You might remember a strange little case that was filed back in 2011 by some Chinese dissidents in New York. Their weak ass sadly untested argument was that Baidu was censoring search results such that their anti-China content did not come up when folks did a search. The plaintiffs argued that this was a violation of […]

Customs officers today arrested a 64-year-old man for trafficking in a dangerous drug after they found 4kg of cocaine worth $4.14 million concealed in his luggage.

Officers stopped the man on his arrival at Hong Kong International Airport on a flight from Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

They found the cocaine, in three slabs, concealed in false compartments of his suitcase.

The man, who claimed to be unemployed, will be charged with trafficking and will appear in Fanling Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen will visit Singapore on April 2 and 3 to promote Hong Kong as a legal services hub and dispute-resolution centre in the Asia Pacific Region, and to enhance ties with Singapore's legal sector.

He will meet with Singapore Mediation Centre and Singapore International Arbitration Centre representatives, and Singapore's Attorney-General Steven Chong, Senior Minister of State of the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Education Indranee Rajah, and Singapore Law Society President.

He will also meet the deans of the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, and Singapore Management University's School of Law.

Mr Yuen will return to Hong Kong on April 3.

After the latest “Why I’m Leaving China” column came out and the usual tongues started wagging, I realized that many of these missives are simply thinly-veiled advertorials. “Hey, I’m leaving China after a bunch of years, and by the way, here’s the name of my new company and a brief bio of my past achievements. […]

Earlier today Marvel announced it will be releasing a Chinese version of its upcoming blockbuster, Iron Man 3, which will differ from the film that audiences outside of China see. The announcement also included the detail that Chinese actress and singer Fan Bingbing will be cut out of the non-Chinese version of the film. (The […]

Two men aged 34 and 36 were arrested for trafficking in a dangerous drug, after Customs officers seized 10kg of cocaine worth $10.37 million in Yau Ma Tei.

When officers stopped the men in a building in Pitt Street, they found 1kg of cocaine on one of them, and the other 9 kg in a flat in the building.

The pair, claiming to be a security guard and a driver, will appear at Fanling Magistracy on April 1.

Here's a fascinating case that makes for…

Here's a fascinating case that makes for…

I dimly recall talking about this case last year, I believe shortly after the iPad dispute was resolved. I’m too exhausted to poke around in the China Hearsay file room to find my previous post, but I assume I said something like “It’s too early to tell what’s going to happen, and we would need […]

The headline says it all. Here's the link to the draft regulation. The deadline for comments is April 26, 2013. The ABA's International Law section and its Antitrust section are assembling a group to draft comments; the group's work needs…

The headline says it all. Here's the link to the draft regulation. The deadline for comments is April 26, 2013. The ABA's International Law section and its Antitrust section are assembling a group to draft comments; the group's work needs…

The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has apprehended a Mainland man for illegally fishing in Hong Kong waters.

The department’s enforcement staff and Marine Police arrested the 45-year-old aboard a non-local vessel using cage traps west of Crescent Island at about 2.45am today.

He will be charged with illegal fishing and will appear in Fanling Magistracy tomorrow.

Police have arrested a 38-year-old man for dangerous driving after his mud truck hit and killed a 78-year-old man in Yau Ma Tei.

At about 9am, the truck reportedly knocked the man down as he was crossing the road, at the junction of Waterloo Road and Wylie Road.

The pedestrian was sent to Kwong Wah Hospital where he died at around 10am.

Witnesses should call Police at 2773 5200 or 2773 5258.

The Police today launched a YouTube channel, to promote the force and increase people's understanding of its work. 

The channel contains videos grouped into six categories – Latest Update, Editor’s Choice, Crime Prevention, Police Work, Events & Activities, and Public Appreciation.

Police formations, cadres, clubs, and other groups will produce videos depicting the different nature of police work.

The channel enhances Police communication with the public through social media, following the launch of the Hong Kong Police Mobile Application last July. Version 1.3 of the app was also launched today, which includes an e-reporting function and a link to the Notification of Public Meeting/Public Procession webpage.

People can use e-forms to make non-urgent reports or enquiries, including lost property, noise nuisance, crime information, telephone nuisance, unjustified issuance of a fixed-penalty ticket, vehicle obstruction, general enquiries, compliments and complaints.

Click here for more information.

The Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2013 will be gazetted on March 28 to implement the Arrangement Concerning Reciprocal Recognition & Enforcement of Arbitral Awards between Hong Kong and Macau.

It will be tabled at the Legislative Council on April 24.

