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Since its establishment in 1980, the Commission has published 71 reports in the following areas:

Age| Arbitration| Charities| Commercial| Consumer protection| Contract| Copyright| Courts| Criminal law & procedure| Domicile| Evidence| Family| Information law| Insolvency| Legal profession| Medico-legal| Privacy| Property| Statutory interpretation| Succession| Tort

A full list of the Commission's publications is given below. Where the recommendations of a report have been implemented, either in whole or in part, the relevant legislation is also cited.

There is also a Complete list of Reports Tabulated According to Implementation Status.


AGE
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
The Age of Criminal Responsibility in Hong Kong

Consultation paper
(January 1999)

Report
(May 2000)

 

Implemented by Juvenile Offenders (Amendment) Ordinance (6 of 2003) (March 2003) amending Cap 226

Young persons - Effects of Age in Civil Law Report
(April 1986)
  Implemented by Age of Majority (Related Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 410) (32 of 1990) (May 1990); Marriage and Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance (69 of 1997) (July 1997); and Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions and Minor Amendments) Ordinance (80 of 1997) (July 1997)

ARBITRATION
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Commercial Arbitration Report
(January 1982)
  Implemented by Arbitration (Amendment) Ordinance (10 of 1982) (March 1982) amending Cap 341*
Outcome Related Fee Structures for Arbitration

Consultation paper
(December 2020)

Report
(December 2021)

 

 


Implemented by Arbitration and Legal Practitioners Legislation (Outcome Related Fee Structures for Arbitration) (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (6 of 2022) (June 2022) amending Cap 159 and Cap 609.

The Adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law Report
(September 1987)
  Implemented by Arbitration (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance (64 of 1989) (November 1989) amending Cap 341*
Third Party Funding for Arbitration

Consultation paper
(October 2015)

Report
(October 2016)

Government response
(January 2017)
Implemented by the Arbitration and Mediation Legislation (Third Party Funding) (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 (6 of 2017) (June 2017)

CHARITIES
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Charities

Consultation paper
(June 2011)

Report
(December 2013)

 

 


Latest position

COMMERCIAL
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Bills of Exchange Report
(December 1982)
  Implemented by Bills of Exchange (Amendment) Ordinance (16 of 1983) (April 1983) amending Cap 19
Interest on Debt and Damages Report
(July 1990)
  Rejected by the Administration in May 1994
Laws on Insurance Report
(January 1986)
  Implemented by Insurance Companies (Amendment) (No. 3) Ordinance (76 of 1994) (July 1994) amending Cap 41
The Regulation of Debt Collection Practices

Consultation paper
(July 2000)

Report
(July 2002)

 


(Decision by Administration not to implement report's recommendations (September 2005): see Report on the Administration's Response to the Law Reform Commission Report on the Regulation of Debt Collection Practices)

 


Latest position

CONSUMER PROTECTION (See also Contract below)
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Civil Liability for Unsafe Products

Consultation paper
(February 1997)

Report
(February 1998)

 


Government response

(November 2010)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

CONTRACT
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Contracts for the Supply of Goods

Consultation paper
(December 2000)

Report
(February 2002)

 


Government response

(November 2010)

Government response
(March 2013)

 


Latest position

Privity of Contract

Consultation paper
(June 2004)

Report
(October 2005)

 


Government response

(November 2010)

Government response
(December 2012)

Implemented by Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Cap 623) (17 of 2014) (December 2014)
Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Report
(April 1990)
  Implemented by Sale of Goods (Amendment) Ordinance (85 of 1994) (October 1994) amending Cap 26; Supply of Services (Implied Terms) Ordinance (Cap 457) (86 of 1994)  (October  1994); and Unconscionable Contracts Ordinance (Cap 458) (87 of 1994) (October 1994)
The Control of Exemption Clauses Report
(December 1986)
  Implemented by Control of Exemption Clauses Ordinance (Cap 71) (59 of 1989) (November 1989)

COPYRIGHT
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Reform of the Law Relating to Copyright

Consultation paper
(January 1991)

Report
(January 1994)

  Implemented by Copyright Ordinance (Cap 528) (92 of 1997) (June 1997)

COURTS
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Class Actions

Consultation paper
(November 2009)

Report
(May 2012)

 


Government response

(November 2012)

 


Latest position

Contempt of Court Report
(July 1987)
  Rejected by the Administration in January 1994
Coroners Report
(August 1987)
  Implemented by Coroners Ordinance (Cap 504) (27 of 1997) (May 1997)
Criteria for Service as Jurors Consultation paper
(January 2008)

Report
(June 2010)

 


Government response

(December 2010)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position






CRIMINAL LAW & PROCEDURE (See also Age above and Evidence below)
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Arrest Report
(November 1992)
Government response
(February 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

Government response
(June 2021)

