ACY2101

Legal Pitfalls in Daily Life

MODULE
INTRODUCTION

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Teachers
Ms Ivy Leung Dr. Vera Li
Senior Lecturer, Assistant Professor
Department of Department of
Accountancy Accountancy
Tel:3963 5621 Tel : 3963 5254
Email: Email:
ivyleung@hsu.edu.hk verali@hsu.edu.hk
Office: D741 Office: D743
Office Hours: Office Hours:
Tuesday : Monday:
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 13:00 p.m.-15:00 p.m.
Wednesday: Tuesday
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon 12:00 noon -16:00 p.m.
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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 Learning Outcomes
• Describe the legal system in Hong Kong.

• Explain the ethical theories.

• Analyze various daily life scenarios:

– to identify relevant legal principles as well as
possible legal pitfalls with illustrations by
case law.

– Recognize ethical implications.

– Critically evaluate scenarios from both legal

and ethical perspectives, rationally resolve the
issues.
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Tentative Teaching Schedule
ACY 2101
Lectures Topics

1 Week One Course Introduction; Topic 1 – Hong Kong Legal System

2 Week Two Topic 2 - Ethical Theories and Decision- Making Process

Week Three
3 Topic 3 – Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Week Four
4 Topic 4 – Professional Responsibility
Week Five
5 Topic 5 - Professional Responsibility
Week Six Topic 5 -Consumer in Sale of Goods and Supply of Services, formation of contract and negligence
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(continued)
Week Seven Topic 5 - Consumer in Sale of Goods and Supply of Services, formation of contract and negligence
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(continued)
Week Eight Topic 5 - Consumer in Sale of Goods and Supply of Services, formation of contract and negligence
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(continued)
Week Nine Topic 5 - Consumer in Sale of Goods and Supply of Services, formation of contract and negligence
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(continued)
10 Week Ten Topic 6 - Employment

11 Week Eleven Topic 6 - Employment (continued)

Week Twelve
12 Topic 8 – Business Operation

13 Week Thirteen Project Presentation

This schedule is for reference only, it may be changed if necessary.

 Course Materials
• Lecture PPT Slides/Reading References/Tutorial
Questions – available on Moodle 3 days before class or
earlier.
• Reference Book Listing –
1. Srivastava, D. K. (2017). Business Law in Hong Kong. 5th ed.
2. Lawrence, Anne T., and Weber, James. (2020). Business and
Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy. 16th ed.
3. Mackinnon, Barabara (2019). Ethics: Theory and
Contemporary Issues. 9th ed.
4. Brooks, L.J., Dunn, P. (2015). Business & Professional Ethics
for Directors, Executives & Accountants. 7th ed.
Note : 9th Edition will be printed in 2021
5. Velasquez, M.G. (2018). Business Ethics: Concepts and
Cases. 8th ed.
6. Thorne, D., Ferrell, O., and Ferrell, L. (2011). Business and
Society - A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility. 4th ed.
7. Various Professional Codes of Ethics
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 Relevant Website
1. Hong Kong e-Legislation
https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/
2. Hong Kong Judiciary
https://www.judiciary.hk/en/home/index.
html
3. Department of Justice, HKSAR
http://www.doj.gov.hk
4. Hong Kong Legal Information Institute
http://www.hklii.org
5. Community Legal Information Center
http://www.clic.org.hk/en/
6. Court Cases
http://www.hklii.org/eng/databases.html

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 Assessment
Continuous Assessment
- Class Participation 10%
- Presentation 15%
- Group Written Report 25%
Final Exam 50%

To pass this subject, you are required to obtain

overall 40% or above for this subject AND a
minimum of 30% in the final examination.

