TRANSFER OF BUSINESSES (PROTECTION OF CREDITORS) ORDINANCE ——附加英文版
Hong Kong
TRANSFER OF BUSINESSES (PROTECTION OF CREDITORS) ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 49)
Whole document:
rotect creditors on the transfer of businesses, to provide
for the
ility of transferees of business, the manner in which such
liability
be avoided and for matters incidental thereto and connected
therewith,
to repeal the Fraudulent Transfers of Businesses Ordinance.
June 1980]
1. Short title
Ordinance may be cited as the Transfer of Businesses (Protection
of
itors) Ordinance.
2. Interpretation
In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--
eal" includes a motion for a new trial or to set aside a
verdict,
ing or judgment;
iness" means a business, or any part thereof, consisting of a
trade or
pation (other than a profession) whether or not it is carried on
with
ew to profit; "charge" means--
a debenture within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.
32);
a mortgage;
a bill of sale;
a lien; or
any document,
r or pursuant to which a business or any assets thereof are charged
as
rity for the payment of money or the performance of an obligation,
and
udes an equitable charge;
rge-holder" means a person who, under or pursuant to a charge,
and for
purpose of enforcing payment of any money or for the
performance of
obligation, may sell any business;
e of transfer" means the date on which a transfer takes effect
or is
nded to take effect;
ice of transfer" means a notice of transfer in accordance with
section
registered charge" means a charge which is registered under--
the Land Registration Ordinance (Cap. 128);
the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32);
the Bills of Sale Ordinance (Cap. 20); or
any other enactment;
nsfer" means the transfer or sale of a business, but does not
include-
the sale of the stock-in-trade of a business in the ordinary
course of
trade;
the creation of a charge;
the transfer of land or any share or interest therein; or
the transfer of a vessel (or the transfer of any interest or
share
ein), other than--
a vessel to which Part IV of the Shipping and Port Control
Ordinance
. 313) applies; or
a trawler to which Part XII of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance
(Cap.
applies; "transferee" means the person to whom a
business is
sferred by a transferor; "transferor" means--
in the case of the sale of a business under or pursuant to a
charge,
person whose business has been or is intended to be sold;
in every other case, the person by whom or on whose
behalf the
sfer has been or is intended to be made.
For the purposes of this Ordinance "transferor" and
"transferee"
ectively include a sub-transferor and a sub-transferee.
3. Transferee of business to be liable for liabilities of trans-
feror
Subject to this Ordinance, whenever any business is transferred,
with
ithout the goodwill thereof, the transferee shall,
notwithstanding any
ement to the contrary, become liable for all the
debts and
gations, including liability for tax charged or chargeable
under the
nd Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), arising out of the carrying on
of the
ness by the transferor.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), where a part of a
business is
sferred (other than the goodwill thereof) and in any
proceedings--
the transferee would, but for this subsection, be adjudged
liable
r this Ordinance for any debts and obligations arising out
of the
ying on of the business by the transferor; and
it is shown to the satisfaction of the court hearing the
proceedings
--
the transferee purchased such part of the business in good faith
and
value; and
at the date of transfer of such part of the business, the
transferee
no knowledge (whether actual, constructive or imputed)
what he was acquiring formed part of a business,
transferee shall not be liable under this Ordinance for the debts
and
gations arising out of the carrying on of the business
by the
sferor.
4. Circumstances in which the transferee's liability ceases
A transferee shall not become liable under section 3 if a
notice of
sfer has been given not more than 4 months, and not less than 1
month,
re the date of transfer and has become complete at the
date of
sfer.
Where a notice of transfer has been given but the notice
has not
me complete at the date of transfer, the liability of the
transferee
r section 3 shall cease with effect from the date on which the
notice
ransfer becomes complete.
Where a notice of transfer has not been given before or at the
date of
sfer, the liability of the transferee under section 3 shall cease
with
ct from the date on which a notice of transfer, which is given
after
date of transfer, becomes complete.
A notice of transfer shall, subject to subsections (5) and (6),
become
lete upon the expiration of 1 month after the date of
the last
ication of the notice in accordance with section 5.
