https://www.scmp.com/rss/521210/feed Martin Hui SC is the current vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, a former deputy director of public prosecutions of Hong Kong and a criminal litigator. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Martin Hui Martin Hui Recent events in Hong Kong, particularly the tragic blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November, have focused society’s attention on reforms to the legal system, especially those concerning building management and maintenance. Corruption and improper practices in the tendering process for large-scale building renovation or maintenance have also become a hot-button issue. In response, the government has established an independent committee to uncover the causes of the fire and examine... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339927/time-end-bid-rigging-hong-kong-criminalisation-and-tougher-enforcement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3339927/time-end-bid-rigging-hong-kong-criminalisation-and-tougher-enforcement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Martin Hui Martin Hui Hong Kong has seen a number of amendments to its criminal law in recent years aimed at strengthening the response to sexual crimes. Notable examples are the new offences in the Crimes Ordinance regarding voyeurism, upskirting and the publication of intimate images without consent. There has also been discussion, including in this column, regarding how the law can adapt to the new phenomenon of pornography generated by artificial intelligence and deepfakes. It is essential that the law,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3334459/new-test-consent-reforming-hong-kongs-approach-sexual-crimes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3334459/new-test-consent-reforming-hong-kongs-approach-sexual-crimes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 04:49:25 +0000 Martin Hui Martin Hui Super Typhoon Ragasa recently passed within about 120km of Hong Kong and led to the No 10 warning signal being raised. Thankfully, advance warning of the storm and comprehensive preparations in Hong Kong and mainland China, including the evacuation of nearly 2 million people in high-risk areas of Guangdong, averted catastrophe. Still, the impact was significant, with 101 injuries reported in Hong Kong and substantial property damage. Among the debris left in Ragasa’s wake is a debate over... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3328274/does-hong-kong-need-criminalise-storm-chasing-or-will-idea-blow-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3328274/does-hong-kong-need-criminalise-storm-chasing-or-will-idea-blow-over?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:30:19 +0000 Martin Hui Martin Hui The medical profession is one of the pillars of Hong Kong society and its doctors, as well as other professionals, are expected to, and often do, uphold the highest standards of professional conduct. But a dark corner of the healthcare industry exists in the grey area between medical treatment and experimental procedure. Over the years there have been a number of tragic cases where the administering of experimental treatments has led to the patient’s death. As with medical negligence more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321778/when-experimental-treatments-lead-death-prosecution-not-always-simple?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321778/when-experimental-treatments-lead-death-prosecution-not-always-simple?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Martin Hui Martin Hui If there is any consistent theme at all in international relations and global affairs throughout these past years, it is that we are now living in a multipolar world. With the end of the Cold War, the world entered a period of Western dominance that is now giving way to a more complex and fragmented world order. Disputes and differences between states will only continue to proliferate, but with a multipolar world comes an increasing number of them questioning the role of international law in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3315837/interstate-mediation-multipolar-world-how-can-hong-kong-best-play-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3315837/interstate-mediation-multipolar-world-how-can-hong-kong-best-play-role?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 01:30:20 +0000 Martin Hui Martin Hui A major barrier to access to justice, not just in Hong Kong but around the world, is the high cost of legal services. It may come as no surprise, then, that lawyers are a prime target for competition by artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly those systems that rely on large language models. As early as 2015 in the United States, simple apps were developed that used AI to contest parking tickets or automate basic legal processes like filing forms. By 2023, it was reported that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3309424/could-ai-lawyers-replace-human-barristers-hong-kongs-courtrooms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3309424/could-ai-lawyers-replace-human-barristers-hong-kongs-courtrooms?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 01:30:16 +0000