O'Hare & Browne: Civil Litigation 21st Edition

"The Hong Kong White Book is the standard point of reference for the rules of civil procedure in this jurisdiction and, as such, an indispensable tool for the well-prepared litigator." — The Hon. Mr Justice Joseph Fok P.J. (Editor-in-Chief)

"Using the White Book could easily save firms HK$20,000 a day." — Martin Rogers (General Editor)

What is the White Book?

Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2027 (The White Book) is the definitive reference manual on the rules of civil procedure and practice in Hong Kong. Endorsed by the Hong Kong Judiciary and relied upon daily by judges and practitioners, it is the standard point of reference for court litigation, arbitration, and mediation in Hong Kong.

What does The White Book cover?

The 2027 edition is published in five volumes:

1. Volume 1 — Commentary to each Order of the Rules of the High Court
2. Volume 2 — Commentary to specialist Ordinances on legal practice
3. Volume 3 — Detailed commentary on the Arbitration Ordinance, Mediation Ordinance, and selected Practice Directions
4. Volume 4 — Court Forms
5. Volume 5 — Index

All commentary in Volumes 1–3 has been carefully reviewed and annotated by a pool of over 100 expert contributing editors, including leading barristers and solicitors.

Why do litigators rely on The White Book?

The White Book provides authoritative, court-endorsed procedural guidance across the full scope of Hong Kong civil litigation. Its reliable layout, comprehensive case law, and expert annotations allow practitioners to locate reliable guidance quickly, accurately, and confidently. With over 100 specialist contributors, it is the most comprehensively annotated civil procedure resource available in Hong Kong.

Who should use The White Book?

The White Book is an essential reference for Hong Kong litigators, solicitors, barristers, in-house counsel, and judges handling High Court civil proceedings, arbitration, or mediation matters.

Employment Law & Practice in Hong Kong is a comprehensive, current, and convenient employment law resource. The Third Edition captures the considerable developments in this area of law in the nine years since the previous edition, updated by a mostly new team of contributors comprising experienced barristers and solicitors.

• Recent enhancements to maternity and paternity rights and pay, including extended statutory leave and improved employee benefits.
• Expanded discrimination protections, with amendments to the Sex Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, Family Status Discrimination, and Race Discrimination Ordinances�now covering breastfeeding, protections against harassment in the workplace where there is no employment relationship, discrimination, and harassment on grounds of "imputation" and "association".
• Developments in implied terms within employment contracts, reflecting the latest judicial interpretations and practical applications.
• Chapter updated to address new and revised visa schemes, such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme and changes to professional admission routes, impacting recruitment and compliance for non-local employees.
• Judicial guidance on the enforceability of penalty and liquidated damages clauses in employment contracts, clarifying standards of reasonableness and proportionality.
• Updates on major case law concerning post-termination covenants, including duties of confidentiality and restrictions on competition, solicitation, dealing, and poaching.
• New guidance on employer compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO), detailing obligations for handling employee data, consent, retention, and employee rights.