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the debtor [2021] HKCA 981, the Court of Appeal clarified that in determining whether a bankruptcy order should be rescinded, the court is entitled to take into account facts both before or after the bankruptcy order.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

简介

最近在Re Cheung Hing Chik also known as Charles H.C. Cheung, the debtor [2021] HKCA 981一案中，上诉法院澄清，在决定是否应撤销破产令时，法院既可考虑在破产令发出之前的事实，也可考虑在破产令发出之后的事实。要成功申请撤销破产令，申请人须证明涉及与先前法院席前证据有重大差异的特殊情况，作为推翻破产令的充分理据。

背景

本案是就一项于2020年8月3日发出的破产令（「该破产令」）提出的上诉。呈请人是一间公司，其银行帐户被破产人偷去或挪用了749,000美元。于2020年2月27日，呈请人就上述金额向破产人发出法定要求偿债书，但不获还款。在2020年8月3日进行的呈请聆讯上，破产人口头上表示他能够偿还该债务，因为：

1. 他可将其于张庆植会计师行有限公司的50% 权益出售，估计约值600万元；及
2. 他可能会收到若干其他资金。

法官不信纳，并认为没有证据显示破产人能偿还债务，因此发出了该破产令。

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.