General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6254 |
| Course name: | Compliance: Regulation in Practice |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | LLAW6255 Compliance and Financial Markets |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits |
| Remarks: | Only offer to LLM(CR) students |
1.2 Course description
The finance industry is facing increasing demand of compliance to the changing regulatory landscape. The increase of regulations stem from the need of investors’ protection, building investors’ confidence and maintaining market integrity. Understanding the universe of regulation and the factors influencing the industry’s conduct is an important cornerstone for the development of the finance industry.
The course focuses on the development of the local regulatory framework governing business operations of financial institutions as well as market conduct and the conduct of financial intermediaries. The course will provide a framework to understand financial regulations, codes and guidelines in banking, securities and asset management industry applying to persons licensed by or registered with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”) and/or the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) and their application in practice. The course will cover the SFO, the Banking Ordinance and the various regulations issued by the SFC and the HKMA since the 2008 crisis. Global and regional regulatory frameworks will be examined in the context of Hong Kong as an international finance centre. The impact to the risk and compliance functions of financial services sector will be discussed. Reference with other areas of law, including contract law and tort law will be made as appropriate.
The course is aimed at a practical approach from a policy perspective. The course is also aimed to better equip students to engage with financial regulators in a regulatory dialogue. Case studies on a local and international level may be used to assist a better understanding the regulatory nexus of Hong Kong as a global finance centre. The course will review important cases to support understanding and application. Practical examples will be used where possible.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Alice Law | asmlaw@hku.hk | N/A | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Have an understanding of the importance of preserving market integrity and the reforms that become necessary following market crises. .
CLO 2 Be able to critically discuss financial regulatory reforms addressing the balance between investors protection and market development.
CLO 3 Have an understanding of the relevant parts of the Securities and Futures Ordinance and other related financial regulation. including the supervisory and disciplinary power/functions of financial regulators. .
CLO 4 Demonstrate an awareness of the policy consideration of the Financial Regulatory Framework and the applicable principles, codes and guidelines governing regulated businesses.
CLO 5 Understand the role of compliance in a financial intermediary and apply concepts of regulatory governance to business situations.
2.2 LLM Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| In-class participation | N/A | 10% | 5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| In-class coursework presentation | TBC | 30% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Take home exam | TBC | 60% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Seminar: | 3 hours / week for 11 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 11 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/