From the Editor

The theme in our 'focus' section this month is 'Comparative law'. We start with an article that describes the main forms of business organisations in Singapore and Vietnam and the hurdles which Singapore investors need to overcome to ensure commercial success in their ventures. This is followed by an article which focuses on a very current and topical issue - patenting business methods, and discusses the position in the US, European Patent Office and Singapore and their reasons for and against it. The next article concludes this section with a definition of Comparative law and an examination of the influence of a country's culture and customs in the enactment of laws in the Western and Asian legal systems.

We have two articles in our 'Features' section: the first provides a general overview of the existing securities law and the second outlines the inadequacy of the Insurance Act (Cap 142) and calls for a review and revision of the relevant laws to enable effective use of insurance contracts as a means of financial planning.

Readers, do bear in mind that you have a forum here in your own journal to voice your comments and opinions, so please take advantage of this opportunity, get writing or tapping on your keyboard and direct your news and views to us via post, fax or e-mail:

The Editor, The Singapore Law Gazette
Butterworths Asia
No 1 Temasek Avenue
#17-01 Millenia Tower
Singapore 039192
Fax: 336 9662 
Email: slgbutterworths@netscape.net