Asia Employment, Pensions and Incentives Update: December 2022

The December update covers the following: An update on the draft law to regulate remote working in Thailand. See here for an overview of the proposed changes. In Hong Kong, the Court of Appeal recently confirmed that standby days are not rest days; employees on standby must still be granted proper rest days even if they don’t end up … Read more

HONG KONG SAFETY SNAPSHOTS: MANAGING EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH

For some time, we’ve seen a gradual increase in employee mental health issues in the workplace and the events of last year have accelerated this. A survey conducted by the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong together with Tung Wah College released in June 2021 found that over 60% of Hong Kong employees interviewed, suffered … Read more

Malaysian Federal Court reemphasises the need for careful drafting of termination provisions

The Malaysian Federal Court in Catajaya Sdn Bhd v Shoppoint Sdn Bhd [2020] MLJU 2333 has provided its latest guidance on interpreting termination clauses under contracts governed by Malaysian law.  The decision highlights that contracts should be read strictly such that their express wording and cross-references between provisions are given effect.  For drafters, Catajaya serves as a … Read more

English Court of Appeal considers application of “SAAMCO” principle in context of auditor’s negligence case

The English Court of Appeal has held that, where an auditor negligently failed to detect management’s dishonest concealment of the claimant’s insolvency, it was liable for the losses suffered by the claimant in continuing to conduct its loss-making business: Assetco Plc v Grant Thornton UK LLP [2020] EWCA Civ 1151. While the decision recognises that … Read more

The new Singapore Convention: some practical issues to consider now

As has been well publicised, the new Singapore Convention seeks to establish a global enforcement regime for settlement agreements resulting from mediation in cross-border commercial disputes. Signed on 7 August 2019 by 46 countries, the Convention could feasibly be in operation as early as the first half of next year (it will enter into force … Read more

Hong Kong Competition Commission publishes decision in respect of the Code of Banking Practice

On 15 October, 2018, the Hong Kong Competition Commission (“Commission”) published a decision (“Decision”) finding that the Code of Banking Practice (“Code”) is not excluded from the application of the First Conduct Rule under the Competition Ordinance (“Ordinance”). The Decision was taken in response to an application for exemption under section 9 of the Ordinance made in respect of the Code (the “Application”). The Application was made in December 2017 by 14 institutions authorised under the Banking Ordinance (“AIs”). Although the Commission found that the Code is not excluded from the application of the First Conduct Rule, nevertheless, it states that it has no current intention to further investigate or pursue regulatory action in respect of the current version of the Code. Read more

Hong Kong Court reconciles jurisdiction and arbitration clauses to order s.20(1) stay

In Neo Intelligence Holdings Ltd v Giant Crown Industries Ltd HCA 1127/2017, the Hong Kong Court of First Instance held that an arbitration clause was not necessarily superseded by a clause in a supplemental agreement that conferred non-exclusive jurisdiction on the Hong Kong courts. While the two clauses did not sit “wholly happily” together, it … Read more