2019年10月31日，史蒂文生黄律师事务所合伙人郑炎潘律师联同曾浩贤高级律师、洪鸿涛律师助理及高级行政主任卢韵洁女士出席锦天城律师事务所武汉分所的高峰论坛暨开业盛典。

当日, 本所的代表团先到锦天城（武汉）律师事务所作参观和交流。随后，一行人移师到东湖宾馆出席“锦绣楚天·资慧江城 —资本市场助力中部经济高质量发展” 的高峰论坛。是次论坛精英云集，来宾包括: 来自湖北、武汉、江汉区司法局的相关领导、武汉大学及中南财经政法大学的学者，锦天城律师事务所全球24家分所的合伙人代表等。论坛聚焦于科创板设立与科创企业发展，演讲嘉宾分别就证券法修改、金融科技和财富管理、科创企业核心资产、上海证券交易所设立科创板的基本原则和核心制度等发表演说，让一众来宾获益良多。

紧接着，锦天城（武汉）律师事务所的开业庆典仪式在东湖宾馆隆重举行。锦天城（武汉）分所是锦天城律师事务所布局全球的第24家分所。来宾如武汉市江汉区司法局局长谢定彪、中南财经政法大学齐文远教授、武汉市律师协会会长胡迎法律师、湖北省律师协会会长岳琴舫及锦天城律师事务所主任顾功耘在庆典晚宴上对武汉分所的成立表示欢迎和祝愿 。

本所合伙人郑炎潘律师亦在庆典晚会上致祝贺词，祝福锦天城（武汉）律师事务所开业，并展望两所在未来合作上共创佳绩。

本所合伙人郑炎潘律师（右四）联同曾浩贤高级律师（右五）、洪鸿涛律师助理（右一）及高级行政主任卢韵洁女士（右三）到访锦天城（武汉）律师事务所

左起: 本所曾浩贤高级律师、锦天城武汉分所负责人张超律师、本所合伙人郑炎潘律师、高级行政主任卢韵洁女士和洪鸿涛律师助理

锦天城律师事务所主任顾功耘律师和本所合伙人郑炎潘律师

(English) ISSUING AUTHORITIES:
Government of the Hong Kong SAR
Insurance Authority, Hong Kong SAR

DATE OF ISSUANCE
May 17, 2019

EFFECTIVE DATE:
September 23, 2019

With effect from September 23, 2019, the Insurance Authority (IA) has taken over regulation of insurance agents and brokers from the three self-regulatory organisations (“SROs”), and has become the sole regulator to license and supervise all insurance intermediaries in Hong Kong.

Under the new regime, anyone carrying on a regulated activity as defined under the Insurance Ordinance must be licensed by the IA. There will be a three-year transitional period during which existing intermediaries who are validly registered with the SROs before September 23, 2019 will be deemed licensed under the new regime. Licensed insurance intermediaries are not only required to comply with the statutory conduct requirements, but also the relevant codes of conduct issued by the IA. Further guidelines promulgated by the IA on fit and proper criteria and continuing professional development also apply.

Several pieces of subsidiary legislation, such as the Insurance (Maximum Number of Authorized Insurers) Rules and the Insurance (Financial and Other Requirements for Licensed Insurance Broker Companies) Rules, have been introduced by the IA and have come into operation at the same time as the new regulatory regime for insurance intermediaries. The IA has indicated that it intends to consult on further rules, codes and guidelines.

Reference:
Insurance Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 (Commencement) Notice 2019 (https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20192320/es22019232077.pdf);
Insurance Ordinance, Cap. 41, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap41);
Insurance (Maximum Number of Authorized Insurers) Rules, Cap. 41K, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap41K);
Insurance (Financial and Other Requirements for Licensed Insurance Broker Companies) Rules, Cap. 41L, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap41L)

This newsletter is for information purposes only. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. Stevenson, Wong & Co. will not be liable to you in respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from or in connection with any decision made, action or inaction taken in reliance on the information set out herein.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or information.

(English) ISSUING AUTHORITIES:
Government of the Hong Kong SAR; and
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre

DATE OF ISSUANCE
August 1, 2019

EFFECTIVE DATE:
August 1, 2019

On August 1, 2019, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) announced amendments to the Arbitration (Appointment of Arbitrators and Mediators and Decision on Number of Arbitrator) Rules (“Amended Rules”), which came into effect on the same day.

As the default statutory appointing authority for ad hoc arbitrations seated in Hong Kong, HKIAC determines the number of arbitrators and appoints arbitrators or mediators under the Arbitration Ordinance. HKIAC will charge a one-off fee of HK$8,000 to the party submitting the first request for performing the above functions in an arbitration in which the total amount in dispute is less than HK$2,500,000. The Amended Rules allow HKIAC to waive such fees if it considers reasonable in any particular case.

