Category Archives: Laws & Regulations

China Laws and Regulations Update in January 2024

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1. Company Law of the People’s Republic of China (Revised)

Promulgated by Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress

Promulgated date: 13 December, 2023

Implementation date: 28 December, 2023

Document number: Chinese President Order No. 15

The revised Company Law consists of 15 chapters, including company registration, establishment and organization of limited liability companies, transfer of shares of limited liability companies, and establishment and organization of joint stock companies. The Company Law improves the contribution registration system of limited liability companies, clarifying that the capital contributions made by all shareholders shall be paid in full by the shareholders within five years from the date of the establishment of the company in accordance with the provisions of the articles of association of the company. At the same time, if the period of capital contribution of a company that has been registered and established prior to the implementation of the new Company Law is longer than the period stipulated therein, it shall be adjusted gradually to the period stipulated therein, unless otherwise stipulated by laws, administrative regulations or the State Council. Where the period or the amount of capital contribution is obviously abnormal, the company registration authority may, in accordance with the law, require it to make timely adjustments. (Source: NPC website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in November 2023

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1. Administrative Measures for the Capital of Commercial Banks (Revised)

Promulgated by National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA)

Promulgated date: 1 November, 2023

Implementation date: 1 January, 2024

Document number: NFRA Order No. 4

Recently, the National Financial Regulatory Administration has issued the revised Administrative Measures for the Capital of Commercial Banks (hereinafter referred to as the Measures), which will come into force on January 1, 2024, and simultaneously issued the Circular on Matters Related to the Implementation of the Administrative Measures for the Capital of Commercial Banks. The Measures consists of 10 chapters and 206 articles, including the calculation of capital regulatory indicators and regulatory requirements, and the definition of capital. In terms of risk management requirements, the Measures requires the establishment and effective implementation of corresponding credit risk management systems, processes and mechanisms, the formulation by banks of business policies for and segmentation and management of trading desks on which the measurement of internal modeling method is based, and the establishment and improvement of the standards, rules and processes for the collection of loss data before applying for the adoption of loss multiplier and coefficient given by the administration. In terms of improving supervision and inspection requirements, the Measures clarifies that, on one hand, the content of supervision and inspection should be improved with reference to international standards; on the other hand, the implementation of the policy should be facilitated based on the existing domestic supervisory system. (Source: National Financial Regulatory Administration)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in October 2023

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1. Decision to Amend the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning Intellectual Property Tribunal

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court

Promulgation date: 27 October, 2023

Implementation date: 1 November, 2023

Document number: LI [2023] No. 10

The Decision amends the original Article 2, clarifying the scope of the Intellectual Property Tribunal’s hearing of appeal cases and the circumstances under which other cases may be heard. At the same time, Article 3 is amended to read: “The lower people’s court hearing the case referred to in Article 2 of these Provisions shall, in accordance with the provisions, promptly transfer the paper and electronic files to the Intellectual Property Tribunal.” The Decision adds an article as Article 4: “The Intellectual Property Tribunal may require the parties to disclose the information on relevant cases involving the ownership of, infringement upon, granting and confirmation of the intellectual property rights involved in the case. A party’s refusal to make a truthful disclosure may be taken as a consideration in determining whether it follows the principle of good faith and constitutes an abuse of rights, etc.” The Decision also makes changes to other articles. (Source:The Supreme People’s Court website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in September 2023

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1. Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China (Amended)

Promulgated by Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 1 September, 2023

Implementation date: 1 January, 2024

Document number: Chinese President Order No. 11

The Decision focuses on amending and improving the part on “Special Provisions on Foreign-related Civil Procedures”. Specifically, it amends the relevant provisions on jurisdiction, expanding the jurisdiction of Chinese courts over foreign-related civil cases; adds the general provisions on parallel proceedings, the principle of forum non conveniens, and other relevant provisions; amends the relevant provisions on service of litigation documents on a party that has no domicile within the territory of the People’s Republic of China; improves the system of judicial assistance in foreign-related civil cases, and adds relevant provisions on the investigation and evidence collection outside the territory of the People’s Republic of China ; and improves the basic rules on the recognition and enforcement of effective judgments and rulings by foreign courts. The Decision also makes corresponding amendments to other parts, such as the addition of a new section on “Cases of Appointment of Estate Administrator” in the original Chapter XV on “Special Procedures”. (Source: National People’s Congress)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in August 2023

1. Provisions on Evidence in Civil Litigation on Ecological and Environmental Infringement

Promulgated by The Supreme People’s Court

Promulgation date: 15 August, 2023

Implementation date: 1 September 2023

Document number: LI [2023] No. 6

The Provisions consists of 34 articles, including, in addition to the introductory paragraph, the scope of application, the burden of proof, the investigation, collection and preservation of evidence, the principle of common evidence, expert evidence, orders for the production of documentary evidence, and discretionary damages.

