Features & Analyses

Land prices in China's tier one cities have risen at a terrific rate over recent years as available construction space has been squeezed. In response to this, local Chinese authorities have sought to extract their share of profits – at the time of granting the land use rights to the preferred developer – usually through some form of bidding process. By Thomas Fairley, Norton Rose

Private banking in China only received its baptism in September 2005 with the promulgation of the Interim Administrative Rules on Private Wealth Management Business of Commercial Bank. Some commentators have argued that the monetary threshold for the private wealth management regime is so low that its regulatory ambit covers territory more properly classified as retail banking than true private banking. By Jane Jiang, counsel, Corporate Practice, Allen & Overy Beijing and Fai-hung Cheung, counsel, Banking Practice, Allen & Overy Shanghai

New rules concerning the establishment of local law firms and lawyers' practice have opened the door for partnerships. But limited liability partnership – the type that lawyers had been hoping for – is nowhere to be seen in the rules.

China's Ministry of Commerce has issued two circulars which delegate power and loosen its grip on approving foreign investment into the PRC. Investors in private equity and retail are the biggest benefactors.

China's Ministry of Commerce has issued two circulars which delegate power and loosen its grip on approving foreign investment into the PRC. Investors in private equity and retail are the biggest benefactors.

In July 2008, MOFCOM issued a circular granting provincial-level authorities more leeway in approving foreign investment real estate projects. Lawrence Guo, a partner at Broad & Bright, looks at how the delegation of power will change the playing field.

Regulatory reform in China is more important than ever to investors in the country. Leading lawyers talked about how the government's various regulatory approach shape investors' behaviours at the 5th annual China Law & Practice China Summit.

Amendments to China's Regulations for the Administration of Foreign-invested Telecommunications Enterprises came into effect in September 2008. The amendments lower capitalisation thresholds for the operation of basic services and make applications simpler. But it is not clear if the new rules will encourage more foreign investment in the telecoms sector.

China's currency has undergone fundamental changes along with the rapid economic development both domestically and in global markets. In order to adapt to today's financial and currency markets, the State Council has adopted a revision of Foreign Exchange Regulations of the People's Republic of China on August 5 2008. Foreign companies need to be familiar with the newly revised foreign exchange regulations.