Subject to subsection (6), in the case of a notice of
transfer
rred to--
in subsection (1), if proceedings are instituted
against the
sferor in respect of any liability of the transferor arising
before
notice has become complete and out of the carrying on
of his
ness; or
in subsection (2) or (3), if proceedings are instituted
against the
sferee in respect of any liability of the transferee under
section 3
ing before such notice becomes complete,
notice of transfer shall (for the purposes of such proceedings
only)
eemed incomplete pending the final determination of such
proceedings,
uding all possible appeals, and pending the expiration of all
periods
ng which such appeals may be brought.
Where proceedings are instituted, a notice of transfer shall
not be
ed incomplete under subsection (5) unless within 1 month
of the
eedings being instituted--
they are served on the transferor or transferee, as the case may
be;
written notice that they have been instituted is sent by
registered
to the last known address of such transferor or transferee.
5. Contents of notice of transfer and manner of giving notice
Except in the case of a transfer by way of sale under or pursuant
to a
ge, a notice of transfer shall contain the following
particulars--
the full name and address of the transferor;
the nature of the business and the name or style under which, and
the
address at which, it has been carried on during the period
of 6
hs immediately preceding the date of transfer;
the date of transfer;
the full name and the residential and business addresses
of the
sferee;
if the transferee--
intends to carry on or is carrying on the business, the full
address
e, and the name and style under which, he is carrying it on or
intends
arry it on; or
is not carrying on the business and does not intend to carry it
on, a
ement to that effect; and
a statement that at the expiration of 1 month after the date of
the
publication of the notice pursuant to subsection (3), the
liability
he transferee for all the debts and obligations arising out
of the
ying on of the business by the transferor shall cease by
virtue of
Ordinance unless proceedings are instituted prior to such
expiration.
In the case of a transfer by way of sale under or pursuant
to a
ge, a notice of transfer shall contain the following
particulars--
the nature of the business, and the name or style under which,
and the
address at which, it has been carried on during the period
of 3
hs immediately preceding the date of transfer;
the full name and address of the person whose business has been,
or is
nded to be, transferred by way of sale under or pursuant
to the
ge;
details of the charge under or pursuant to which the transfer by
way
ale has been or is to be made, sufficient to enable any
document
ting or evidencing the charge to be readily identified and,
without
ting the generality of the foregoing, such details shall
include--
the date when the charge was made, given, executed or
came into
tence;
the consideration for which the charge was executed, made or
given
if there was no such consideration, the circumstances in which
it came
existence;
) in the case of a registered charge, the date of the registration
of
charge, the title of any enactment under which it was registered
and
number or other means of identifying the charge assigned to it
upon
stration;
the date of transfer; and
the amount of money, payment of which has been secured by the
charge
which was owing--
at the date of the publication of the notice of transfer; or
if the transfer has already taken effect, at the date of the
transfer
aking effect.
Every notice of transfer shall be signed--
by both the transferor and the transferee, in the case of a
transfer
hich subsection (1) applies; or
by the charge-holder and the transferee, in the case of a transfer
to
h subsection (2) applies,
shall be given by publication in--
the Gazette;
any 2 of such Chinese language newspapers circulating in Hong Kong
as
be approved for the purpose by the Chief Secretary; and (Amended
L. N.
f 1985; L. N. 242 of 1989)
) 1 English language newspaper circulating in Hong Kong which has
been
pproved.
6. Right of transferee to indemnity
The transferee shall be entitled to be indemnified--
by the transferor, except in the case of a transfer by way of
sale
r or pursuant to a charge; or
by the charge-holder, if the transfer is by way of sale
under or
uant to a charge,
all amounts for which the transferee is made liable
under this
nance and for which he would not otherwise be liable.
The amount of such an indemnity may be recovered by civil
proceedings
debt or liquidated demand.
7. Liability of parties not affected
ing in this Ordinance shall relieve or be deemed to
relieve a
sferor or transferee, or any person who sells a business
under or
uant to a charge, from any liability to which he would
otherwise be
ect.
8. Limitation of liability of transferee
A transferee who in good faith and without preference has
paid in
harge or partial discharge of any liability for which he became
liable
r this Ordinance, and for which he would not otherwise
have been
le, an amount which is equal to the value of the business acquired
by
at the date on which the transfer took effect, shall not be
liable
her under this Ordinance.
The value of a business acquired by a transferee at the date on
which
transfer takes effect shall, until the contrary is proved, be
presumed
e an amount equal to the amount paid or agreed to be paid (whether
in
s of money or by means of any other consideration) for the
acquisition
he business.
