Koh Phangan Police Crackdown on Illegal Hostels

According to the Samui Times, police in South Thailand are raiding illegal hostels on the islands, making several arrests.

Earlier this month, police apprehended Wasant Damchuay, manager of Echo Beach Bar on Koh Phangan. It was discovered not only that he hadn’t obtained a permit for the hostel, but was also selling nitrous oxide ‘laughing gas’ balloons illegally.

In order to legally pursue company registration in Thailand assistance from licensed lawyers is required.

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Bitcoin Businesses to be Regulated in Singapore

According to Bitcoin, Singapore will soon begin to regulate all businesses which accept and use crypto-currency.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also the chairman of Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said that the organization lacks the authority to regulate Bitcoin itself. Therefore, it will design regulations for companies providing payment services with the currency.

“The MAS regulates the activities that surround them if those activities fall within our more general ambit as financial regulator”, he explained.

For information on company laws in Thailand, contact expert Thai business attorneys

MAS estimates that Bitcoin is currently accepted by only around 20 retailers in the country, but this number is anticipated to increase.

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Korean Bioethics Law to Enable Gene Therapy Research

According to The Nation, Korea has announced that bioethics laws will be changed for the purpose of enabling more progress to be made in gene therapy.

Last month, lawmakers submitted a motion to amend the Bioethics and Safety Act. Currently, the law only allows research to be done on a small selection of diseases, including cancer and AIDS. This amendment will expand it to cover all diseases.

Those who back this law are hopeful that it could lead to scientific breakthroughs in treatments for degenerative illnesses. However, others are concerned that it could result in dangerous side effects.

Family lawyers at Chaninat & Leeds advise Thai and foreign spouses on marriage, paternity, custody and divorce laws in Thailand

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Thailand Enacts New Customs Law

According to The Nation, Thailand now has a new customs act to replace the one that had been in place since 1926.

The new Customs Act B.E 2560 (2017) was announced in the Royal Gazette on May 17^th 2017. The key amendments are as follows:

·         Elimination of strict liability presumptions on an accused for claims of customs duty evasion.

·         Elimination of presumed liability for officers, directors, and other authorized persons.

·         Decrease in the percentage of fines claimed as rewards for whistleblowers under the Customs Act and introduction of a cap on such rewards of THB 5 million.

·         Significant change in the calculation of criminal fines for claims of duty evasion. Previously, the fine was 4 times the combined price of good plus duty, while the new calculation for a fine is between 0.5 to 4 times the amount of duty evaded.

·         For the first time, the Court can apply discretion in calculation of criminal fines. 

·         Imposition of limits on post-clearance audit timelines.

·         Creation of clear timelines for Board of Appeal review.

·         Imposition of a clear deadline for return of duty guarantees.

US immigration lawyers in Thailand say that the new Customs Act provides fairer and clearer guidelines for those travelling to Thailand.

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Hong Kong’s Sex Workers Say Prostitution Houses Don’t Protect Them

According to The Daily Beast. Hong Kong’s prostitution laws dictate that sex can only be sold by “one woman in one room”. Lawmakers say this cuts pimps and brothels out of the equation, effectively giving sex workers more control. However, sex workers say they put them in danger

Zi Teng, a Hong Kong sex workers rights group, say that these laws “put sex workers in unstable positions where the law cannot be of service”, so they are unable to seek help from police. They also say that sex workers should be allowed to work together in order to reduce risks of abuse from customers. They suggest that at the very least, they should be able to hire security guards. Since this would violate the “one woman, one room” law, this would be a criminal offense.

Specialized family lawyers are required for processing foreign divorce in Thailand

Sex Worker’s Rights in Thailand

Thai Law Forum visited the Bangkok sex workers museum to learn about how sex worker’s rights in Thailand are fighting for their rights.

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Mockery of Chinese National Anthem to Become Illegal in Hong Kong

According to Shanghaiist, Hong Kong is set to follow China’s lead in making disrespecting the Chinese national anthem a criminal offense.

In mainland China, mocking or disrespecting the songs in any way, including changing the lyrics or playing it at private events, carries a punishment of 15 days imprisonment.

Thailand criminal defense lawyers assist foreigners and Thai citizens accused of crimes

Disrespect of the national anthem has become rife at football stadiums in Hong Kong, where fans have been turning their backs, booing, and raising signs saying ‘Hong Kong is not China’ while it’s played. If the law is implemented, these football fans could face criminal charges.

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Hong Kong Approves Spousal Visa for Same-Sex Couple

According to Jurist, a British lesbian has won an appeal to obtain a spousal visa after previously being denied.

The woman, whose name has been withheld, entered into a civil partnership with her spouse in the UK in 2010, but wishes to reside with her in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department originally refused to issue her with a visa, citing that Article 37 of the Basic Law defines a ‘spouse’ as applying to someone in a heterosexual marriage. She took her case to the Hong Kong High Court of Appeal, where officials stated that there was no justification for “discrimination on account of sexual orientation”.

US citizens seeking to bring their same-sex partners over from Thailand can do so by obtaining a K3 marriage visa in Bangkok

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