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 ACY2101
GROUP PROJECT
 Group Project
You are expected to search the contemporary issues
from newspaper articles; articles from professional
journals, magazines or internet; or decided court cases
from law reports.
The main content of the presentation and written report
shall include the facts, legal issues, ethical issues, legal
principles, ethical consideration, reasoning,
perspectives taken, comments and conclusion.
Attention: In your presentation/report, you should not
only summarize or report factually on the article /court
case you have selected. You should also analyze the
legal and ethical involved and discuss your own views
on these issues.
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 COVERAGE OF THE PRESENTATION/REPORT
ANALYSE AND EXAMINE THE LEGAL ISSUES AND
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONs
➢ Summary of the facts from your case(s)/news article
➢ Nature of the case, why it is an issue or problem
➢ Relevant legal issues, legal principles
➢ Relevant laws, legislations, cases
➢ Professional rules, codes of ethics, if applicable
➢ Ethical issues, ethical consideration, ethical/moral philosophies,
ethical reasoning, moral development
➢ Stakeholders and effects on stakeholders
➢ Corporate culture, CSR, if applicable
➢ Your views, comments and legal arguments (where applicable)
➢ Suggestions and conclusion
➢ References 10
 Some Examples
Analyse and examine the LEGAL ISSUES AND/OR
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS of the following:
➢ A decided court case (e.g. negligence)
➢ A real case which involves unlawful or unethical
employer/employee behaviour
➢ A case of a person who pays taxes illegally or unethically
➢ A case which involves unethical or aggressive
selling/marketing products/services (e.g. beauty centre)
➢ A case which involves business fraud (e.g. inside trading,
bribery, corruption, falsified documents/statements)
➢ A case which involves product quality and safety
➢ A case which involves whistle blowing
➢ Other real cases: Discrimination; Abortion; Euthanasia etc
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 Topic References
One as “individual citizen” in daily life
➢ Topics and applicable legal sources:
– Tort of negligence
➢ Common law cases
– Tax morale
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap112 Inland Revenue Ord.
– Falsified document
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap200 Crimes Ord.
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap210 Theft Ord.
– Infringement of intellectual property
➢ http://www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/intellectual_property/ip_laws.htm

– Traffic regulations
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap374 Road Traffic Ord.
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 Topic References
Sale of Goods and Provision of Services
➢ Topics and applicable legal sources:
➢ Consumer protection
➢ http://www.clic.org.hk/en/topics/consumer_complaints/consumer_protection/
➢ http://hong-kong-economy-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Small-
Business-Resources/Consumer-Protection-
Legislations/sbr/en/1/1X000000/1X006N21.htm
➢ Product safety
➢ https://www.consumer.org.hk/ws_en/legal_protection/hk_consumer_protecti
on_legislations/Index.html
➢ Exemption clause
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap71 Control of EC Ord.
➢ Advertising
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap284 Misrepresentation Ord.
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap362 Trade Descriptions Ord.
➢ Liabilities for negligence
➢ Common law cases
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 Topic References
Employment Situation
➢ Topics and applicable legal sources:
➢ Rights and duties of employer
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap57!en-zh-Hant-
HK?INDEX_CS=N Employment Ord.
➢ Workplace rights of employees on health and safety
➢ http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/legislat/contentA.htm
➢ Discrimination
➢https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/employment/labour/discrimination.htm
➢ Bribery and rebates
➢ http://www.icac.org.hk/en/law/law/index.html
➢ Insider trading
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap571 Securities & Future Ord.
➢ Whistle-blowing
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 Topic References
Scenario 4: Business Operation
➢ Topics and applicable legal sources:
➢ Business organization
➢ https://www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/businesstopics/lice
nsing.htm
➢ Director power and duties
➢ /shareholderInvestor’s rights and safeguards
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap622 Companies Ord.
➢ Accounting fraud
➢https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap210 Theft Ord. s19
➢ Environmental pollution
➢ http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/laws_regulations/envir_legislation
/laws_relatedleg.html
➢ Fair competition
➢ https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap619 Competition Ord.
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 Submission Dates

➢ Week 8 - Submitting chosen topic

➢ Week 12 – Submitting PPT
➢ Week 13 – Submitting written report,
and supporting materials

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 Power points presentation (15%)
➢ 5-6 students per group
➢ Group-based presentation but each student will be
individually assessed
➢ 20 minutes to present the case
➢ Mode of presentation : to be decided

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Group Written Report (25%)
Main content: refer to content coverage page

➢ Group based assessment

➢ Six to eight pages of written report (25%)
➢ Typed, double spaced
➢ Full name and student numbers of members and
group number to be stated on the first page

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Class Participation 10%
o Be punctual
o Participate in in-class
discussions by answering
questions; share your views to
facilitate intellectual exchange
o Try your best to answer
assigned tutorial questions and
participate in tutorial discussion
sessions
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 Final Exam 50%
• The final exam will be in form of
take- home assignment to be
submitted online . It will cover the
entire syllabus and the format is
expected to include essay
questions.
• You should do your take home
assignment on your own without
seeking help from or working with
anyone else.

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Hope You Have An Enjoyable And
Fruitful Learning Experience With
This Module!