9. Limitation of time for institution of proceedings
ect to section 6, no action shall be instituted to recover any
debt
or to enforce any obligation against any person liable therefor
under
Ordinance, and for which he would not otherwise have been
liable,
than 1 year after the date on which the transfer in respect of
which
liability arose took effect.
10. Saving
Ordinance shall not apply to any transferee where the transfer
ffected--
by the Official Receiver or a trustee in bankruptcy;
by the liquidator of a company in liquidation other than
voluntary
idation;
by the Financial Secretary Incorporated; (Amended L. N. 369 of
1989)
by the Director of Education Incorporated;
by the Director of Social Welfare Incorporated;
by a person selling under or pursuant to a charge which has
been
stered for not less than 1 year at the date when the transfer
takes
ct;
pursuant to any order or direction of any court;
by an executor or administrator; or
by operation of law.
11. Repeal and saving
The Fraudulent Transfers of Businesses Ordinance (Cap. 49, 1964
Ed.)
epealed.
Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Fraudulent Transfers of
Businesses
nance (Cap. 49, 1964 Ed. ) shall continue to apply with respect
to a
sfer--
which took effect; and
in respect of which notice was given under section 3
of that
nance, before the coming into operation of this Ordinance, as if
this
nance had not been passed.
中华人民共和国政府与联合国难民事务高级专员署关于将难民署驻华任务代表处升格为代表处的协定
中国政府 联合国难民事务高级专员署
中华人民共和国政府与联合国难民事务高级专员署关于将难民署驻华任务代表处升格为代表处的协定
(签订日期1995年12月1日 生效日期1995年12月1日)
联合国难民事务高级专员署系按一九四九年十二月三日联合国大会第319(IV)号决议成立。
一九五0年十二月十四日联合国大会第428(Ⅴ)号决议通过的《联合国难民事务高级专员署章程》特作规定:高级专员秉承联合国大会授权行使职权,一方面对本《章程》所规定之难民予以联合国所主持之国际保护,一方面协助各国政府,并在取得各有关国家政府同意后协助私人组织,鼓励难民自愿回国或与新国度同化,以期永久解决难民问题。
联合国难民事务高级专员署系按《联合国宪章》第22条设立的一个附属机构,是联合国的组成部分,其地位、特权与豁免由一九四六年二月十三日联合国大会通过的《联合国特权与豁免公约》决定。
中华人民共和国政府是一九五一年《关于难民地位的公约》及一九六七年议定书的缔约国。
中华人民共和国政府与联合国难民事务高级专员署希望商定条件,难民署将据此在中华人民共和国设立代表处以取代目前的难民署驻华任务代表处。
