HONG KONG'S IMPENDING ENACTMENT OF ITS DOMESTIC SECURITY LAW MEANS FOREIGN COMPLIANCE OFFICERS HAD BEST REFRAIN FROM TRAVEL THERE FOR ENHANCED DUE DILIGENCE INQUIRIES

In case you aren't paying attention to news from China, Hong Kong's draconian Domestic Security Law, which provides for Life Sentences for those convicted of a number of offenses, is about to become law. Given that China takes the efforts of compliance officers to do a deep dive into Chinese companies as a breach of national security in many instances, any Western compliance officers who choose to travel there, to pursue enhanced due diligence inquiries, had best rethink such a trip.

There is a real possibility that you might step on the toes of some Chinese company with powerful friends in government, or which needs to cover up systemic corruption, resulting in your arrest, summary trial, and imprisonment. It's not worth the personal risk, believe me, and do not buy into the PR statements that other countries have the same laws; China does NOT allow either a fair trial or Due Process in what it regards as political cases. Delegate your workload to HK residents, and do not go in person.