Latest position
Bail in Criminal Proceedings Report
(December 1989)
  Implemented by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance (56 of 1994) (June 1994) amending Cap 221
Community Service Orders Report
(June 1983)
  Implemented by Community Service Orders Ordinance (Cap 378) (78 of 1984) (November 1984)
Confession Statements and their Admissibility in Criminal Proceedings Report
(October 1985)
  Rejected by the Administration in September 1987
Codification: the Preliminary Offences of Incitement, Conspiracy and Attempt

Consultation paper
(December 1989)

Report
(May 1994)

  Implemented by Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance (49 of 1996) (July 1996) amending Cap 200
Creation of a Substantive Offence of Fraud

Consultation paper
(May 1995)

Report
(July 1996)

  Implemented by Theft (Amendment) Ordinance (45 of 1999) (July 1999) amending Cap 210
Cyber-Dependent Crimes and Jurisdictional Issues

Consultation paper
(July 2022)

   
Double Jeopardy Consultation paper
(March 2010)

Report
(February 2012)

 


Government response

(August 2012)

Government response
(February 2013)

 


Latest position

Excepted Offences under Schedule 3 to the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Cap 221)

Consultation paper
(June 2013)

Report
(February 2014)

 


Government response
(June 2021)

 


Latest position

Laws Governing Homosexual Conduct Report
(June 1983)
  Implemented by Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance (90 of 1991) (July 1991) amending Cap 200
Loitering Report
(July 1990)
  Implemented by Crimes (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance (74 of 1992) (July 1992) amending Cap 200

Miscellaneous Sexual Offences

Consultation paper
(May 2018)

Rape and Other Non-consensual Sexual Offences

Consultation paper
(September 2012)

Review of Substantive Sexual Offences Report
(December 2019)
  Latest position

Sentencing and Related Matters in the Review of Sexual Offences

Consultation paper
(November 2020)

Report
(May 2022)

 

 


Latest position

Sexual Offences Involving Children and Persons with Mental Impairment

Consultation paper
(November 2016)

 

Sexual Offences Records Checks for Child-related Work: Interim Proposals

Consultation paper
(July 2008)

Report
(February 2010)

 


Government response

(December 2011)

On 28 November, 2011, the Security Bureau announced the implementation, with effect from 1 December 2011, of a scheme based on the LRC's proposals enabling employers to check the sexual offence conviction records of prospective employees for work that requires frequent contact with children or mentally incapacitated persons.

Stalking

Consultation paper
(May 1998)

Report
(October 2000)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

The Common Law Presumption that a Boy under 14 is Incapable of Sexual Intercourse Report
(December 2010)
  Implemented by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (26 of 2012) (July 2012)
The Procedure Governing the Admissibility of Confession Statements in Criminal Proceedings

Consultation paper
(November 1998)

Report
(July 2000)

  No change to the existing law was recommended
The Year and a Day Rule in Homicide Report
(June 1997)
  Implemented by Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (32 of 2000) (June 2000)
Voyeurism and Non-consensual Upskirt-photography Report
(April 2019)
  Implemented by Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (35 of 2021) (October 2021) amending Cap 200

DOMICILE
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Rules for Determining Domicile

Consultation paper
(March 2004)

Report
(April 2005)

  Implemented by Domicile Ordinance  (Cap 596) (4 of 2008) (February 2008)

EVIDENCE
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Competence and Compellability of Spouses in Criminal Proceedings Report
(December 1988)
  Implemented by Evidence (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance (23 of 2003) (July 2003) amending Cap 8
Hearsay Rule in Civil Proceedings

Consultation paper
(August 1992)

Report
(July 1996)

  Implemented by Evidence (Amendment) Ordinance (2 of 1999) (January 1999) amending Cap 8
Hearsay in Criminal Proceedings Consultation paper
(November 2005)

Report
(November 2009)

 


Government response

(December 2010)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

FAMILY
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Causing or Allowing the Death or Serious Harm of a Child or Vulnerable Adult

Consultation paper
(May 2019)

Report
(September 2021)

 


Government response

(September 2022)

 


Latest position

Child Custody and Access Report
(March 2005)

Government response
(June 2011)

Government response
(December 2012)

Government response to Legco AJLS Panel Motion on implementation
(May 2014)

Latest position

Grounds for Divorce

Consultation paper
(September 1990)

   
Grounds for Divorce and the Time Restriction on Petitions for Divorce within Three Years of Marriage

Report
(November 1992)

  Implemented by Matrimonial Causes (Amendment) Ordinance (29 of 1995) (May 1995) amending Cap 179
Guardianship and Custody Consultation paper
(December 1998)
Guardianship of Children Report
(January 2002)
  Implemented by Guardianship of Minors (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 (1 of 2012) (January 2012) amending Cap 13
Illegitimacy Report
(December 1991)
  Implemented by Parent and Child Ordinance (Cap 429) (17 of 1993) (March 1993)
International Parental Child Abduction Report
(April 2002)

Government response
(November 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

Implemented by Child Abduction Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendment) Ordinance (16 of 2014) (November 2014), amending the Child Abduction and Custody Ordinance (Cap 512). The Amendment Ordinance came into operation on 5 April 2016 (LN 5 of 2016)
The Family Dispute Resolution Process Report
(March 2003)

