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。
The interplay between an arbitration clause and a creditor’s winding up petition is a vexed question which has given rise to a string of cases, including Lasmos Ltd v Southwest Pacific Bauxite (HK) Ltd [2018] 2 HKLRD 449, Re Asia Master Logistics Ltd [2020] 2 HKLRD 423 and But Ka Chon v Interactive Brokers LLC [2019] 4 HKLRD 873.
On 14 May 2021, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Justice, Ms. Teresa Cheng, SC, and Mainland China’s Vice-President of the Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”), Mr. Yang Wanming, signed a record of meeting in Shenzhen concerning mutual recognition of and assistance in insolvency proceedings between the courts of the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”).
A 2020 decision of Mr Justice Harris1 concerned FDG Electric Vehicles Limited (the Company), a company which has been put into provisional liquidation in Bermuda, where it was incorporated.
随着香港及内地就相互认可和协助破产程序及重组事务达成共识，一个新纪元到来了。从今往后，希望通过中国债务人位于香港的财产收回欠款的债权人，或是拥有内地财产的香港运营实体的债权人，终于在谈判桌前享有了话语权。
随着香港及内地就相互认可和协助破产程序及重组事务达成共识，一个新纪元到来了。从今往后，希望通过中国债务人位于香港的财产收回欠款的债权人，或是拥有内地财产的香港运营实体的债权人，终于在谈判桌前享有了话语权。
霍金路伟最新一期《投资中国：法律监管信息速递》专题系列将为您深度探秘下列安排：
We recently wrote about the New Arrangement for mutual recognition of insolvency processes between certain pilot areas in the Mainland (i.e. Shanxi, Xiamen and Shenzhen) and Hong Kong (New Arrangement).
In this edition of the Going concerns, our Stephenson Harwood restructuring and insolvency team provides a brief update on the newest developments in Singapore, UK and Hong Kong. For Singapore, we update on the "conflict" between the admiralty and insolvency regimes while our London team provides an update on the cutting-edge Part 26A restructuring plans. Last but certainly not least, our Hong Kong team dissects and discusses the significance and impact of the new cooperation mechanism for Hong Kong liquidators and Mainland administrators to seek mutual recognition and assistance.
Slotine explains the nuts and bolts of the two routes towards closing down a solvent company in Hong Kong: members’ voluntary winding-up and deregistration.
导言
Introduction