The arrangement, concluded with Macau in January, enhances Hong Kong’s role as a regional arbitration centre, as it facilitates the efficient enforcement of Macau arbitral awards in Hong Kong and vice-versa.

To implement the arrangement, the Arbitration Ordinance must be amended to enable Hong Kong courts to enforce awards made in Macau according to principles set out in the arrangement.

Under the proposed amendments, a Macau award is enforceable in Hong Kong either by action in the Court of First Instance, or in the same manner as an arbitral award to which the relevant section of the ordinance applies with the court's leave.

The bill provides that with the court's leave, any emergency relief an emergency arbitrator in or outside Hong Kong grants is enforceable in the same manner as a court order or direction.

Chief Executive CY Leung says the Government will adhere to the legal system to resolve the right of abode issue for children born in Hong Kong to Mainland parents.

Speaking to the media before today's Executive Council meeting, Mr Leung welcomed the Court of Final Appeal’s decision yesterday to exclude foreign domestic helpers from seeking the right of abode in Hong Kong, adding the court clarified important legal perspectives.

Mr Leung said the Government will continue to use the legal system to try to resolve the abode issue for children born in Hong Kong to Mainland parents who are not permanent residents.

The Government will stop expectant Mainland mothers at boundary checkpoints, and track down the illicit agencies helping them come to Hong Kong to give birth.

Mr Leung said the issues put pressure on Hong Kong’s medical, education and social services, saying more than 200,000 Mainlanders have given birth here so far.

He said he and the Government are concerned about the problem, saying apart from the administrative measures conducted, the whole community needs to find better ways to resolve it.

When asked about a report that a Central Government official had been consulted before the introduction of the Buyer's Stamp Duty, Mr Leung said the move was not asking for instructions.

He said the duty targets non-local buyers, and there is a need to undertake “internal diplomacy” and “external diplomacy”, adding that appropriate parties had been notified after the Government decided to impose the stamp duty.

Secretary for Security TK Lai said the Government welcomes the Court of Final Appeal’s decision to exclude foreign domestic helpers from seeking the right of abode in Hong Kong.

Mr Lai, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen and Acting Director of Immigration Chung Lam-wai spoke to the media after the court’s ruling today.

“The Government welcomes the judgment of the Court of Final Appeal affirming the constitutionality of section 2(4)(a)(vi) of the Immigration Ordinance, which excludes foreign domestic helpers from being 'ordinarily resident' in Hong Kong,” said Mr Lai.

Mr Lai said the Government will process helpers’ applications in accordance with the law as affirmed by the court.

From 2011 to this March, the Immigration Department has received 1,067 applications from domestic helpers seeking permanent residency – an average of 60 cases each month.

The court did not find it necessary to address the legal effect of the Interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress made in 1999, or the Opinions by the Preparatory Committee in 1996. 

Mr Lai said the Government respects the court’s decision, adding certain legal issues arising from the 1999 interpretation and the 1996 opinions remain open.

For children born in Hong Kong to Mainland parents who are not permanent residents, Mr Lai said the Government will study the judgment and consider further options available within the local legal system.

He said the Government will continue to enforce the zero-quota policy for expectant Mainland mothers.

Mr Yuen expressed hope that these legal issues could be be resolved through the local legal system. He said Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan society and an international financial and commercial center, which strives to embrace all nationalities.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam visited the Customs & Excise Department’s headquarters today.

Mrs Lam met with Commissioner of Customs & Excise Clement Cheung and other senior officials, to learn about the department's major work areas.

She also visited the newly formed Syndicate Crimes Investigation Bureau, which traces the proceeds of crime, and the recently established Electronic Crime Investigation Centre, which handles an increasing number of dubious Internet transactions and technological crimes.

During the visit, Mrs Lam met with staff associations’ representatives and chatted with frontline staff. She praised the department for its efforts and effectiveness in tackling smuggling and narcotics trafficking, collecting revenue on dutiable goods and protecting intellectual property rights and consumer interests.

In the latest development in the China-Philippines UNCLOS arbitration, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has appointed a representative for China, since China failed to do so. I've previously blogged about this arbitration (in chronological order, here,…

In the latest development in the China-Philippines UNCLOS arbitration, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has appointed a representative for China, since China failed to do so. I've previously blogged about this arbitration (in chronological order, here,…

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department has ordered a Tsuen Wan restaurant to suspend business for two weeks for illegally extending the food business area.

The restaurant in Sam Pei Square was ordered to close until April 5.