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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.

This article highlights where the legislation, as it was introduced in the Bill, differs from the final form of the Act

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (“Bill”) is currently going through Parliament and, if approved, will introduce wide-ranging changes to the UK’s corporate insolvency regime. The Bill includes a number of measures designed to protect businesses which are struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Some of these measures are temporary, however parliament may decide to extend these if necessary.

The key measures included in the Bill are summarised below.

Temporary provisions

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (“Bill”) is currently going through Parliament and, once approved, will introduce wide-ranging changes to the UK’s corporate insolvency regime.

The Government has put in place substantial measures that are intended to help mitigate the devastating effect of Covid-19 on the UK economy. Many businesses are now facing their toughest test in living memory. Yet even as the UK endures extraordinary lockdown measures, and with some 3.9 billion people in global isolation, directors of UK companies must continue to try and keep their businesses out of insolvency.

Following the outbreak of a global pandemic unprecedented in recent memory, the UK is now reeling from the devastating effects of the coronavirus. Small and medium-sized businesses throughout the nation will already have been forced to come to terms with this new reality, through a combination of staff illness, forced closures, supply chain disruption and loss of business.