Internet intermediaries: The liability for defamatory postings in China and Hong Kong

The debate between protecting the freedom of expression on the one hand and the right to an individual privacy on the other is not new. Certainly with the introduction of the Internet, the debate has moved onto a whole new level. While no-one disputes that the Internet has significantly transformed lives by allowing netizens to create, share, and communicate within the global village, the Internet has also provided the means to publish and disseminate false information and derogatory remarks callously and expediently. The aim of this paper is to provide a brief comparative study of the approaches in China and in Hong Kong with respect to Internet intermediary liability for defamatory postings and whether the approaches taken provide the necessary balance between the right of free expression and the right to protect one’s reputation. The paper starts by dealing with the position in China pre and post Tort Liability Law. The paper then continues by examining the position in Hong Kong focusing particularly on the recent Court of Appeal decision in Oriental Press Group Ltd v Fevaworks Solutions Ltd. In comparing the position in China and Hong Kong, the paper provides a conclusion as a possible way forward for Internet intermediary liability in China and Hong Kong.     

三权分立抑或行政主导制——论香港特别行政区政体的特征

关于香港特别行政区（以下简称“香港特区”）政体特征,一直存在两种对立的观点,即行政主导和三权分立。香港特区政体既属于三权分立体制的范畴,又具有行政主导的特点。三权分立、行政主导是从不同角度对香港特区政体特征的描述,两者不是同一层面的事物,也不是割裂的关系。全面概括香港特区政体的特征,应是三权分立基础上的行政主导制。     

An Incomplete Victory: The Implications of QT v Director of Immigration for the Protection of Gay Rights in Hong Kong

QT v Director of Immigration is the most important decision on gay rights in Hong Kong since the unequal ages of consent between heterosexuals and homosexuals were held to be unconstitutional 10 years ago. The Court of Appeal of Hong Kong affirmed the right of same‐sex couples married or in a civil partnership overseas to be treated on an equal basis with married heterosexual couples. This note considers the strengths and shortcomings of the Court of Appeal's reasoning, in terms of its potential significance both to the rights of sexual minorities and to the wider protection of human rights by means of the common law.     

On the constitutional foundations of Hong Kong

Hong Kong law is characterized by a mixture of legal sources and traditions, originating from the constitutional government-based structure in the mid-1800s to the new laws, which were promulgated at the beginning of the 20th century. Since Hong Kong’s return into the People’s Republic of China in 1997, the development and forms of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Laws have been influenced by the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China of 1982, the Sino-British Joint Declaration of Hong Kong issues of 1984 as well as the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of 1990. The government of China continues to undertake measures, promoting a high degree of autonomy within the Hong Kong as well as its political stability and economic prosperity. All these measures contribute to the promotion of the rule of law and unification of China.     

也论内地和香港相互承认和执行法院判决

内地和香港相互承认和执行法院判决是两地司法协助中的一项重要内容,具有重大的现实研究价值。内地和香港相互承认和执行法院判决是在一国两制下的不同法系间的区际司法协助,不同的社会体制、法律文化乃至不同的司法理念和体制决定了应该根据《基本法》中有关条款和两地的各自立法对符合条件的内地和香港的民商事案件按照程序相互承认并加以执行。     

社会工作专业化的发展路向--香港经验的启示

香港推展社会工作发展至今已有50多年,在其本地的专业服务发展、社工专业化进程、社工教育及培训等已奠定了相当强固的基础。一方面要继续展望前路,寻找方向;另一方面亦可尝试回顾及整理过去的经验,作为祖国内地推动社工专业发展的参考。     

芳林公园的进一步开放与新加坡民主政治发展趋势

2008年8月初,李显龙在国庆群众大会上表示,新加坡政府有意开放政治言论空间,以让新加坡人及年轻网民有更大的参与感,宣布开放芳林公园为自由进行户外示威的场所,以让国人多一个表达意见的空间.芳林公园的进一步开放对新加坡的民主进程应该是一种良好的发展.任何有政治意识的新加坡人可以针对国家和民生的各种问题提出建设性意见和看法,这样可以鼓励更多的新加坡人出来参与政治.当然,此次开放也是有限度的,在芳林公园演说角以外的地方举行示威活动仍然不被允许.新加坡政府宣布设立户外示威场所的做法,多少体现出新加坡回应来自国内外挑战的主动适应性.人民行动党政府的这一举措已经达到了活跃民主政治、进一步改善新加坡开放与国际大都会的形象、加强民意的疏通与反馈、展现政府的自信与亲民形象的目的.     

《香港基本法》解释的权限和程序问题探析

《香港基本法》是全国的宪法性法律,是香港特区的根本法。为了落实"一国两制"的精神,《香港基本法》的规定其解释权属于全国人大常委会,同时《香港基本法》规定全国人大常委会可以授予香港各级法院附条件的《香港基本法》解释权,由于二者的立场、视角、法律传统和利益存在着一定的分歧,因而在立法解释模式和司法解释模式之间存在一定的冲突与碰撞。《香港基本法》在解释主体、权限和程序设定方面存在一些问题,在实践中也引发了宪法危机,因此,应该针对存在的问题,逐步加以完善。     

香港族裔经济中的印尼华侨与华人

20世纪七八十年代,有不下20万的印度尼西亚华侨自中国内地迁居香港;而近30多年来,印尼家务工人亦接踵而至,其在香港的人数现已超过13万人。这两群看似毫不相干的移民,在21世纪全球化以及区域移民的大语境下相遇,共同构建了香港经济活动中奇特的族裔景观,具体包括印尼食品店、服装店、手机店、家具店等等。基于文化背景、语言条件以及香港公民身份等因素,第一代印尼归侨以及千禧年前后开始定居香港的印尼华人或自己充当雇主,或在族裔经济中担任雇员,自然而然成为在港印尼族裔经济的先驱者与主要获利者。本文根据2013年到2016年初的田野调查和深度访谈,梳理在港印尼华侨华人的移民背景以及类别,探讨印尼华侨华人如何在印尼家务工人移民潮的推动之下,启动他们的族裔资源,使之成为具有商业用途的资本,从而促进了过去十多年来香港印尼族裔经济的蓬勃发展。     

Cognitive mobilization and electoral support for the Democratic Party in Hong Kong

The bases of electoral choice vary. Citizens differ in their ability to reason and make up their minds in different ways. Hong Kong appears to be the most likely case for the idea of cognitive mobilization, because of the the absence of socio-economic mobilization, the paucity of political mobilization, the novelty of partisanship, the high level of education, and the prosperous and easily accessible mass media. Findings on the legislative election in 1998, however, show that partisan attachment remains a powerful factor in electoral choice. Still, political information is more important as it broadens the basis of electoral choice. Specifically, the less-informed voters voted for the Democratic Party (DP) solely on the basis of partisan attachment. In comparison, the vote of the better-informed voters was broadly based, with evaluative factors overtaking partisanship in importance. This paper provides a contribution to the understanding of constrained elections in a partial democracy.