By Gabriella Chan Hong Kong, 14 June 2023: Forced marriage is a long-standing issue in Hong Kong. Anecdotal evidence from social workers and NGOs points to it being a recurring problem among certain ethnic minority groups, particularly South Asians, and especially so among lower-income families. What exactly is forced marriage? Simply, a union in which […]

By Alex Liu Hong Kong, 12 June 2023: Recent media coverage of the potentially dangerous renovation of a flat in Lohas Park has underscored the need for property owners to be fully aware of their legal obligations regarding structural alterations in private buildings. It is also worth stressing the heavy penalties for non-compliance, punishments that […]

By Claire Chow Hong Kong, 9 June 2023: Operators of credit reference systems are advised to implement robust data protection measures and comply with relevant industry rules or face the risk of legal fallout. The warning follows an investigation by the Privacy Commissioner into unauthorised access to one particular credit database which revealed it to […]

Hong Kong, 7 June 2023: Within its crowded concrete jungle, Hong Kong has 52 pet gardens and 116 pet parks. We are a city of animal lovers. The outcry when our government infamously culled 2,000 hamsters amid the Covid-19 pandemic took months to subside. More than 9% of households have a dog or cat. With […]

Hong Kong, 24 May 2023: Hiking with the Stumblers is a leisurely activity. The challenging terrain of Hong Kong’s country parks, coupled with aging limbs and much chatter, means we advance at modest speed, admiring the scenery and stopping for regular rests. Inevitably, we are occasionally required to step aside as some energetic young pups […]

Hong Kong, 10 May 2023: The Romer’s tree frog is a rare species, native to Hong Kong. This tiny amphibian, first discovered on Lamma Island in 1952 by naturalist John Romer, mainly inhabits wooded areas near streams. Such is the tree frog’s ecological importance, one of its major habitats, Ngong Ping, is designated as a […]

By Alex Liu Hong Kong, 5 May 2023: In a significant judgment, the Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court’s ruling that the long-established use of “letters of no consent” from the police to effectively freeze suspicious bank accounts was unlawful. In considering the matter of Tam Sze Leung & Others v Commissioner of […]

By Arthur Chan Hong Kong, 3 May 2023: A study by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has revealed high levels of workplace discrimination against employees with mental health issues. Further, many such individuals are reluctant to speak out about their unfair treatment, even though they know they are protected by anti-discrimination legislation. The EOC’s report, […]