"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.

Since the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (Cap. 652) came into operation on 28 August 2025, Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance in Hong Kong is one of the first books providing readers with a comprehensive and practical guide to construction adjudication as a preferred mechanism for swift and cost-effective dispute resolution in Hong Kong. This book contains ten chapters and provides commentary that will help readers to understand the entire statutory framework including the scope and exclusions of the Ordinance, payment requirements, appointment of adjudicators, initiation and conduct of proceedings, making of determination, appeal and enforcement of determination.

Drawing on the legal references from the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada, this book equips professionals with the knowledge to manage payment regime, payment claims, prepare submissions, case management and understand the adjudicator's roles and powers. Whether you are a contractor, consultant, expert or legal advisor, this resource is a definitive reference for anyone involved in construction contracts and dispute resolution, and offers industry best practices on procedures and timelines to ensure compliance and strategic advantage.

Key highlights of this edition:

• A useful guide and commentary of the Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (Cap. 652) from initiation of adjudication proceedings to enforcement of adjudicator determination.
• Covers legislative and adjudication case law in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada.
• An essential reference for industry professionals and adjudication users with practical examples and illustrations on the proceedings and submission drafting.
• Explains the proposed rules, practice notes and guidelines of the Hong Kong Institute of Construction Adjudicators.

Hong Kong’s government continues to pursue institutional and legislative programs designed to position the city as a leading proponent and user of digital infrastructure, as reflected in updates of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance (Cap. 553). This includes both acknowledging digital and electronic methods adopted by the private sector as well as giving the same legal status to electronic filings as paper submissions for many government services. Although some government departments still maintain certain “wet signature” requirements, the most recent ETO amendments support covering a broader scope of transactions, deeper integration with government e-services, and future proofing for new tech. This updated volume includes those amendments which remove many paper-only exclusions and provide for certification of trusted digital identity services (such as the government’s own iAM Smart digital ID with biometric login) and the Code of Practice for Recognized Certification Authorities which sets out its recognition and oversight regime.

Criminal Procedure in Hong Kong, Third Edition is a comprehensive guide on the many and varied aspects of criminal procedure and the criminal justice system in Hong Kong.

Combining essential laws, cases and case scenarios, and Practice Directions, this title is a handy volume for criminal practitioners to bring to court. It also covers essential details of the general aspects of a criminal trial, including powers of law enforcement agencies, criminal investigations, roles of the key players and the relevant statutory and common law powers founding the entire criminal justice system in Hong Kong.

Highlights of the third edition:

• • “A consolidated, clear and practical account of recent legislative developments arising from the National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, providing a structured overview of the principal updates affecting cases endangering national security. These developments are addressed where the relevant instruments confer specific powers or modify or replace existing powers, thereby furnishing readers with a ready reference to the current legal framework in this area.” – the Honourable Mr. Justice Kevin Zervos, JA.
• • Updates as a result of passage of legislations including Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (Instrument A305), Safeguarding National Security (Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Regulation (Instrument A305A), Safeguarding National Security (Declaration of Prohibited Places) Order (Instrument A305B), Courts (Remote Hearing) Ordinance (Cap. 654).
• • Dedicated sections in each chapter relating to cases endangering national security.
• • New sections relating to changes to Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap. 221) Part IV Appeals, Prison Rules (Cap. 234A), Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) Part XIIAA.
• • References to the latest judgments including HKSAR v Huang Ruifang [2025] HKCFA 15, HKSAR v Lam Cheuk Ting (2025) 28 HKCFAR 209, HKSAR v Ho Chi Ho & Ors [2025] HKCA 769, HKSAR v Hui Shuk Yee Cherry [2025] 4 HKLRD 376, Ma Chun Man v Commissioner of Correctional Services [2025] 3 HKLRD 832, HKSAR v Li Wang-pong, Franklin [2025] HKCFI 5486.

The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance (Cap. 650) came into effect on 20 January 2026. It requires 25 categories of specified professionals from the social welfare, education, and healthcare sectors to report suspected cases of serious child abuse. Failure to comply may result in criminal prosecution. The commencement of this Ordinance marks an important milestone in Hong Kong’s child protection legal framework.

Pending further development of this area of law through judicial decisions and evolving professional practices, this Annotated Legislation seeks to assist readers in gaining a better understanding of the Ordinance’s provisions and their practical implications.

Maritime Law and Practice in Hong Kong, Third Edition is the definitive practitioner text on maritime law and practice in Hong Kong. Written by a team of leading maritime law practitioners and academics, the text provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of maritime law. The book has an accessible style and clear illustrations of the latest cases from major maritime jurisdictions, international conventions, and references to the latest local issues.

What's new in this edition:

1. For ship registration, legal conditions set forth for ship registration in Hong Kong and legal rules for provisional, ownership, demise, mortgage, and other types of ship registration in Hong Kong;
2. For bareboat charter, notable amendments made in the standard contract "Barecon 2017", compared with its predecessors "Barecon 89" and "Barecon 2001";
3. For the Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 pertaining to wreck removal expenses, the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal decision in The Star Centurion and The Antea and the Federal Court of Australia Court of Appeal in The Goliath about the Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 pertaining to wreck removal expenses;
4. The Marine Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Ordinance (Cap.649) about drink and drugs boating in Hong Kong; and
5. For maritime arbitration, case statistics for key maritime arbitration centers from 2010 to 2024 including not publicly available statistics, and the divergences in approach about the governing law of arbitration agreement between Hong Kong and England and Wales under case law and statute.
6. The Star Antares [2024] 1 Lloyd's Rep 342 as to the interpretation of general average "according to York Antwerp Rules (“YAR”) 1994, or any subsequent modification thereof” under Clause 3 of the Congenbill 1994 and whether the same would incorporate the YAR 2016.
7. A complete rewritten Chapter 4 Bill of Lading with Hong Kong focus by seasoned practitioners.