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China Laws and Regulations Update in July 2023

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1. Provisional Rules on Generative AI Services

Promulgated by Cyberspace Administration of China, National Development and Reform

Commission of the People’s Republic of China, etc.

Promulgation date: 13 July 2023

Implementation date: 15 August 2023

Document number: CAC, NDRC, MOE, MOST, MOIIT, MOPS, NRTA Order No.15

Six government departments, including Cyberspace Administration of China recently co-issued the Temporary Rules on Generative AI Services (“Rules”) which will be brought into action from August 15th.

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China Laws and Regulations Update in June 2023

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1. Obstacle Free Environment Law

Promulgated by National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 29 June 2023

Implementation date: 1 September 2023

Document number: Chinese President Order No.6

The Obstacle Free Environment Law consists of eight chapters and 72 articles, dealing with facility construction, information exchange, social services, etc. under major obstacle free environment policies in a comprehensive and organized way. This law explicitly states that obstacle-free environment is mainly for disabled and old people. The policies, standards, requirements under this law are mainly intended to meet the needs and expectations of disabled and old people, reflect its special characteristics, deal with real issues and make specific provisions more suitable and effective. It also stresses that obstacle-free environment is basic, generally accessible and beneficial to all, stating that people but disabled and old ones who need no obstacle can use the obstacle-free environment to make the obstacle environment benefit all in our society. (Source: NPC website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in May 2023

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1. Interpretation of Several Issues Concerning Law Application in Criminal Cases Arising from Adolescent Rape or Obscenity

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Justice

Promulgation date: 25 May 2023

Implementation date: 1 June 2023

Document number: SAMR Order 72

The Interpretation consists of sixteen articles in six parts.

First, circumstances where child rapists should be sentenced to heavier penalties. In Article 1 of the Interpretation, there are six circumstances where “heavier penalties at a higher level” should be given to child rapists in criminal law, including rape by violence, force, etc., or in a house or dormitory. It also sets out that adults who committed adolescent rape or obscenity and pleaded guilt should be sentenced to lenient penalties with severity.

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China Laws and Regulations Update in April 2023

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1. Internet Advertisement Regulations

Promulgated by State Administration for Market Regulation

Promulgation date: 20 March 2023

Implementation date: 1 May 2023

Document number: SAMR Order 72

The Rules further clarifies responsibilities of advertisement owners, internet advertisement managers and publishers and internet information service providers; actively addresses social concerns, includes provisions relating to pop-up ads, splash ads and ads published by smart device; further specifies advertisement regulatory rules in key areas, including “advertorials”, internet advertisements containing links, cost-per-click, algorithm recommended or live stream advertisements and ads indirectly published subject to approval; adds provisions relating to jurisdictions over advertising sponsors. It establishes a system that supports regulation and law administration in internet advertising and energizes the orderly growth of the internet advertising industry. (Source: SAMR website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in March 2023

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1. Amendments to Legislative Law of the People’s Republic of China

Promulgated by National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 14 March 2023

Implementation date: 15 March 2023

Document number: NPC’s decision to amend the Legislative Law

According to the decision, the main content of the amendment is 1. improvement of legislative guidelines and principles, 2. administration of the Constitution and its supervision and clarification of Constitution compliance review requirements for the work on legislative and recordation review; 3. improvement of the mechanism for connecting and unifying legislative and reform decisions and the decision making rules for grant of powers; 4. implementation and demonstration of the whole-process people’s democracy philosophy; 5. scientific, democratic and legal legislation requirements; 6. the legal status of supervision laws and improvement of entities responsible for formulating rules of departments under the State Council; 7. improvement of legislative powers of a city divided into districts and clarification of rules and the work mechanism on coordination in local law making between districts; 8. improvement of recordation review rules; and 9. improvement of the work on legal advocacy. (Source: NPC website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in February 2023