现在,中华人民共和国政府与联合国难民事务高级专员署本着友好合作的精神达成本协定。
第一条 定义
为了本协定的目的,将采用下列定义:
1、“东道国”或“国家”指中华人民共和国。
2、“政府”指中华人民共和国政府。
3、“难民署”指联合国难民事务高级专员公署。
4、“高级专员”指联合国难民事务高级专员或代理高级专员。
5、“双方”指政府和难民署。
6、“公约”指一九四六年二月十三日联合国大会通过的《联合国特权与豁免公约》。
7、“难民署代表处”指难民署驻华代表处在东道国占有或维持的所有办公室、房舍、装置和设施。
8、“难民署代表”指驻东道国代表处的难民署首席官员。
9、“难民署官员”指按《联合国工作人员规定和条例》聘用的所有难民署工作人员,但联合国大会第76(Ⅰ)号决议规定的当地雇员及按小时计酬的人员不在其内。
10、“出差的专家”指除难民署官员以外的为难民署执行公务的个人。
11、“难民署人员”指难民署官员、出差的专家。
第二条 本协定的目的
本协定包括了有关的基本条件,根据这些条件,难民署将按其授权与政府合作,将其在东道国所设任务代表处升格为代表处,并为了在东道国的难民的利益,履行国际保护和人道主义援助的职责。
第三条 政府与难民署之间的合作
1、政府与难民署在为难民提供国际保护和人道主义援助方面的合作,应在《联合国难民署章程》、联合国通过的其他有关决定和决议以及一九五一年《关于难民地位的公约》第35条和一九六七年《关于难民地位的议定书》第2条的基础上进行。
2、充分尊重中华人民共和国国家主权为本协定各项规定所必不可少的基本原则。
3、难民署代表处在难民项目的筹备和审查方面与政府保持磋商和合作。
4、对于由政府执行的任何难民署资助项目,包括政府和高级专员承诺向难民提供的资金、生活用品、设备、服务及其他方面的援助在内的各种条件,应在由政府和难民署共同签署的项目协议中作出规定。
5、在与政府协商与合作的情况下,难民署人员可在任何时候,不受干扰地接触难民,并进入难民署项目工地,以便监督项目各阶段的执行情况。
第四条 难民署代表处
1、政府欢迎难民署将其在东道国首都北京市的任务代表处升格为代表处,以便继续向在东道国的难民提供国际保护和人道主义援助。
2、难民署代表处将按其授权履行职责,此外,还将继续完成原任务代表处的职责,即协助政府做好在华印支难民的安置工作,并在可能的情况下,协助、促成其自愿遣返。
3、难民署在征得政府同意后,可指定难民署驻东道国代表处为地区代表处,并将派驻官员的人数和级别以书面形式通知政府。
4、难民署代表处将履行高级专员授予的有关难民的职能,其中包括在征得政府同意下,难民署同东道国国内的经合法登记的、与其业务有关的非政府组织之间建立联系。
5、难民署代表处将与政府有关部门保持联系,并将难民署的有关政策、准则和程序,及联合国的其他人道主义行动、计划通知政府。
第五条 难民署人员
1、难民署在征得政府的同意后,可根据需要增派驻东道国代表处的官员或出差的专家,以更有效地履行国际保护和人道主义援助职能。
2、难民署可指派官员访问东道国,旨在同政府或涉及难民工作的其他方面的对应官员就以下问题进行磋商与合作:(1)国际保护与人道主义援助方案的审查、准备、监督和评估;(2)由难民署提供的生活用品、设备及其他物资的运输、接收、分发或使用;(3)寻求难民问题的永久解决;(4)与执行本协定有关的其他任何问题。
第六条 为执行难民署人道主义方案提供便利
1、政府在与难民署达成协议后,需为难民署官员、出差的专家提供必要的便利,以便迅速、有效地在东道国执行难民署为难民提供的人道主义方案。
2、政府在与难民署达成协议后,协助难民署官员寻找合适的代表处办公用房。
3、政府需确保随时向难民署代表处提供必要的公用事业服务,而且在平等的条件下提供此类服务。
4、政府将采取必要措施,确保难民署代表处房舍及其人员的安全。
5、政府为难民署国际雇员寻找合适的住房提供便利。
第七条 特权与豁免
1、政府应将其于一九七九年九月十一日加入的《联合国特权与豁免公约》的有关条款适用于难民署及其资金、财产、资产和官员。
2、在本条第1款不受影响,并且不与东道国法律、规章有抵触的情况下,政府应特别给予难民署本协定第八条至第十四条所规定的特权、豁免、权利与便利。
第八条 难民署代表处的资金与财产
1、难民署及其资金与财产,无论在何处、由何人掌管,应免除一切形式的司法程序,在特殊情况下其明确放弃豁免权除外。
2、难民署代表处的房舍不可侵犯。难民署的资金与财产,无论在何处、由何人掌管,不受任何行政、司法或法律行动的搜查、征用、没收和其他任何形式的干预。
