In Custodia Legis
Official blog from the Law Library of Congress
Find the Law Library on:
Mental Health Law Takes Effect on May 1 (Apr. 19, 2013) by Laney Zhang
On May 1, 2013,
Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: China
Ministry of Railways Dismantled (Apr. 04, 2013) by Laney Zhang
On March 10, 2013, the Chinese government announced a new government restructuring plan at the plenary meeting of the First Session of the 12th National People's ...
Topic: Government organization
Jurisdiction: China
2012 National Campaign to Fight Firearms-Control Offenses (Feb. 13, 2013) by Laney Zhang
In a campaign to fight firearms control offenses launched by
Topic: Firearms
Jurisdiction: China
Judicial Interpretation on Crime of Giving Bribes to Government Officials (Jan. 08, 2013) by Laney Zhang
On December 26, 2012,
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China
NPC Decision on Network Information Protection (Jan. 04, 2013) by Laney Zhang
On December 28, 2012, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC,
Topic: Communications and electronic information
Jurisdiction: China
New Amendment to Criminal Code on Child Abuse (Dec. 11, 2012) by Laney Zhang
On December 5, 2012, an amendment to article 286 of
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: Taiwan
Supreme People's Court Releases New Guiding Cases (Oct. 17, 2012) by Laney Zhang
On September 18, 2012,
Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: China
Blacklist System to Be Established for Pharmaceutical Safety (Oct. 05, 2012) by Laney Zhang
On August 13, 2012,
Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: China
New Accessibility Regulations Passed (Oct. 03, 2012) by Laney Zhang
China's new Regulations on Construction of a Barrier-Free Environment, which came into effect on August 1, 2012, require all newly built roads and buildings in urban ...
Topic: Disability
Jurisdiction: China
Railway Courts Integrated into National Court System (Sep. 12, 2012) by Laney Zhang
By the end of June 2012, all railway courts in China had been integrated into the national court system, according to a Supreme People's Court (SPC) ...
Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: China
Court Announces Apple and Proview Settlement of iPad Trademark Dispute (Jul. 16, 2012) by Laney Zhang
The Guangdong Higher People's Court announced earlier this month that Apple and Proview Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd. have settled their dispute over the rights to the iPad ...
Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: China
Maternity Leave Extended from 90 Days to 98 Days (Jun. 18, 2012) by Laney Zhang
On April 28, 2012, China's State Council published the Special Provisions on Labor Protection of Female Employees (text in Chinese, Central People's Government of ...
Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: China
Regulations on Resource Tax Revised (Dec. 22, 2011) by Laney Zhang
Effective on November 1, 2011, China's revised Tentative Regulations on Resource Tax noticeably raised the resource tax levied on the exploitation of crude oil and natural ...
Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: China
New Rules on Foreign Direct Investment with Renminbi (Dec. 22, 2011) by Laney Zhang
Foreign investors, including those from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao, are now officially allowed to make direct investments in mainland China with offshore renminbi (RMB, Chinese ...
Topic: Foreign investment
Jurisdiction: China
New ID Card Law Requires Recording Fingerprints (Nov. 04, 2011) by Laney Zhang
On October 29, 2011, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted an amendment to the Resident Identity Card Law (ID Card Law) and republished ...
Topic: Identification
Jurisdiction: China
Legal Definition of Terrorist Activities Clarified (Nov. 04, 2011) by Laney Zhang
On October 29, 2011, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed the Decision on Issues Related to Strengthening Anti-Terrorism Work, which clarifies the ...
Topic: Terrorism
Jurisdiction: China
Individual Income Tax Law Revised (Jul. 11, 2011) by Laney Zhang
On June 30, 2011, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) adopted an amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law that raises the threshold ...
Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: China
Social Insurance to Cover Foreigners Employed in China (Jul. 01, 2011) by Laney Zhang
China's new Social Insurance Law, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2011, includes one article applicable to foreigners employed in China, stating that ...
Topic: Social security
Jurisdiction: China
Collection of Individual Income Tax on High-Income Earners to Be Strengthened (Jun. 20, 2011) by Laney Zhang
China's State Administration of Taxation recently published a circular ordering the tax authorities at all levels in the country to pay closer attention, in collecting individual ...
Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: China
Minimum Wage Law Takes Effect (May. 17, 2011) by Laney Zhang
On May 1, 2011, Hong Kong's Minimum Wage Ordinance took effect; under it a HK$28 (about US$3.6) per hour minimum wage rate is enforced. (Minimum ...
Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: Hong Kong
Harsher Punishments for Driving After Drinking (May. 10, 2011) by Laney Zhang
The Law of the People's Republic of China on Road Traffic Safety (hereinafter Traffic Safety Law) was amended on April 22, 2011, providing harsher punishments for ...
Topic: Driving while intoxicated
Jurisdiction: China
Ban on Smoking in Indoor Public Places Takes Effect (May. 05, 2011) by Laney Zhang
Effective May 1, 2011, smoking is banned in all indoor public places in China, according the Implementation Rules of the Regulations on Health Administration of Public ...
Topic: Tobacco and smoking
Jurisdiction: China
Eighth Amendment to Criminal Law Passed (Apr. 07, 2011) by Laney Zhang
Effective from May 1, 2011, Chinese citizens and companies paying bribes to foreign government officials and officials of international public organizations will be subject on conviction ...
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China
Security Review Rules on Foreign Mergers and Acquisitions Published (Feb. 25, 2011) by Laney Zhang
On February 12, 2011, the General Office of China's State Council published a circular on the security review system in mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises ...
Topic: Foreign investment
Jurisdiction: China
Code of Ethics for Judges Revised (Dec. 28, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On December 15, 2010, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China published on its website the revised Basic Norms of Professional Ethics of Judges and Code ...
Topic: Judges
Jurisdiction: China
Revised Price Control Rules Provide Harsher Penalties for Price Manipulation (Dec. 22, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On December 4, 2010, the State Council of China published its decision to revise the Provisions on Administrative Penalties ...
Topic: Administrative law
Jurisdiction: China
First Statute on Choice of Law Passed (Nov. 05, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On October 28, 2010, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) adopted the Law on the Application of Law in ...
Topic: Civil code
Jurisdiction: China
State Council Orders Government Organs to Use Genuine Software (Nov. 05, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On October 18, 2010, the General Office of China's State Council issued a notice requiring central government ministries and commissions and local governments to use genuine ...
Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: China
Law on Social Insurance Passed (Nov. 04, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On October 28, 2010, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) passed the People's Republic of China Law on Social Insurance. (Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo ...
Topic: Social security
Jurisdiction: China
No Withdrawal of Appeals of Death Sentences (Sep. 13, 2010) by Laney Zhang
Effective from September 1, 2010, if a criminal defendant in China who has been sentenced to death in the first trial appeals to the higher court ...
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China
Full Text of Draft Eighth Amendment to Criminal Law Published (Sep. 08, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On August 28, 2010, China's National People's Congress published the full text of the draft eighth amendment to the Criminal Law after its first reading, to ...
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China
Death Penalty Crimes to Be Reduced (Aug. 31, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On August 23, 2010, a proposed amendment to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China was presented to the Standing Committee of China's National ...
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China
Corporate Income Tax Reduced to 17% (Jun. 24, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On June 15, 2010, an amendment to Taiwan's Income Tax Act was published that reduced the corporate income tax rate from 20% to 17%. (Text of ...
Topic: Taxation
Jurisdiction: Taiwan
State Secrets Law Revised (May. 07, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On April 29, 2010, the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress of China (NPC) adopted the revised Law on Guarding State Secrets (State Secrets ...
Topic: Secrecy
Jurisdiction: China
Entry Ban Lifted for Foreigners with HIV/AIDS (May. 05, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On April 24, 2010, the State Council of China published a decision amending the Implementation Measures of the People's Republic of China Law on Entry and ...
Topic: Border security
Jurisdiction: China
China Lifts Entry Ban for Foreigners with HIV/AIDS (May. 04, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On April 24, 2010, the State Council of China published a decision amending the Implementation Measures of the People's Republic of China Law on Entry and ...
Topic: Border security
Jurisdiction: China
State Council Circulates Opinions in Promoting Energy Management Contracts (Apr. 23, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On April 2, 2010, the General Office of China's State Council circulated the Opinions on Accelerating the Implementation of Energy Management Contracts to Promote the Development ...
Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: China
Vice President of Supreme People's Court Sentenced to Life Imprisonment (Mar. 25, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On March 17, 2010, the Hebei Province Higher People's Court affirmed the sentence of life imprisonment of Huang Songyou, former Vice President of China's Supreme People's ...
