Foundations of Contract Law in Hong Kong, 7th Edition (Formerly called "Law of Contract in Hong Kong: Cases and Commentary")

Now in its seventh edition, Foundations of Contract Law in Hong Kong is an essential text for students studying contract law, as well as for practitioners and analysts. It examines all aspects of contract law, with reference to the relevant legislation and cases in Hong Kong and international jurisdictions. Written by one of the foremost experts, its clear prose, detailed analysis and local focus have ensured its enduring popularity as a textbook. 

Among the many important changes which Hong Kong has experienced over the past three decades is the gradual and continuing emergence of a distinctively local common law. The common law of contract is no exception, and it is now increasingly possible to speak of a Hong Kong law of contract that is not a mere facsimile of the English common law. Previously known as “Law of Contract in Hong Kong: Cases and Commentary” the goal of the seventh edition is to advance the understanding and appreciation of Hong Kong’s law of contract in a way relevant to student and practitioners.

This edition is not primarily a casebook, which is reflected in a change to the work’s title. It features extensive original commentary and analysis exploring the similarities and emerging differences among the jurisdictions with particular reference to the ongoing development of the law in Hong Kong. The work also provides a carefully curated and edited selection of the most important or illustrative authorities in contract law drawn primarily from Hong Kong, England, and the wider common law world.
The seventh edition comprehensively updates the law of contract in Hong Kong, and includes recent developments in England and other common law jurisdictions that are likely to influence the future direction of Hong Kong law. Some of the more important changes, reflected in this edition, are in the law of contractual intention, interpretation of contract terms, rectification, economic duress, and severance of restrictive covenants. It also includes a re-evaluation of ‘Hong Kong estoppel’ as a species of promissory estoppel in substitution, in certain circumstances, for proprietary estoppel.