3、难民署的档案以及属于它或它所收藏的所有文件不可侵犯。
4、关于难民署的资金、资产、收入和其他财物:
(1)难民署运进的直接公务用品,按政府有关规定免予交纳关税和其他税;
(2)难民署正式出版物的进出口免于交纳关税及其他相关的进口税,并不受禁止和限制。
5、难民署或受难民署委托的国家或国际机构代办的任何向难民提供的人道主义援助物资的进出口免除一切关税及其他相关的进口税,并不受禁止和限制。
6、难民署应享受最优惠的法定汇率。
第九条 通讯设备
1、难民署在其公务通讯方面应享受与政府给予其他政府间组织和国际组织同等的优惠待遇。
2、政府确保难民署公务通讯和信函不可侵犯,并不对通讯和信函实施检查。
3、难民署有权使用密码,通过信使或加封邮袋收发函件,并享有与外交信使和邮袋同样的特权与豁免。
4、难民署有权按联合国登记频率和政府分配的频率使用电台和其他通讯设备在各代表处之间、在东道国国内或国外,特别是与日内瓦总部进行业务联络。
第十条 难民署官员
1、P2级以上不具有东道国国籍的难民署官员在东道国期间享受下列便利、特权与豁免:
(1)执行公务时的口头讲话或书面文字及所有行为不受法律追究;
(2)公务用品免受检查或扣留;
(3)免于服兵役或其他义务;
(4)难民署付给的工资或其他报酬免予交纳税金;
(5)免费办理并签发签证、证件或所要求的工作许可证,在东道国对外开放的城市、地区进行必要的自由行动,以便执行难民署的国际保护和人道主义援助方案;
(6)在东道国内自由持有或保留外汇、外汇帐户、可动产以及在终止与难民署的受雇关系后,有权从东道国带出其有正当理由的合法财产;
(7)处于国际危机时,他们本人、配偶及未成年子女享有与外交使节同样的保护和遣返便利;
(8)有权免税进口直接需用数量的自用品和家庭必需品,包括根据东道国有关规定进口机动车辆。
2、难民署行政、技术人员到任半年内运进的安家物品,包括根据东道国有关规定进口机动车辆,享有上述第十条第1款第(8)项所规定的免税特权。
第十一条 出差的专家
P2级以上为难民署出差的不具有东道国国籍的专家应享受有助于其独立行使职能的便利、特权与豁免,尤其是:
(1)免受逮捕或拘禁;
(2)执行公务时的言论、文字或行为不受法律追究;
(3)在持有货币或兑换限制方面享有与临时出差的外国政府代表同样的便利;
(4)其个人行李享有与外交使节同样的豁免和便利。
第十二条 通知
1、联合国难民署应将其派驻东道国代表处的成员的姓名、职务、受其赡养者的姓名及出差的专家的姓名、职务及其职务变动等情况提前或及时通知政府。
2、政府按本协定向难民署官员、出差的专家及受其赡养者颁发证明其身份的特别身份证。
第十三条 豁免的放弃
给予难民署人员以特权与豁免是为了联合国难民署的利益,而不是为了有关人员的个人利益。联合国秘书长可以在他认为豁免将有碍司法的进行时终止任何难民署人员的豁免权,但这种终止并不影响联合国难民署的利益。
第十四条 特权和豁免的滥用
难民署应采取措施确保本协定规定的特权和豁免不被滥用,一旦发生滥用,应尽速与政府进行磋商。
第十五条 遵守东道国法律
享有特权豁免的难民署人员有义务遵守东道国法律和规章,并有义务不干涉东道国内政。难民署代表处的房舍、财、物等不得用于与其职责不相符的事宜。
第十六条 争议的解决
东道国政府与难民署由于本协定而产生的任何争议或与本协定有关的争议应通过谈判或其他双方同意的方式友好解决。倘若无法解决,可应任何一方的要求将争议提请仲裁。每一方任命一名仲裁人,由此产生的两名仲裁人再指定第三名仲裁人,第三名仲裁人作主席。如果在提出仲裁后的三十天内无一方任命仲裁人,或在两名仲裁人任命后十五天内尚未指定第三名仲裁人,任何一方可要求国际法院院长任命一名仲裁人。仲裁人的所有决定均需两票赞成。仲裁程序由仲裁人确定,仲裁费用由仲裁人进行评估,由双方分摊。仲裁书应包括一项有理有据的声明,作为双方接受的最终裁决。
第十七条 总则
1、本协定自双方签字之日起生效,直至按本条第4款的规定终止。
2、本协定中未作规定的任何事宜则由双方根据联合国适当机构的有关决议和决定予以解决。一方对另一方根据本段提出的任何建议应给予充分而富于同情的考虑。
3、政府或难民署可就本协定的修正提出要求进行磋商。修正部分由双方以书面协议的方式作出。
4、缔约双方中任何一方以书面形式将其终止本协定的决定通知另一方的六个月后,本协定则终止生效。
下面的签署人分别为政府和联合国难民事务高级专员署正式任命的代表,他们代表双方签署本协定英文文本和中文文本,一式两份。两种文本同等作准。
本协定于95年12月1日在日内瓦签订。
中华人民共和国 联合国难民事务
政府代表 高级专员署代表