The Amended Rules include other amendments as to the delivery of request by a party for HKIAC’s decision or appointment, the time limits for parties to provide information before such decision or appointment, and HKIAC’s discretion to make decision or appointment after the expiration of a time limit.

The Amended Rules reflect HKIAC’s commitment to provide cost-effective assistance to facilitate efficient conduct of Hong Kong-seated arbitrations, and to strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a leading centre for international dispute resolution services.

Reference:
Arbitration (Appointment of Arbitrators and Mediators and Decision on Number of Arbitrators) Rules, Cap. 609C, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap609C);
Arbitration Ordinance, Cap. 609, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap609)

This newsletter is for information purposes only. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. Stevenson, Wong & Co. will not be liable to you in respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from or in connection with any decision made, action or inaction taken in reliance on the information set out herein.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or information.

2019年10月28日，史蒂文生黄律师事务所（「本所」）合伙人陈连基律师受Brain Health Initiative (BHI) 邀请到香港艺术中心担任讲座讲者。陈律师为在场人士讲解了与精神健康议题相关的香港法例，以及其他保障精神上无行为能力人仕的法律途径。

BHI 是由一群拥有广泛背景的成员组成的本地机构，目的在于提高市民对认知障碍症的关注度，同时提倡对大脑健康的保护。

如有兴趣知道更多有关是次讲座的资讯，请联络本所的陈连基律师或黄煦珊律师。

2019年10月25日，史蒂文生黄律师事务所合伙人郑炎潘律师、劳恒晃律师、傅景元律师、徐凯怡律师、张源辉律师联同许懿高级律师、曾浩贤高级律师、刘嘉熙律师、高级行政主任卢韵洁女士和纪偲卉法律助理应邀出席锦天城律师事务所在上海中心宴会厅举办的二十周年庆典晚宴。

庆典当晚宾客盈门，司法部原副部长段正坤先生，司法部律师司原司长杜春先生，原副司长丘征先生，上海市司法局原副局长刘忠定先生，英国驻上海领事馆总领事Mr. Chris Wood，《民主与法制》主编刘桂明先生，华东政法大学律师学院丁绍宽院长，锦天城律师事务所第一任主任史焕章先生及第二任主任吴明德先生一同出席庆典。

晚宴由锦天城律师事务所主任顾功耘律师发表的欢迎辞拉开序幕。司法部原副部长段正坤先生亦在致辞中为锦天城律师事务所送上祝福。随后，庆典当晚举行了颁奖仪式，表扬与锦天城律师事务所一路风雨同行的获奖者和他们卓越的贡献。

为庆祝锦天城律师事务所成立二十周年，我所特意准备了生日祝福视频和写上大展鸿图的特制中式水晶盘，祝愿锦天城律师事务所星光璀璨锦绣未来。

史蒂文生黄律师事务参加了在上海举办的锦天城律师事务所成立二十周年庆典

我所合伙人 (从左到右): 徐凯怡律师、郑炎潘律师、傅景元律师、劳恒晃律师和张源辉律师

我所合伙人郑炎潘律师和锦天城律师事务所高级合伙人刘峰律师

我所高级合伙人 (从左到右): 劳恒晃律师、郑炎潘律师和傅景元律师

锦天城律师事务所主任顾功耘先生

司法部原副部长段正坤先生

2019年10月24日，史蒂文生黄律师事务所合伙人郑炎潘律师、张源辉律师联同曾浩贤高级律师、刘嘉熙律师、及高级行政主任卢韵洁女士到访锦天城律师事务所苏州分所参观和交流，并获得锦天城律师事务所周菡律师、蒋俊荣律师、石荣律师、许进锋律师、周小梅律师、周勇律师热情接待。

在访问锦天城律师事务所的苏州办事处期间，我所合伙人郑炎潘律师对我所的情况及定位进行了介绍，而张源辉律师分享了国内企业在境外发债方面的经验。此外，曾浩贤高级律师分享了我所在协助国内企业在香港联交所上市方面的经验。刘嘉熙律师则分析了中港跨境诉讼的最新机遇。双方就上述的主题分享了见解，并取得了丰硕的成果。这次访问不仅增强了两间律师事务所的伙伴关系，并通过充分利用双方本地化的专业知识，增强了两所在香港和中国大陆的优势。

史蒂文生黄律师事务所到访锦天城律师事务所苏州分所

我所合伙人郑炎潘律师介绍史蒂文生黄律师事务所

我所张源辉律师分享了国内企业在境外发债的经验

我所曾浩贤高级律师分享了在协助国内企业在香港联交所上市方面的经验

我所刘嘉熙律师分析了中港跨境诉讼的最新机遇