Chinese Real Estate Giant Evergrande Ordered to Wind Up by Hong Kong Court

HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese real estate company Evergrande has been issued a winding-up order by a Hong Kong court on Monday due to its failure to present a viable restructuring plan. Judge Linda Chan made the decision after noting the lack of progress made by the company in proposing a workable solution. Evergrande, a troubled giant in the Chinese real estate sector, faced the winding-up order after it was unable to persuade the court that it had a feasible restructuring plan in place. This development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the company amid … Read more

New Chinese Law Further Erodes Separation Between Hong Kong and Mainland

Hong Kong’s reputation as a global business hub is expected to be further tarnished with the implementation of a new law that gives Chinese courts the power to enforce rulings in commercial disputes. The law, which comes into effect today, aims to reduce the need for re-litigation in civil and commercial disputes that have a connection to mainland China. However, critics have expressed concerns that this move erodes the differences between the legal systems of Hong Kong and mainland China. International companies have traditionally chosen to base themselves in Hong Kong due to its access … Read more

Hong Kong Lawyer’s Jail Sentence Overturned: Court Grants Community Service Order in Obstruction Case

HONG KONG (AP) — A lawyer in Hong Kong has successfully appealed against his jail sentence for obstructing a police officer outside a court during a national security case three years ago. The High Court replaced Leo Yau Lut-pong’s original seven-day sentence with a 160-hour community service order. The appeal was granted after it was found that the trial magistrate had wrongly applied the law in rejecting Yau’s plea for leniency. However, a separate appeal against his conviction for willful obstruction was dismissed. Yau, who works for Bond Ng Solicitors, had ignored a police sergeant’s … Read more

International Legal Team Urgently Appeals to UN on Alleged Torture of Witness in Hong Kong Activist’s Trial

Hong Kong, China – Jimmy Lai, a detained pro-democracy activist and media entrepreneur, has filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Lai’s international legal team alleges that the Chinese authorities tortured a key prosecution witness, Andy Li, in order to extract incriminating evidence against Lai. Lai is currently standing trial for charges under the National Security Law (NSL), including conspiracy to sedition, collusion with a foreign country, and conspiracy to collude with foreign countries. The trial began on December 18 and … Read more