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1. Instructions on Several Issues Connected with Enforcement Supervision Application Cases

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court

Promulgation date: 31 January 2023

Document number: FF[2023]4

The Instructions regulates and gives guidance for common issues connected with enforcement supervision application cases. It regulates the filing and processing of these cases and gives guidance and includes requirements for appropriate ways in which parties involved can apply for enforcement supervision to the enforcement court and the court at the next level, eliminates ambiguities in existing enforcement rules by explicitly stating that in cases that should be resolved by arbitration or suing for substantive issues, parties involved and interested persons should follow the procedures of seeking remedies for substantive issues and work to enforce law and protect legal rights of parties involved more efficiently by regulating multiple and repeated enforcement supervision applications. It also sets out the period of application for enforcement supervision, explicitly stating that if the applicant refuses to accept the enforcement reexamination decision or applies to the court for enforcement supervision after expiration of the period for filing an opposition to or a request for reexamining the enforcement, the applicant should do so within the prescribed period of time. (Source: SPC website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in December 2022

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1. Instructions on Formulating Fundamental Data Policies to Take Good Advantage of Data Elements

Promulgated by the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council

Promulgation date: 19 December 2022

The Instructions includes 20 policies relating to data property, trade, profit distribution and security governance in order to establish underlying data policies and systems in China, fully activate data elements, energize real economic development, vitalize market entities, help develop new growth perspective and promote sound development. The Instructions explicitly mentions exploration of data property structuring system and establishment of confirmation and authorization systems for classification and grading of public, corporate and individual data. It also puts forward establishment and improvement of personal information confirmation and authorization mechanisms in order to cause data processors to legally collect, possess, use and entrust others to manage data containing personal information within the individual’s authorized scope, regulate activities of processing personal information, prevent excessive collection of personal information by “package licensing”, forced approval, etc. and promote fair use of personal information. (Source: Chinese Government website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in November 2022

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1. Law on Protection of Women’s Interests

Promulgated by Standing Committee of National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 30 October 2022

Implementation date: 1 January 2023

Document number: Chinese President Order No.122

The Law on Protection of Women’s Rights and Interests aims to fully implement fundamental state policies, including ones relating to the equality between men and women and continue improving rules on protection of women’s rights and interests. In terms of women’s personal and moral rights for which there is widespread concern in our society, based on bans on women trafficking and abduction, it sets out job duties of the government and departments concerned, villagers’ committee and residents’ committee to ascertain, report, rescue, settle, support and take care of women trafficked or abducted, improves women’s employment and social interests, eliminates and sets out circumstances of job and sex discrimination, includes job and sex discrimination in the scope of employment supervision, sets out employer’s responsibilities for protecting women’s interests and explicitly provides that employment (or appointment) contract or service agreement should include provisions relating to protection of women’s interests. (Source: NPC website)

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China Laws and Regulations Update in October 2022

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1. Regulations on Several Issues Connected with People Freed on Bail Pending Trial

Promulgated by Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Security

Promulgation date: 21 September 2022

Implementation date: 21 September 2022

Document number: GTZ[2022]25

To better regulate people freed on bail pending trial and prevent failure to or negligence in the regulation, the Regulations mainly puts forward the following measures.

First, the scope of activities of people freed on bail is clarified. To meet the practical regulatory requirements, the Regulations further specifies the “specific places”, “specific people” and “specific activities” in Article 71 of the Criminal Procedural Law so that enforcement authorities can understand and put these provisions into practice and people freed on bail can clearly know the scope of their activities.

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China Laws and Regulations Update in September 2022

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1. Law Against Telecommunication Fraud

Promulgated by the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress

Promulgation date: 2 September 2022

Implementation date: 1 December 2022

Document number: 119 President Order

The Law Against Telecommunication Fraud consists of seven chapters and fifty articles, including general principles, telecommunication, financial and internet governance, comprehensive measures, legal responsibilities, supplementary articles, etc. in order to give powerful legal support for fighting telecommunication fraud by adhering to the people centered philosophy, balancing development and safety, preventing and governing telecommunication fraud in all parts of the chain and working hard with accuracy. The Law further strengthens punishment for telecommunication fraud by including specialized provisions relating to administrative punishment and further clarifying the offender’s civil responsibilities and records on the credit report.

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