We act for Juda International Holdings Limited in its successful listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 2 April 2012 by way of public offer and placing of new shares. The group is principally engaged in the production of phthalic anhydride and fumaric acid, which are intermediate chemicals mainly used in the production of industrial products, such as polyester resins, plasticisers and polyhydric alcohols. Its production facilities are located in Xiamen, Fujian Provice, the PRC and the group carries on its production process under a streamlined cost efficient business model.
Alex Chan attended as one of the speakers in a seminar jointly organized by Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Shaanxi Federation of Industry & Commerce on 19th March 2012 in Xi’an and delivered a speech on listing and incorporating a company in Hong Kong.
The firm has been advising clients on the Hong Kong election law covering the Chief Executive election for 2012 which is ongoing and the District Board elections for 2011 where election Petitions are beginning to emerge. On the criminal side, the firm is assisting other clients to deal with police investigations in election irregularities. This is a new developing area of law which is both interesting and complicated owing to Hong Kong’s incoherent election law that is covered by several different ordinances. The team is headed by Peter Sit, assisted by the firm’s litigation partners, associates and trainee solicitors.
To reap our harvest for 2011, a Year-End Office Cocktail was held in the afternoon of 30 December 2011 for all members. Taking a break from piles of papers, members had a relaxing afternoon in the company of red wine, cakes, and laughter.
During the Cocktail, our senior partners presented the Long Service Awards to some of our long serving members in recognition of their loyalty and contribution to the firm. Members receiving the awards include Lina Li, Yu Kwok Kan, Celia So, “Uncle Kim”, Wong Wing Lok and Sam Wong, who have been serving the firm for 10 to 30 years.
The 1803 Group held its last monthly Bible Study for 2011 on 10 December. Mr. Dexter Lee, the moderator of our study, continued to take us through the book of Genesis. Members had a good time together listening to God’s words while munching a croissant and sipping a cup of coffee.
To express our gratitude to Dexter, we presented a small Christmas gift to him towards the end of our December study. We feel very blessed to have Dexter among us at every meeting and may God’s bounteous grace be with him and his family now and always.
On 2nd December 2011, a delegation of more than 20 members from Han Zhong, Shaanxi Municipal Government and various enterprises visited our firm. The visitors were warmly received by our Partner and Chief Representative of our Xi’an office, Mr. Alex Chan. We exchanged our views with our visitors on various areas of interest including listing in Hong Kong, registration of trademark and commercial work.
Our senior partner C. K. Kwong attended the 4th Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), from October 26 to 28, 2011 at Makati City, Philippines.
The 3-day conference on Private International Law was organized by the Department of Foreigner Affairs of the Philippines, the Philippines Judicial Academy, the University of Philippines Law Centre, and the Permanent Bureau of Hague Conference on Private International Law.
The Hague Conventions cover a variety of concerns. The Conference cover 11 Hague Conventions which are grouped into two areas:-
(a) The legal cooperation and litigation including
(i) The service and Evidence Convention;
(ii) Apostille Convention;
(iii) The Choice of Court Convention;
(iv) Access to Justice Convention.
(b) Family Law including
(i) The Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption;
(ii) The Child Abduction and Child Protection Convention;
(iii) The Child Support Convention.
A wealth of knowledge and materials can be found at the HCCH official website at www.hcch.net
C. K. Kwong also met with the Board of Directors of Integrated Bar of the Philippines on 28th October 2011 to offer information on the notarial system in Hong Kong.
Peter Sit attended the 36th meeting of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Professional Services Advisory Committee on 18 October 2011 and exchanged views on a variety of issues concerning various professional bodies in Hong Kong with other professionals and government representatives.
Chloe Wong, Vivian Ng and Carmen Liang have completed their training and are applying to be admitted as our solicitors and serving in various departments.
On August 29, 2011, our Senior Partner Kwong Chi Keung and Partner Margaret Choi attended the Legal Services Roadshow in Qingdao jointly organized by the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. More than 150 participants, including entrepreneurs from local and foreign enterprises in Qingdao, joined the event. Mr. Kwong gave a speech on “Issues and Strategies on protection of Intellectual Property rights for Mainland Enterprises doing business in the PRC and Overseas (trademark, business name, product design, acquisition of intellectual property rights and technology transfer)”.
Peter Sit conducted a two days disciplinary hearing as prosecutor for and on behalf of the Law Society on 22 and 23 August 2011 regarding a solicitor’s responsibility to reply promptly to inquiries from the Law Society in pursuance of Principle 6.04 of the Solicitors’ Guide. Arguments on the principles of res judicata and privilege against self-incrimination were canvassed.
In July 2011, partners/associates from Jun He Law Offices (a PRC law firm), Lefèvre Pelletier & assoicés (a French law firm) and Chiomenti Studio Legale (an Italian law firm) visited our firm. The visitors were warmly received by our Senior Partners, Mr. Peter Sit and Mr. C. K. Kwong, together with other partners. We had a thorough exchange of our views with our visitors on the respective firms’ practice, practice cooperation and sharing of experiences.