There are three issues per year.

Founded in 1971, Hong Kong Law Journal is the leading scholarly journal on the common law in Hong Kong, and the law in China in the English language. The journal also publishes comparative, jurisprudential, international, and interdisciplinary material relevant to the study of law. All contributions are refereed.

The Journal enjoys a wide circulation throughout the common law world. It is available online on a current, full text basis on Westlaw. It is indexed by Scopus, the Social Sciences Citation Index, Current Contents/Social & Behavioral Sciences, and the Index to Legal Periodicals and Books, and abstracted on the Social Science Research Network.

Civil Litigation in Hong Kong, Seventh Edition is an unparalleled practical guide to civil procedure in Hong Kong. Its commentary, checklists and sample documents are a valuable source of knowledge for law students, trainee solicitors and practitioners who conduct civil litigation.

This manual will help guide readers through the entire litigation process from the initial instructions from the client through to trial, appeals and the enforcement of judgments. First published in 1993, the seventh edition continues to give practical assistance on how to deal with a matter that is or is likely to become litigious. The content has been brought completely up-to-date on the latest changes to dispute resolution. Its checklists, diagrams, and sample documents are a valuable source of knowledge to any student who aims to learn more about civil litigation.

Lloyd and Freeman's Introduction to Jurisprudence is the leading textbook on jurisprudence in the English-speaking world. It enables the reader to develop a good understanding of the theories of the different schools of jurisprudence, and to appreciate the contributions made to legal theory by leading jurists and others, from ancient times to the present day.

Lloyd combines a substantial text with extracts from a wide range of authoritative sources. The works of more than 150 jurists are extracted, from Aristotle to Judith Butler, and beyond. These are supported by detailed and well-documented introductory sections which offer critical insight into the texts. Students and their teachers will profit from having in one book a wide-ranging compendium of legal thought. Lloyd is a library in itself.

This tenth edition includes significant reorganisation of the text into two distinct sections: Schools of Thought and Themes; together with 11 new extracts from modern sources, bringing the debate right up to date.

Lloyd and Freeman's Introduction to Jurisprudence offers both text and library, enabling students to find, comprehend and evaluate the core materials, classical and contemporary, in one of the most difficult but exciting of disciplines.

International Corruption provides a comprehensive guide to UK and international anti-corruption legislation and case law concerning the bribery of foreign officials. Of particular focus is the process of a corruption investigation, the powers regulators hold, and the steps companies can take with regards to ensuring compliance and minimizing liability. Key legislation covered includes the Bribery Act 2010, the Crime and Security Act 2010, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1997, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and the anti-corruption regimes in other jurisdictions around the world.

Key features:

• Explains anti-corruption laws and investigative regimes in a variety of common and civil law jurisdictions.
• Sets out how the Serious Fraud Office and other regulators investigate and prosecute international bribery.
• Addresses the practical aspect of anti-corruption investigations.
• Examines court decisions and their effect on the law of corruption.
• Demonstrates how to design an effective anti-corruption compliance programme.

New to this edition:

• The first book to consider the cases which have now been concluded under the Bribery Act 2010, including in particular the SFO power to enter into Deferred Prosecution Agreements.
• Illustrates the way in which the exceptional degree of cooperation in SFO v Rolls Royce resulted in a DPA despite the conduct apparently falling well outside the scope for such an agreement.
• Considers the scope of litigation privilege, in particular in light of the decision in The Director of the SFO v Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation where material generated by internal enquiries was found to be not subject to privilege.
• Presents the findings from the recent phases of OECD's Working Group on Bribery which assesses States Parties' compliance with the Convention.

Conflicts of Interest is an essential work that provides a comprehensive examination of the law relating to conflicts of interest. This authoritative resource offers guidance on the core principles of conflict law, its obligations and duties, offering practitioners and researchers a thorough understanding of this crucial area. It helps the user avoid potential conflicts of interest and provides practical advice and remedies for those that arise. The work covers:

• The law relating to conflicts of interest in all its dimensions, from client conflict and personal conflict to commercial and judicial conflict
• The double employment rule
• Managing conflicts by contract
• Perception of impropriety as a test for conflicts
• Obligations to disclose and information barriers
• The practicalities of litigating conflicts
• The duty to the other side
• Obligation to blow the whistle on a client
• Judicial conflicts, including bias and apparent bias
• The current legal position in various professional sectors: lawyers, accountants, the City, directors, estate agents and insurance brokers.

The seventh edition has been fully updated, including a wholesale revision of the Arbitration chapter to reflect the decisions in Aiteo and in Halliburton v Chubb. It also covers a number of key recent cases, including:

• The recent Supreme Court decision on motor finance, Hopcraft v Close Brothers, which clarifies when fiduciary obligations arise, particularly significant for brokers and intermediaries dealing with "secret" commissions and conflicts of interest
• Recovery Partners v Rukhadze, an important authority on equitable remedies in conflict situations
• The Court of Appeal decision in A firm v Secretariat, which appears to extend conflict of interest rules beyond individual companies to other group companies within corporate groups
• Ashraf v Lester Dominic Solicitors, which re-evaluates principles regarding professional duties to the other side
• UK Trucks Claim Ltd v Stellantis, which addresses conflicts between class members in group litigation
• Staechelin v ACLBDD Holdings Ltd, which discusses the question of whether conflicted professionals can be deprived of their fees