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In the recent case of Re Shum Tung Lam formerly known as Shum Wan Man [2020] HKCFI 1720, the Court of First Instance was asked to clarify the requirements under section 30A(6) of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) (BO) which governs objections made by creditors or trustees to the automatic discharge of a bankrupt from bankruptcy.

Introduction 

Section 209(1) of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) empowers the Hong Kong court to make an order staying the winding-up proceedings after the winding-up order is made upon the application of, among others, a contributory. However, in the case of Safe Castle Limited v China Silver Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited [2020] HKCFI 1028, Harris J made it clear that the court will be reluctant to exercise its discretion to stay a winding-up order pending appeal.

Section 29 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) (BO) allows a trustee in bankruptcy to apply to the Courts for orders compelling disclosure of material documents and/or information of the bankrupt in order for the trustee to carry out his/her duties under the bankruptcy. For the authors’ previous article on Section 29, please see here.

Section 29 provides that:

Land and buildings Ships and aircraft Other tangible assets Liens Retention of title Intangible assets Personal security Debentures Form of debentures Assets covered by debentures Trust receipts or letters of hypothecation

Receivership

Appointment of a receiver Receivers' powers Receivers' obligations Termination of the receivership

Deacons contacts

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Types of security

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this booklet, it is only a summary and should not be relied upon as a substitute for detailed advice in individual cases.

Deacons 2020

Contents

Introduction Corporate insolvency

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Available procedures

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Liquidation

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Members' voluntary liquidation

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Creditors' voluntary liquidation

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Compulsory liquidation

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Which procedure?

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Receivership

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Scheme of arrangement3

In recent years the Hong Kong Companies Court has dealt with a large number of applications for recognition and assistance from the Courts of various overseas jurisdictions in relation to cross border insolvency matters. The Court will now routinely grant orders of recognition and assistance to liquidators of companies incorporated in Commonwealth jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, which are all common law jurisdictions which have insolvency law regimes which are in many ways similar to Hong Kong’s own regime.