TRANSFER OF BUSINESS (PROTECTION OF CREDITORS) ORDINANCE

TRANSFER OF BUSINESS (PROTECTION OF CREDITORS) ORDINANCE

LAWS OF HONG KONG

TRANSFER OF BUSINESSES (PROTECTION
OF CREDITORS) ORDINANCE

CHAPTER 49





CHAPTER 49

TRANSFER OF BUSINESSES (PROTECTION
OF CREDITORS)

To protect creditors on the transfer of businesses, to provide for the
liability of transferees of business, the manner in which such
liability may be avoided and for matters incidental thereto and
connected therewith, and to repeal the Fraudulent Transfers of
Businesses Ordinance.

[27 June 1980.1

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Transfer of Businesses
(Protection of Creditors) Ordinance.

2. (1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires

'appeal' includes a motion for a new trial or to set aside a verdict,
finding or judgment;

'business' means a business, or any part thereof, consisting of a trade
or occupation (other than a profession) whether or not it is carried
on with a view to profit;

'charge' means

(a)a debenture within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance;

(b) a mortgage;

(c) a bill of sale;

(d) a lien; or

(e) any document,

under or pursuant to which a business or any assets thereof are
charged as security for the payment of money or the performance of
an obligation, and includes an equitable charge;

'charge-holder' means a person who, under or pursuant to a charge,
and for the purpose of enforcing payment of any money or for the
performance of any obligation, may sell any business;

'date of transfer' means the date on which a transfer takes effect or is
intended to take effect;

'notice of transfer' means a notice of transfer in accordance with
section 5;

'registered charge' means a charge which is registered under

(a) the Land Registration Ordinance;

(b) the Companies Ordinance;

(c) the Bills of Sale Ordinance; or

(d) any other enactment;





'transfer' means the transfer or sale of a business, but does not include

(a)the sale of the stock-in-trade of a business in the ordinary
course of its trade;

(b) the creation of a charge;

(c) the transfer of land or any share or interest therein; or

(d)the transfer of a vessel (or the transfer of any interest or share
therein), other than

(i) a vessel to which Part IV of the Shipping and Port
Control Ordinance applies; or

(ii) a trawler to which Part XII of the Merchant Shipping
Ordinance applies;

'transferee' means the person to whom a business is transferred by a
transferor;

'transferor' means

(a)in the case of the sale of a business under or pursuant to a
charge, the person whose business has been or is intended to
be sold;

(b)in every other case, the person by whom or on whose behalf
the transfer has been or is intended to be made.

(2) For the purposes of this Ordinance 'transferor' and 'transferee'
respectively include a sub-transferor and a subtransferee.

3. (1) Subject to this Ordinance, whenever any business is
transferred, with or without the goodwill thereof, the transferee shall,
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, become liable for all the
debts and obligations, including liability for tax charged or chargeable
under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, arising out of the carrying on of
the business by the transferor.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where a part of a business is
transferred (other than the goodwill thereof ) and in any proceedings

(a)the transferee would, but for this subsection, be adjudged
liable under this Ordinance for any debts and obligations
arising out of the carrying on of the business by the
transferor; and

(b)it is shown to the satisfaction of the court hearing the
proceedings that

(i) the transferee purchased such part of the business in
good faith and for value; and





(ii) at the date of transfer of such part of the business,
the transferee had no knowledge (whether actual, con-
structive or imputed) that what he was acquiring formed
part of a business,
the transferee shall not be liable under this Ordinance for the debts
and obligations arising out of the carrying on of the business by
the transferor.

4. (1) A transferee shall not become liable under section 3 if
a notice of transfer has been given not more than 4 months, and
not less than 1 month, before the date of transfer and has become
complete at the date of transfer.

(2) Where a notice of transfer has been given but the notice
has not become complete at the date of transfer, the liability of the
transferee under section 3 shall cease with effect from the date on
which the notice of transfer becomes complete.