Government response
(May 2009)

Government response
(Apr 2013)

Latest position
Time Restriction on Petitions for Divorce within Three Years of Marriage

Consultation paper
(December 1990)

 

   

INFORMATION LAW
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Access to Information

Consultation paper
(December 2018)

   
Archives Law

Consultation paper
(December 2018)

   

INSOLVENCY
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Bankruptcy

Consultation paper
(July 1993)

Report
(May 1995)

  Implemented by Bankruptcy (Amendment) Ordinance (76 of 1996) (December 1996) amending Cap 6
Corporate Rescue and Insolvent Trading

Consultation paper
(June 1995)

Report
(October 1996)

 


Government response

(March 2013)

 


Latest position

The Winding-up Provisions of the Companies Ordinance

Consultation paper
(April 1998)

Report
(July 1999)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

LEGAL PROFESSION
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Conditional Fees Consultation paper
(September 2005)

Report
(July 2007)

 


Government response

(October 2010)

 


Latest position

MEDICO-LEGAL
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Enduring Powers of Attorney Consultation paper
(April 2007)

Report
(March 2008)

 

Implemented by Enduring Powers of Attorney (Amendment) Ordinance (25 of 2011) (December 2011) amending Cap 501

Enduring Powers of Attorney: Personal Care Consultation paper
(July 2009)

Report
(July 2011)

 


Government response

(December 2011)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

Substitute Decision-making and Advance Directives in Relation to Medical Treatment Consultation paper
(July 2004)

Report
(August 2006)

 


Government response

(November 2010)

Government response
(December 2012)

Government response
(April 2013)

Government response
(March 2015)

 


Latest position

PRIVACY
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Civil Liability for Invasion of Privacy

Consultation paper
(August 1999)

Report
(December 2004)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

Privacy and Media Intrusion Consultation paper
(August 1999)

Report
(December 2004)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

Privacy: The Regulation of Covert Surveillance

Consultation paper
(April 1996)

Report
(March 2006)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

The Interception of Communications and Surveillance Bill (subsequently Ordinance 20 of 2006) was introduced prior to publication of LRC report but mirrors some of the LRC's recommendations

Reform of the Law Relating to the Protection of Personal Data

Consultation paper
(March 1993)

Report
(August 1994)

  Implemented by Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap 486) (81 of 1995) (August 1995)
Regulating the Interception of Communications

Consultation paper
(April 1996)

Report
(December 1996)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

Stalking

Consultation paper
(May 1998)

Report
(October 2000)

 


Government response

(April 2009)

Government response
(December 2012)

 


Latest position

PROPERTY
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Adverse Possession

Consultation paper
(December 2012)

Report
(October 2014)

 


Government response

(April 2015)

Government response
(June 2021)

 


Latest position


Description of Flats on Sale - Local Uncompleted Residential Properties

Consultation paper
(April 1994)

Report
(April 1995)

  Implemented by Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance (Cap 621) (19 of 2012) (July 2012)
Description of Flats on Sale - Local Completed Residential Properties

Consultation paper
(January 2001)

Report
(September 2002)

 

 


Latest position

Description of Flats on Sale - Overseas Uncompleted Residential Properties

Consultation paper
(September 1996)

Report
(September 1997)

 


(Decision by Administration not to implement report's recommendations (March 2013): see LRC report on Overseas Uncompleted Residential Properties: Administration's response)

 


Latest position

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Extrinsic Materials as an Aid to Statutory Interpretation

Consultation paper
(February 1996)

Report
(March 1997)

 

 


Rejected by the Government in July 2023

SUCCESSION
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Law of Wills, Intestate Succession and Provision for Deceased Persons' Families and Dependants Report
(May 1990)
  Implemented by Wills (Amendment) Ordinance (56 of 1995) (July 1995) amending Cap 30; Intestates' Estates (Amendment) Ordinance (57 of 1995) (July 1995) amending Cap 73; Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance (Cap 481) (58 of 1995) (July 1995); and Law Amendment and Reform (Consolidation) (Amendment) Ordinance (16 of 1996) (May 1996) amending Cap 23.

TORT
PROJECT TITLE PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
Damages for Personal Injury and Death Report
(February 1985)
  Implemented by Fatal Accidents Ordinance (Cap 22) (41 of 1986) (July 1986) and Law Amendment and Reform (Consolidation) (Amendment) Ordinance (40 of 1986) (July 1986) amending Cap 23
Periodical Payments for Future Pecuniary Loss in Personal Injury Cases

Consultation paper
(April 2018)

Report
(January 2023)

 


Government response

(January 2024)

 


Latest position

The Law Relating to Contribution between Wrongdoers Report
(April 1984)
  Implemented by Civil Liability (Contribution) Ordinance (Cap 377) (77 of 1984) (November 1984)

* Cap 341 has since 1 June 2011 been replaced by the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap 609) (17 of 2010), which came into operation on the same day.