Topic: Government ethics
Jurisdiction: China
Copyright Law Revised (Mar. 04, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On February 26, 2010, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) amended the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China (PRC), to take ...
Topic: Intellectual property
Jurisdiction: China
Public Opinion Solicited for Draft Implementing Regulations of Government Procurement Law (Mar. 02, 2010) by Laney Zhang
On January 11, 2010, China's State Council published the draft Implementation Regulations of the Government Procurement Law (Draft Regulations) on its website, in order to solicit ...
Topic: Government finance
Jurisdiction: China
Renewable Energy Law Amended (Dec. 31, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On December 26, 2009, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (PRC) adopted an amendment to the Renewable Energy ...
Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: China
Rules on Foreign-Invested Partnerships Issued (Dec. 07, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On December 2, 2009, the Administrative Measures for Foreign Enterprises and Individuals Establishing Partnership Enterprises in China were published on Xinhuanet, the online news service of ...
Topic: Foreign investment
Jurisdiction: China
National People's Congress Resolution on Climate Change (Nov. 27, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On August 27, 2009, the National People's Congress of China (NPC) Standing Committee adopted a Resolution on Actively Responding to Climate Change. This is the first ...
Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: China
Civil and Commercial Judicial Assistance Treaty (Nov. 20, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On October 31, 2009, China's National People's Congress Standing Committee ratified the Bilateral Treaty on Civil and Commercial Judicial Assistance with Brazil. (Text of decision [in ...
Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: Brazil / China
"Cash for Clunkers" Programs (Oct. 01, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On June 1, 2009, the General Office of China's State Council announced a plan for an automobile and electronic appliance "old swap new" program, which was ...
Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: China
Healthcare Reform: National Essential Medicine System to Be Established (Aug. 25, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On August 18, 2009, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China, together with seven ...
Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: China
Environmental Levy on Plastic Shopping Bags (Jul. 17, 2009) by Laney Zhang
Effective July 7, 2009, registered retailers in Hong Kong are no longer allowed to provide free plastic shopping bags for customers; for each plastic shopping bag ...
Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: Hong Kong
Statistics Law Revised to Crack Down on Falsifying Data (Jul. 09, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On June 27, 2009, the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress adopted a revised Statistics Law. The law was first enacted in 1984 and revised ...
Topic: Standards and specifications
Jurisdiction: China
The National People's Congress Abolishes Eight National Laws (Jul. 02, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On June 27, 2009, the Ninth Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) abolished eight national laws that are "out-dated" or ...
Topic: Legislative power
Jurisdiction: China
Government Denies "Buy China" Is in Stimulus Package (Jul. 01, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On June 26, 2009, a joint statement made by the spokesmen of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and of the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) ...
Topic: Government finance
Jurisdiction: China
Legislative Agenda of NPC Standing Committee (Jun. 26, 2009) by Laney Zhang
It was reported on June 15, 2009, that the Ninth Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to be ...
Topic: Legislative power
Jurisdiction: China
Order to "Buy China" in Government-Invested Projects (Jun. 25, 2009) by Laney Zhang
China's key economic planner, the National Development and Reform Committee, issued a notice on May 26, 2009, on tightening government supervision of tenders and bids in ...
Topic: Government finance
Jurisdiction: China
New Cash for Clunkers Plan (May. 26, 2009) by Laney Zhang
China is launching a RMB5 billion (about US$714 million) plan to encourage automobile sales in the countryside, where the majority of the Chinese population lives. On ...
Topic: Transportation
Jurisdiction: China
Agreements on Regular Flights, Financial Cooperation, Judicial Cooperation Signed (May. 11, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On April 26, 2009, in Nanjing, mainland China and Taiwan signed three agreements to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait. Chen Yunlin, President of the mainland-based ...
Topic: International law
Jurisdiction: China / Taiwan
Amendment Seven to Criminal Law Passed (Apr. 30, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On February 28, 2009, the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National People's Congress adopted Amendment Seven to the Criminal Law, which entered into effect on the ...
Topic: Criminal law and procedure
Jurisdiction: China
National Human Rights Action Plan Published (Apr. 28, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On April 13, 2009, China's State Council Information Office released the National Human Rights Action Plan (2009-2010), which the government called the country's first national human ...
