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John Worthy and Duncan Calow of Denton Hall, London, examine the implications of digital technologies for the regulation of banking and financial services in the UK

When the second wave of sell-offs is completed, international law firms will have to compete for a niche in Budapest's financial markets. By Richard Forster

• The Ministry of Justice in China has awarded 16 licences to foreign firms wishing to operate branch offices. The following received licences for Beijing: Birendelli Castellani (Italy), Brown & Wood (US), Freshfields (UK), Haythe & Curley (US), Komatsu Koma & Nishikawa (Japan), Nassir & Partners (Amman), Richards Butler (UK) and W K To & Co (Hong Kong).

Johan Tyteca, head of the legal department at Kredietbank, talks to Diana Bentley

The history of registration requirements imposed on securities in Argentina illustrates the volatility of the country's economic conditions and regulations over the last decade. More recently, it has also been evident that when a desperate need for higher tax revenues is the driving force behind its implementation, this seemingly technical requirement may even threaten to wreak havoc in the secondary market for debt securities.

As China enters its ninth five-year plan this year, the BOT (build-operate-transfer) method of infrastructure financing has been receiving keen interest. In particular, power plant project financings are moving closer to the international model of BOT investments.

A communiqué issued by the Undersecretariat of Treasury has amended some sections of the previous communiqué on foreign investment. The main points are as follows:

Fifteen years ago, a partial revision of the Swiss Federal Constitution anchored womens' rights to equal treatment in respect of family, education and work, guaranteeing them in Article 4(2) the right to equal pay for equal work. The Swiss Federal Parliament has now enacted an Equality Act (Gleichstellungsgesetz) which came into effect on July 1 1996. The main focus of the Act is on furthering the equal treatment of men and women at work. The following are the most important changes.

As an alternative to bankruptcy, a Swedish business in financial trouble can enter into a composition (ackord) with its creditors. While seeking a composition, the debtor has nevertheless had no protection against its creditors. To solve this problem, new legislation (the Business Reconstruction Act, SFS 1996:764) has been enacted, effective from September 1 1996.

In the Decree-law for the Restoration of the Public Debt No. 323 dated June 20 1996, as amended on July 11 1996, (the Decree-law), the Italian government introduced the principle that any payment of capital income made from Italy by an Italian company (other than a bank) to a foreign financial institution is subject to a flat rate withholding tax of 15% if made to a foreign bank and to a withholding of 15% on account of taxes if made to foreign branches of Italian banks. The withholding of the 15% will apply to payments made to foreign branches of Italian banks even where the branch has not arranged for its funding from other banks.