes were as follows: Amendments to Rule 12(1) to clarify that a foreign lawyer may only provide a legal service which relates to the law(s) of the jurisdiction(s) stated on a…
Enforcing legal conduct to protect quality of legal services
Enforcement of professional codes and laws of conduct is a critical facet of legal regulation. Lawyer misconduct can have severe ramifications for consumers and the wider legal services market, eroding the reputation of the industry and jurisdiction. However, the processes and protocols for reporting misconduct by a legal service provider is often difficult or lengthy…
Reform in Legal Education and Training in Hong Kong
In the article which follows, Heidi Chu, Secretary General of The Law Society of Hong Kong kindly provides us with an overview of the ‘state of play’ of legal education and training reform in Hong Kong. The present system of legal education and training in Hong Kong involves three stages, namely: an academic stage (a qualifying…