Ho & Hall’s Hong Kong Contract Law - Fifth Edition

Over the last approximately thirty years it is possible to discern an acceleration in the pace at which the common law in Hong Kong has been developing some distinctly local characteristics. The law of contract is no exception in this regard. Undoubtedly, the approaching end of British sovereignty had much to do with this development during the earlier part of the 1990s when the second edition of this book appeared. Since the foundation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a principal impetus has been the work of the new Court of Final Appeal (CFA) which was established to replace the Privy Council as the highest court for the territory. The CFA was originally something of an experiment, but it is now possible to pronounce it a notable success. The localisation of Hong Kong’s highest court has contributed, and will almost certainly continue to contribute, significantly to the emergence of a Hong Kong common law. A consequence of these developments is the growing body of Hong Kong case law in traditional common law areas such as contract. This has been especially evident in the period since the end of British sovereignty. It is the author's hope that this fifth edition of Betty Ho’s principal work on contract law can build on her legacy and make a contribution to the further emergence of a Hong Kong common law of contract.