引言

香港法例第 485 章《强制性公积金计划条例》规定，雇员及雇主均须在强制性公积金计划 （「强积金」）作出强制性供款，违例的雇主即属犯罪，而强制性公积金计划管理局（「积金 局」）可提出法律程序追讨强制性供款。最近在 Re Hsin Chong Construction Co Ltd [2020] HKCFI 3160 一案中，法院探讨了公司在清盘开始后支付的尚欠强制性强积金供款，是否可获 法院认可。 

背景

经营建筑服务的新昌营造厂有限公司（「该公司」）正在进行清盘。2018 年 2 月起，该公司 偶然未能为其雇员作出强制性强积金供款。积金局对该公司提出民事诉讼，并在该公司没有抗 辩下就四项申索取得胜诉，可讨回 2018 年 3 至 9 月的未付强积金供款合共港币 958 万元。

The COVID - 19 pandemic has had a tremendous and unprecedented impact on the global economy.To mitigate this, many governments have introduced temporary relief measures to help local businesses.

In Hung Yip (HK) Engineering Company Limited v. Kinli Civil Engineering Limited [2021] HKCFI 153, the Honourable Mr Justice Harris reiterated the test governing when the court will restrain the presentation of a winding-up petition. This is a timely reminder amidst the COVID-19 crisis, which has sparked disputes between companies and their creditors.

In Re Ando Credit Limited [2020] HKCFI 2775, the Honourable Mr Justice Harris appointed provisional liquidators over a Hong Kong- incorporated company, in an application  that broke ground as the first of its kind, made  with  the express purpose of  seeking  recognition  in  the Mainland.

In a pair of significant judgments issued on the same day, Re China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd. [2020] HKCFI 2940 and FDG Electric Vehicles Ltd. [2020] HKCFI 2931, the Honorable Mr. Justice Harris has once again issued highly relevant and timely guidance on key cross-border insolvency issues.

Often in winding-up petitions, contributories of the company, for one reason or another, may wish to oppose the winding-up petition in their own right, including by filing evidence and making submissions at hearings. One major concern a contributory may have in deciding whether to take this course of action is of course the potential costs consequences, especially in the scenario where the opposition is ultimately unsuccessful and the company is wound up.

At present, Hong Kong does not have any statutory corporate rescue regime. A financially distressed company may try to rescue its business by entering into (i) private debt restructuring agreement(s) with its major creditors; or (ii) a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), which allows for a compromise between the company and its shareholders and creditors.

Two recent decisions of the Honourable Mr Justice Harris are helpful additions to the growing amount of case law in this jurisdiction dealing with cross-border insolvency issues and are worthy of examination.

Hong Kong Companies Court appoints provisional liquidators for the purpose of seeking recognition in Mainland for the first time

A bankrupt’s solicitors can be required to handover to the trustees in bankruptcy the bankrupt contact information, full details of last known whereabouts, and client trust account ledger records, pursuant to section 29 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance.

Directors of Hong Kong companies operate in an environment of personal liability – a liability that is brought into sharp focus where companies face financial difficulties or even insolvency. This liability may take not only the form of criminal or civil liability but also the form of a director disqualification order, meaning an order to bar that director from being involved in the management of a company in the future.