The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers presented a study report on How to Position Hong Kong as a Maritime Centre for the Asia-Pacific Region to the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council on 29 April 2013 (Report).
Read More Hong Kong: Government urged to help develop and promote the maritime industry

On 9 April 2013, the CIRC promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues regarding Article 4 (“Notice”) of the Administrative Measures on Equity Interest in Insurance Companies (“Measures”).
Read More China Increases Domestic Investors’ Ownership Ceiling in Insurers to 51% from 20%

As reported by Reuters on 17 April 2013, according to accountants and bankers with knowledge of the matter, in December 2012 the People’s Bank of China issued new anti-money laundering rules to banks and insurers.
Read More People’s Bank of China requires insurers to implement new anti-money laundering rules by 2015

In the January 2013 newsletter published by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI), the OCI confirmed that it is reviewing the solvency and capital regime for insurance companies with a view to develop an appropriate risk-based capital framework for Hong Kong.
Read More Hong Kong to launch RBC model in 2016 at earliest

On 22 March 2013, a company and its director were acquitted by the Hong Kong’s Magistrate’s Court of four counts of issuing advertisements to promote a collective investment scheme, including posting relevant information on the company’s website, without the authorisation of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in contravention of section 103 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance.
Read More Internet marketing of collective investment schemes to professional investors

On 9 April 2013, the Office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (“Commissioner“) issued a report in respect of the investigation carried out by the Commissioner against a body check service company and an insurance broker concerning the unfair collection of personal data from the public by the body check service company and its transfer to the insurance broker for use in direct marketing.
Read More Hong Kong: The Office of Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Finds an Insurance Broker Collected Personal Data for Use in Direct Marketing by Arguably Deceitful Means

Courts are more and more likely to enforce an arbitration clause, but not necessarily the ones in an insurance contract. The U.S. Supreme Court has held the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) to override state common law and statutes that would obstruct enforcement of an arbitration clause.
Read More Recent Caselaw Illuminates the Limits of the Federal Arbitration Act’s Reach to Insurance Contracts

The Competition Commission (CC) has published an annotated issues statement in its investigation into private motor insurance. This follows the reference of the market by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the CC in October 2012 (please see our previous blog here).
Read More UK: Competition Commission publishes annotated issues statement in private motor insurance investigation

In United Marine Aggregates v GM Welding & Engineering Ltd and Novae Syndicates, the Court of Appeal overturned a costs award of a first instance judge which had unfairly penalised the Part 20 Defendant insurer in costs, despite it ultimately not being liable.
Read More UK: Court of Appeal: Approach to costs where Part 20 Defendant insurer found not liable