February

"Li Gang, has filed a lawsuit in Hangzhou against U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co. 's China claiming the company refused to employ him even after offering him a job because he failed a background check. This is the first time a court in China has formally accepted an employment discrimination case of this kind. The plaintiff, Li Gang, said Changan Ford Automobile Co. 's Hangzhou subsidiary tested and interviewed him for an experienced welder position, then offered him the job. He resigned from his previous job and moved to the city from a neighboring area in June to take the new post, but then the company refused to hire him because of an ""unclean background check."""

"Voters in Guam approved a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana for ""debilitating medical conditions"" such as epilepsy, HIV, cancer and glaucoma. The bill, which passed by more than 56 percent, makes Guam the first U.S. territory to legalize medical pot. The decision marks the first victory in a flurry of marijuana-related ballot measures this Election Day. Tom Angell, chairman of the advocacy group Marijuana Majority, told HuffPost, ""People all across the world are ready to move beyond failed prohibition laws, especially when seriously ill patients are criminalized just for following their doctors' recommendations"""

Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (the Commissioner) published a guidance note concerning the potential implementation of section 33 of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (the PDPO), which would restrict the export of personal data from Hong Kong. At present it is unclear whether section 33, would be brought into force in its present form, the wording upon which the guidance is based. These uncertainties mean that the guidance has a very unusual status as a guide to compliance with the PDPO. The Commissioner's view is that publication of his guidance will help businesses prepare for the eventual implementation of section 33 and that, in any event, businesses should comply with the guidance as a matter of their corporate governance responsibilities.