Limited liability is one of the fundamental concepts in our understanding of company law. Even people who know very little about the working of limited companies may know that directors and shareholders are not liable for the debts of their companies. For the last 160 years, the protection of limited liability has been a key factor in economic growth and commercial activity as it has allowed entrepreneurs to speculate and take risks that they might not have been willing to do if the risk of personal liability overshadowed their decision-making.
“…it is fallacious and unrealistic for the Company to assume that the value of the Haitian Shares remained the same from February to August 2019. Between February and August 2019, Haitian Energy had published no less than nine announcements suggest that the financial condition of Haitian Energy was in a state of flux, and that the value of the Haitian Shares was susceptible to fluctuation.”
– William Wong SC (Deputy High Court Judge in Re Victor River Ltd)
INTRODUCTION
简介
中华人民共和国最高人民法院（「最高人民法院」）与香港特别行政区政府于2021年5月14日签订了《最高人民法院与香港特别行政区政府关于内地与香港特别行政区法院相互认可和协助破产程序的会谈纪要》。在试点计划下，香港的清盘人可向内地试点地区的有关中级人民法院申请认可香港的清盘程序；同样地，内地的破产管理人可向香港高等法院申请认可内地的破产程序（「试点计划」）。最近在Re China All Access (Holdings) Ltd [2021] HKCFI 1842一案中，香港法院首次考虑这项近期发展及试点计划。
背景
簡介
最近在Re Cheung Hing Chik also known as Charles H.C. Cheung, the debtor [2021] HKCA 981一案中，上訴法院澄清，在決定是否應撤銷破產令時，法院既可考慮在破產令發出之前的事實，也可考慮在破產令發出之後的事實。要成功申請撤銷破產令，申請人須證明涉及與先前法院席前證據有重大差異的特殊情況，作為推翻破產令的充分理據。
背景
本案是就一項於2020年8月3日發出的破產令（「該破產令」）提出的上訴。呈請人是一間公司，其銀行帳戶被破產人偷去或挪用了749,000美元。於2020年2月27日，呈請人就上述金額向破產人發出法定要求償債書，但不獲還款。在2020年8月3日進行的呈請聆訊上，破產人口頭上表示他能夠償還該債務，因為：
- 他可將其於張慶植會計師行有限公司的50% 權益出售，估計約值600萬元；及
- 他可能會收到若干其他資金。
法官不信納，並認為沒有證據顯示破產人能償還債務，因此發出了該破產令。
Introduction
Introduction
In the recent case of Re Cheung Hing Chik also known as Charles H.C. Cheung, the debtor [2021] HKCA 981, the Court of Appeal clarified that in determining whether a bankruptcy order should be rescinded, the court is entitled to take into account facts both before or after the bankruptcy order. To succeed, an applicant for rescission has to show exceptional circumstances, involving a material difference to what was before the court earlier, to justify the overturning of the bankruptcy order.
Background
簡介
中華人民共和國最高人民法院（「最高人民法院」）與香港特別行政區政府於2021年5月14日簽訂了《最高人民法院與香港特別行政區政府關於內地與香港特別行政區法院相互認可和協助破產程序的會談紀要》。在試點計劃下，香港的清盤人可向內地試點地區的有關中級人民法院申請認可香港的清盤程序；同樣地，內地的破產管理人可向香港高等法院申請認可內地的破產程序（「試點計劃」）。最近在Re China All Access (Holdings) Ltd [2021] HKCFI 1842一案中，香港法院首次考慮這項近期發展及試點計劃。
背景
One of the main differences in insolvency law between Scotland and England & Wales relates to the challengeable transactions regime under the Insolvency Act 1986.
In both jurisdictions, transactions that are entered into before a formal insolvency process begins can be attacked if they are detrimental to the creditors of the insolvent company. However, although both systems use similar language and address similar concerns, the law in the two jurisdictions is different, most notably with different time periods and defences to a challenge.
Introduction
The pandemic has created a chaotic business environment in which it is has at times been practically impossible to make any definitive plans. Lockdown measures have changed regularly, legislation has been introduced and extended and the rules for conducting business (when it is even possible to trade) have varied across the UK and have at times been criticised by those most harshly effected as being arbitrary and unscientific. All of this has often happened at very short notice.