Insights & News
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Update on Hong Kong’s Employment Support Scheme (ESS) under the Anti-Epidemic Fund: what we know so far
20 April 2020On 18 April 2020, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council gave funding approval for the second round of the anti-epidemic fund. This HKD$137.5 billion fund is set to be spread out over a variety of industries, with one of the main aims being job retention and job creation.
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Three-quarters have furloughed staff, despite warning it should be used as last option - James Davies comments for HR Review
Press
10 April 2020James Davies comments on this article by HR Review that despite warnings employers should refrain from the furlough of staff and only use it once all other options have failed, three-quarters of employers have already done so or plan to do in the future.
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Catherine Leung and David Kong write for Hong Kong Lawyer: Hong Kong Employment Law Outlook for 2020
Press
16 January 2020Catherine Leung and David Kong have written an article for Hong Kong Lawyer on the employment law outlook for 2020 covering some of the significant changes to the employment-related legislation in Hong Kong.
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Kathryn Weaver writes for Human Resources Online: Social media and the workplace: Legal considerations for employers
Press
19 December 2019Kathryn Weaver has written an article for Human Resources Online on how social media is increasingly creating issues in workplaces in Hong Kong and around the world and blurring employees' work and personal lives.
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Changes to Hong Kong tax concessions
07 November 2019The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions) Bill 2019 was passed by the Legislative Council on 6 November 2019.
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Lewis Silkin's Conference Tackles Mental Health in the Workplace
17 October 201989% of attendees said they felt mental health issues are on the rise in their organisation. A third said their workplace does not have a mental health strategy or programme.
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Hong Kong has taken another significant step towards equality of rights for same sex couples
24 July 2019The Court of Final Appeal (“CFA”), Hong Kong’s highest court, has ruled that it is unjustified indirect discrimination to refuse a male government employee access to spousal benefits for his husband and the ability to elect for joint assessment of salaries tax.
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Hong Kong Government tightens laws on Occupational Retirement Schemes
21 May 2019A bill to amend the Occupational Retirement Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 426) (the “Ordinance”) was introduced to the Legislative Council on 17 April 2019. The bill aims to: ensure there is a genuine employment relationship for participants in an occupational retirement scheme; and enhance enforcement powers of the Mandatory Provident Fund (“MPF”) Schemes Authority which acts as the Registrar of Occupational Retirement Schemes.
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Richard Miskella comments for HR Magazine on the new government harassment code of practice
Press
18 December 2018Richard Miskella has commented for HR managzine on the government's announcement that it will work with the EHRC on a new code
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Brinsley Dresden comments for Business of Fashion on the royal fashion landscape
Press
18 December 2018Partner and Head of the firm's Advertising and Marketing sector group, Brinsley Dresden has commented in an article for Business of Fashion discussing the publicity of The Duchess of Sussex and the royal fashion landscape.
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Lewis Silkin advises Dictate IT on its acquisition by the Clanwilliam Group
Deal
18 December 2018The Lewis Silkin Corporate team has advised its client, Dictate IT, on its acquisition by Irish healthcare, technology and services group, Clanwilliam Group. The Lewis Silkin cross-departmental team have been incredibly busy in 2018, working end-to-end on the full spectrum of corporate transactions within the technology sector, and the success of this acquisition shall further boost the teams reputation within the sector.
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NEW ICO guidance on “Data protection if there’s no Brexit deal”
18 December 2018With uncertainty about Brexit continuing to dominate the headlines, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) has released some useful and practical guidance on key data protection issues if there is no Brexit deal.
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Sports Q&A – Privilege in internal investigations
18 December 2018We sometimes need to conduct internal investigations, which can often relate to quite sensitive matters (which we would prefer not to be made public). However, I’ve heard that the content of these investigations is not always privileged. How does privilege work in internal investigations and do you have any tips about how to preserve it?
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Lewis Silkin advises on sale of leading digital service design agency We Are Friday to PA Consulting
Deal
17 December 2018Leading law firm Lewis Silkin LLP has advised We Are Friday, a leading digital service design and engineering agency, on its acquisition by PA Consulting.
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How should hospitality employers deal with third-party harassment at Christmas parties?
17 December 2018“Christmas time is here by golly; disapproval would be folly; Deck the halls with hunks of holly, fill the cup and don’t say when”, as the legendary American satirist Tom Lehrer once sang. But Christmas party season can be a mixed blessing. The day after the office party, you will find many HR managers bracing themselves to hear what happened the night before…
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Beware sending capped up emails: It could get you fired@@@!!!
Press
17 December 2018James Davies commented in an article for The Telegraph discussing how capitalised emails are equivalent to shouting at employees in person and can lead to complaints or disciplinary action.
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Preventing illegal working: employers able to rely on online right to work checks from 28 January 2019
14 December 2018In some circumstances employers will be able to use the Home Office Right to Work Checking Service available on GOV.UK from 28 January 2019 to obtain a statutory excuse against payment of a civil penalty for employing an illegal worker, without having also to check the individual’s physical documents.
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Why have tailored articles of association and even a shareholders agreement
Inbrief
13 December 2018If you are setting up a company with your business partner, you may be tempted to rely solely on the statutory default articles of association for private companies limited by shares (the Model Articles) to govern the internal procedures of the company, and the corporate relationship between you. These notes show why you really should consider having articles that are tailored to your circumstances, and even a shareholders’ agreement, between you and your partner - even if you wouldn’t dream of falling out with him or her.
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Ask about… Retail, Fashion & Hospitality
13 December 2018Many of our clients in the retail, fashion and hospitality sector face similar HR issues. Each month one of the members of our team will identify an issue, ask how you would deal with it and provide our advice. This month we asked Anna...