New legislation

From 2012 to 2014, the Division delivered a substantial legislative programme on a range of important public issues, comprising a total of 69 Ordinances and 561 pieces of subsidiary legislation which were enacted and published in the Gazette. The new Ordinances enacted during the period are set out below:

• Adaptation of Laws (Military References) Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2 of 2012)
  The Ordinance adapts military-related references in legislation to conform with the Basic Law and the HKSAR’s status as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
• Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (Ordinance No. 8 of 2012)
  The Ordinance provides for the safety of lifts and escalators by establishing a registration scheme for contractors, engineers and workers engaged in lift or escalator works.
• Competition Ordinance (Ordinance No. 14 of 2012)
  The Ordinance prohibits any conduct that prevents, restricts or distorts competition in the HKSAR, and prohibits mergers that substantially lessen competition in the HKSAR.
• Mediation Ordinance (Ordinance No. 15 of 2012)
  The Ordinance provides for a regulatory framework for various aspects of mediation.
• Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance (Ordinance No. 19 of 2012)
  The Ordinance regulates the provision of sales brochures and price lists, and the use of show flats for the sale of first-hand residential properties. It also regulates the viewing of units before sale, the publication of sale arrangements and the execution of agreements concerning first-hand residential properties.
• Companies Ordinance (Ordinance No. 28 of 2012)
  The Ordinance reforms and modernises the HKSAR’s company law. It restates part of the existing enactments and makes new provisions relating to companies.
• Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Ordinance No. 17 of 2014)
  The Ordinance enables a person who is not a party to a contract to enforce a term of the contract under certain circumstances. It brings about a variation in the common law rule of privity of contract insofar as third party rights under a contract are concerned.