Latest by Jonathan Crompton

COVID-19 – Hong Kong Courts set for phased reopening from May

Published on 23 April 2020. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner and Sakshi Buttoo, Legal Manager

On 22 April 2020, the Hong Kong Judiciary announced that the general adjourned period ("GAP") for court proceedings, which started on 29 January 2020, will end on 3 May 2020. Stressing that the health and safety of court users, the Judiciary's staff and Judges and Judicial Officers ("JJOs") remains paramount, the Judiciary will move to a phased reintroduction of general business.

Hong Kong Courts – In with the old and the new technology

Published on 15 April 2020. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Jonathan Crompton, Partner and David Smyth, Senior Consultant

In Re Cyberworks Audio Video Technology Ltd,(1) the High Court of Hong Kong decided that it can, as part of its case management powers and of its own volition, order that a directions hearing take place by means of a telephone conference without the physical presence in court of the parties or their legal representatives.

Litigation in the time of Coronavirus (Hong Kong - Update)

Published on 15 April 2020. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Jonathan Crompton, Partner and David Smyth, Senior Consultant

The "General Adjourned Period" (GAP) during which the courts in Hong Kong have been closed, save for urgent and essential court business, has been extended to 13 April 2020.

Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal rules on fraudulent or deceptive conduct in share dealings

Published on 15 November 2018. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner and David Smyth, Senior Consultant

In another landmark case for the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong, the Court of Final Appeal has ruled on the ambit of section 300 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 – the Ordinance), and confirmed that it covers insider trading in shares listed outside Hong Kong.

HKIAC Introduces Panel of Arbitrators for Financial Service Disputes

Published on 15 May 2018. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner and Jacky Darsono, Senior Associate

SFC requires ICO to be withdrawn from Hong Kong public

Published on 20 March 2018. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner

On 19 March 2018 the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced that it had halted an initial coin offering (ICO) to the Hong Kong public by Black Cell Technology Limited (Black Cell).

Enforcement Reporter - SFC sets out its enforcement priorities for 2018

Published on 01 March 2018. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner

On 26 February 2018 the SFC released the third edition of its new series of the Enforcement Reporter. The communication outlines the SFC's key enforcement priorities for the coming year and highlights significant recent enforcement actions. The Enforcement Reporter follows the general themes of previous editions and is a useful indication to the market of the SFC's key concerns. In particular, tackling corporate fraud remains top of the agenda, with insider dealing, misconduct by intermediaries and sponsors, and money laundering on the SFC's radar.

SFAT fines HSBC Private Bank record-breaking HK$400 million and suspends its securities licenses

Published on 24 November 2017. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner

On Tuesday (21 November 2017), Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal fined HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA HK$400 million, suspended its license to advise on securities and partially suspended its license to deal in securities, for one year. The previous largest fine was HK$30 million.

ADR coming of age for financial disputes in Hong Kong

Published on 20 November 2017. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner

Alternative dispute resolution is coming of age for financial disputes in Hong Kong, as we see the FDRC's Financial Dispute Resolution Scheme expand from 1 January 2018 and 1 July 2018.