Topic: Human rights
Jurisdiction: China
Tax Incentives for Clean Development Mechanism Projects Published (Apr. 28, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On April 2, 2009, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) published a Circular on the Corporate Income Tax Policies of the China Clean Development Mechanism [CDM] Fund ...
Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: China
IPO Rules for Growth Enterprise Market (Apr. 21, 2009) by Laney Zhang
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) released rules on initial public offerings for the Growth Enterprise Market (China GEM) on March 31, 2009. The rules will ...
Topic: Securities markets
Jurisdiction: China
Executive Pay Limits for State-Owned Financial Institutions (Apr. 15, 2009) by Laney Zhang
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) published a circular on April 10, 2009, setting a pay cap for top executives at state-owned financial institutions. Their maximum compensation ...
Topic: Banks and financial institutions
Jurisdiction: China
New Rules to Encourage Overseas Investment (Apr. 13, 2009) by Laney Zhang
The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), China's main commercial regulator, issued the Measures for the Administration of Overseas Investment on March 16, 2009. Entering into effect on ...
Topic: Foreign investment
Jurisdiction: China
Food Safety Law Passed (Apr. 03, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On February 28, 2009, the People's Republic of China Food Safety Law was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Effective from June ...
Topic: Health and safety
Jurisdiction: China
Government Subsidy for Energy-Saving and Alternative-Energy Vehicles (Feb. 27, 2009) by Laney Zhang
On January 23, 2009, China's Ministries of Finance and of Science and Technology jointly issued the Provisional Measures on the Management of Government Subsidies for Energy-Saving ...
Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: China
Economic Stimulus Plan Unveiled (Dec. 24, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On November 9, 2008, the State Council of China announced a plan to increase domestic demand and stimulate economic growth, by investing an estimated four trillion ...
Topic: Investments
Jurisdiction: China
Recycling Economy Promotion Law to Take Effect (Nov. 25, 2008) by Laney Zhang
The Recycling Economy Promotion Law (also translated as the "Circular Economy Promotion Law") was recently passed by the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress ...
Topic: Energy
Jurisdiction: China
Law on Enterprise State-Owned Assets Passed (Nov. 25, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On October 28, 2008, after years of debate and repeated revisions, the Law on Enterprise State-Owned Assets of the People's Republic of China was approved by ...
Topic: State corporations
Jurisdiction: China
Restrictions on Foreign News Media Eased (Oct. 30, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On October 17, 2008, the State Council of the People's Republic of China (PRC) issued new regulations governing foreign news media coverage on its territory. (Regulations ...
Topic: Freedom of the press
Jurisdiction: China
Implementation Regulations of Labor Contract Law Published (Oct. 28, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On September 18, 2008, the State Council of the People's Republic of China (PRC) passed the Implementation Regulations of the PRC Labor Contract Law. (Text of ...
Topic: Labor
Jurisdiction: China
Detention to Be Applied for Discharging Pollutants (Sep. 25, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On August 6, 2008, China's Ministry of Environmental Protection posted on its official website a notice to circulate the Opinion on Application of Administrative Detention for ...
Topic: Environment
Jurisdiction: China
Foreign Exchange Regulations Revised (Sep. 11, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On August 5, 2008, the State Council of the People's Republic of China (PRC) published the revised Regulations on the Administration of Foreign Exchange, which took ...
Topic: Foreign exchange
Jurisdiction: China
Anti-Monopoly Law Took Effect, Merger Filing Thresholds Published (Aug. 27, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On August 1, 2008, the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) entered into force. The law, dubbed ";the constitution ...
Topic: Commerce and industry
Jurisdiction: China
Supreme People's Court 2008 Work Report Delivered (Apr. 02, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On March 10, 2008, Xiao Yang, President and Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of China (SPC) delivered the 2008 SPC Work Report to the ...
Topic: Courts
Jurisdiction: China
"Super Ministries" Plan (Apr. 02, 2008) by Laney Zhang
On March 15, 2008, the People's Republic of China (PRC) National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, passed the State Council's Institutional Reform Plan, under ...
Topic: Government organization
Jurisdiction: China
Clearance of Administrative Regulations and Rules (Mar. 02, 2008) by Laney Zhang
The State Council of China issued the State Council Decision on Abolishing Some Administrative Regulations (Guowuyuan guanyu Feizhi Bufen Xingzheng Fagui de Jueding, the Decision) on ...
Topic: Administrative law
Jurisdiction: China
