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We are able to assist you with entering and remaining in Hong Kong and the processing of work permits. We have advised many companies on how to obtain employment visas for employees moving to Hong Kong to live and work. We also provide advice and assistance in respect of dependant visas and visas under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme.

Hong Kong has a thriving food and drink scene with new establishments setting up almost every day. In 2013, some 6424 restaurants, bars, clubs and pubs applied for a licence to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on their premises. Our lawyers advise clients in the setting up of a restaurant, bar or pub. We work to assist those businesses from concept through to execution. We advise on what is often the most important aspect of such businesses – the obtaining of a liquor licence. Every application must be to the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB). The LLB is an independent statutory body which determines if an applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a licence and whether the premises are suitable to selling liquor, having regard to a number of factors including the public interest The LLB meets once a week to deal with contested cases where the application for a licence is refused or conditions are sought to be imposed on the granting of the licence. Sometimes the objections or proposals for conditions come from the Police or from neighbours. We represent clients at the LLB hearings with a primary focus on assisting with their commercial aims.

If you or a relative have been sentenced to prison for more than 10 years or for life or were sentenced to imprisonment and were under 21 at the time of the conviction, you may be eligible for review of that sentence by the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board.

The principal function of the Board is to conduct regular reviews on the cases of persons serving indeterminate sentences, those with long-term sentences (i.e. 10 years or longer), and those serving determinate sentences who were under the age of 21 at the date of conviction. Persons whose indeterminate or long-term sentences were imposed outside Hong Kong but who were transferred back to Hong Kong to serve such sentences are also eligible for review by the Board.

We have experience in advising and representing those who appear before the Board for a review of their sentence.

We regard pro bono work as an essential and important component of any modern law firm. We advise a number of NGOs and charities in their work and operations. We have assisted charities in the setting up of a company limited by guarantee, the model often used by a charity in which to operate. The firm’s commitment to client service and excellence extends equally to our pro bono practice. If you would like to discuss a pro bono appointment please let us know.

Some of the charities we support with pro bono work include:

Aids Concern

Hong Kong Dog Rescue

HK Shark Foundation

Pathfinders

If you or your company need advice on any aspect of criminal law, we can provide power-point seminars to train and better assist you and your employees in understanding where you stand in relation to the law whether it be on money laundering, what to do if the ICAC calls, or general compliance.

Under section 17 of the Human Reproductive Technology Ordinance, Chapter 561, it is unlawful to enter into a ‘commercial` surrogacy arrangement in or outside of Hong Kong. The Ordinance, which became law in 2000, also regulates reproductive technology procedures and matters incidental to human reproductive technology including the licensing of embryo research and the storage of gametes and embryos. Our lawyers have advised both gay and straight couples on various aspects of this Ordinance sometimes in conjunction with immigration laws. Those seeking to obtain a dependency visa for their child may encounter problems as a result of the Ordinance. We are able to assist you in understanding your rights and obligations and how the Ordinance operates with particular reference to the Department of Immigration and the Police.

If you want to get married we have Civil Celebrants authorised to conduct a wedding and legally marry two persons. We can conduct the ceremony in English or Cantonese, or both! And we can conduct the ceremony where you want. We have conducted weddings in boats, bars, hotels, offices, poolsides, gardens and clubs in Hong Kong. There is paperwork to be done both prior to and after the wedding and we will prepare all that is necessary for the Registrar of Marriages. If you need a wedding planner, we have close associations with a wedding planning company and can refer you to this company for all the non-legal matters. As the main hat we wear is as criminal defence lawyers in the serious world of the courts, we enjoy the change of scene that a wedding presents. If you want to discuss your wedding requirements please contact either Eric Seto or Christopher Morley.

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Emergency Hotline 5308 8883

The above emergency hotline is intended for clients who are in need of urgent legal representation outwith office hours.

During office hours, we encourage you to make an appointment for an initial consultation. You can either call one of our lawyers directly or e-mail us your contact details with a brief description of the nature of your enquiry. We will contact you shortly after receipt of your enquiry.