Advances in Sino-Foreign Joint Ventures
China — The China Securities Regulatory Commission (‘CSRC’) has formally accepted the application of Guotai Jun’an Securities and Allianz Group to set up a Sino-foreign joint venture fund management company. The move marks a
substantial advancement towards the establishment of Sino-foreign joint venture fund management companies. This is part of China’s World Trade Organisation entry commitment.
(Source: www.isinolaw.com.)
Chinese Courts to Hear Administrative Lawsuits Filed By Foreigners
China — From 1 October 2002, foreign businesses or organisations will enjoy the same rights as their Chinese counterparts in the filing of lawsuits against administrative decisions concerning international trade. According to
the requirements of World Trade Organisation (‘WTO’) rules and China’s commitments to the WTO, individuals or companies should be given the chance for judiciary examination.
(Source: english.peopledaily.com.cn.)
If Indonesia Will Not Budge, UN Will Get Involved
East Timor, Dili — United Nations rights chief Mary Robinson has said that if the Indonesian government fails to make headway in meting out justice to perpetrators of the violence which raged through East Timor in 1999, the UN
will take ‘other alternatives’. Mrs Robinson said everyone she met during her recent trip to East Timor wants an international tribunal to try crimes committed in the 1999 bloodshed. Indonesia has deflected international pressure
for an international tribunal to try crimes by militia and soldiers, by setting up its own ad hoc court to judge the human rights violations. But Mrs Robinson has said the trials were ‘not satisfying’ by international human rights
standards. (Source: au.news.yahoo.com.)
Number of Women Lawyers Increase
Korea — The number of women lawyers registered in the Korean Bar Association has steadily increased from 51 in 1991 to a current 237. Though this is only 4.7% of the total number of practitioners, it is a considerable increase
from the 1% of practitioners who were women lawyers in the 1990s.
(Source: english.chosun.com.)
Lawyers Strike Over TV Closure
Lebanon — More than 6,000 lawyers across Lebanon staged a one-day strike to protest against the closure of an independent television station. The Lebanese Bar Association condemned the closure of Murr Television as a
curtailment of freedom and democracy. State security forces closed the station after a court accused it of violating an election law against broadcasting political propaganda. The strike brought legal proceedings to a halt
throughout Lebanon. About 150 court sessions had to be adjourned. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk.)
Student Exposes Bar Exam’s Failings
Taiwan — Disenchanted with his experience of studying to become a lawyer in Taiwan, James Yang decided to write a book about it. In the book, Come on! Lawyer! Judge! Liar?, he attacks the Bar exam as being an unreasonable way
of assessing students. Mr Yang said many questions on the exam came from material taught exclusively at cram schools or selected from famous law professors’ publications.
(Source: www.taipeitimes.com.)
Disabled Thai Lawyer Loses Legal Battle
Thailand — A disabled Thai lawyer, who says he has been rejected from two jobs because of his disability, has lost his court case to reverse the employer’s decision. The Constitutional Court in Bangkok ruled that the State
Attorney Commission had not violated the constitution by barring the lawyer, who has polio, from sitting a prosecutor’s examination. The verdict has angered civil rights and lawyers’ groups, which say they will intensify their
campaign to end social and legal bias against the disabled. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk.)
Barristers’ Earnings Defy the Downturn
UK — Barristers’ average earnings have risen by almost 8% to reach £303,800 over the past year, despite the economic slowdown. In some cases their work has been so profitable that all barristers in some sets of chambers have
reaped £540,000 before tax and overheads.
(Source: www.timesonline.co.uk.)
Sex Abuse Lawyer Struck Off
UK, Fife — A lawyer convicted of abusing young boys three years ago has been struck off as a solicitor. The 50-year-old was found guilty of abusing the boys in Fife while he was captain in the Boys’ Brigade. The Scottish
Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal ordered him to be struck off after a complaint from the Law Society of Scotland, saying it was important that the public saw justice done. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk.)
Human Rights Issues on the Rise
United Nations — The United Nations has voiced concern on the impact of anti-terrorism laws on human rights. The UN’s Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights said some countries seemed to feel that
the abrogation of human rights was necessary to combat terrorism. The Sub-Commission also expressed concern about the climate of racism and prejudice against Muslims across the world.
(Source: www.unhchr.ch.)
Emotional Distress Cuts No Ice
US, New York — A Manhattan judge has thrown out a US$2m award to a Japanese couple meant to compensate for the strain of a prosecution suit brought by the man against his brother.
A jury had awarded US$1.1m to the man for emotional distress, while his wife was awarded US$900,000 to compensate for the strain the litigation had put on her relationship with her husband. (Source: www6.law.com.)