(3) Where a notice of transfer has not been given before or at
the date of transfer, the liability of the transferee under section 3
shall cease with effect from the date on which a notice of transfer,
which is given after the date of transfer, becomes complete.

(4) A notice of transfer shall, subject to subsections (5) and (6),
become complete upon the expiration of 1 month after the date of
the last publication of the notice in accordance with section 5.

(5) Subject to subsection (6), in the case of a notice of transfer
referred to-
(a)in subsection (1), if proceedings are instituted against the
transferor in respect of any liability of the transferor arising
before such notice has become complete and out of the
carrying on of his business; or
(b)in subsection (2) or (3), if proceedings are instituted against
the transferee in respect of any liability of the transferee
under section 3 arising before such notice becomes
complete,
the notice of transfer shall (for the purposes of such proceedings
only) be deemed incomplete pending the final determination of such
proceedings, including all possible appeals, and pending the expira-
tion of all periods during which such appeals may be brought.

(6) Where proceedings are instituted, a notice of transfer shall.
not be deemed incomplete under subsection (5) unless within 1
month of the proceedings being instituted-
(a)they are served on the transferor or transferee, as the case
may be; or
(b)written notice that they have been instituted is sent by
registered post to the last known address of such transferor
or transferee.





5. (1) Except in the case of a transfer by way of sale under
or pursuant to a charge, a notice of transfer shall contain the
following particulars-
(a) the full name and address of the transferor;
(b)the nature of the business and the name or style under
which, and the full address at which, it has been carried on
during the period of 6 months immediately preceding the
date of transfer;
(c) the date of transfer;
(d)the full name and the residential and business addresses of
the transferee;
(e) if the transferee-
(i) intends to carry on or is carrying on the business,
the full address where, and the name and style under which,
he is carrying it on or intends to carry it on; or
(ii) is not carrying on the business and does not intend
to carry it on, a statement to that effect; and
a statement that at the expiration of 1 month after the date
of the last publication of the notice pursuant to subsection
(3), the liability of the transferee for all the debts and
obligations arising out of the carrying on of the business
by the transferor shall cease by virtue of this Ordinance
unless proceedings are instituted prior to such expiration.

(2) In the case of a transfer by way of sale under or pursuant
to a charge, a notice of transfer shall contain the following
particulars-

(a)the nature of the business, and the name or style under
which, and the full address at which, it has been carried on
during the period of 3 months immediately preceding the
date of transfer;
(b)the full name and address of the person whose business has
been, or is intended to be, transferred by way of sale under
or pursuant to the charge;

(c)details of the charge under or pursuant to which the transfer
by way of sale has been or is to be made, sufficient to
enable any document creating or evidencing the charge to
be readily identified and, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, such details shall include-
(i) the date when the charge was made, given, executed
or came into existence;
(ii) the consideration for which the charge was executed,
made or given or, if there was no such consideration, the
circumstances in which it came into existence;
(iii) in the case of a registered charge, the date of the
registration of the charge, the title of any enactment under





which it was registered and any number or other means of
identifying the charge assigned to it upon registration;

(d) the date of transfer; and

(e)the amount of money, payment of which has been secured by
the charge and which was owing

(i) at the date of the publication of the notice of transfer; or

(ii) if the transfer has already taken effect, at the date of the
transfer so taking effect.

(3) Every notice of transfer shall be signed-

(a)by both the transferor and the transferee, in the case of a
transfer to which subsection (1) applies; or

(b)by the charge-holder and the transferee, in the case of a
transfer to which subsection (2) applies,

Gazette;

(ii) any 2 of such Chinese language newspapers circulating in
Hong Kong as may be approved for the purpose by the
Secretary for for Home Affairs, and
(iii) 1 English language newspaper circulating in Hong Kong
which has been so approved.

6. (1) The transferee shall be entitled to be indemnified-

(a)by the transferor, except in the case of a transfer by way of
sale under or pursuant to a charge; or

(b)by the charge-holder, if the transfer is by way of sale under or
pursuant to a charge,

for all amounts for which the transferee is made liable under this
Ordinance and for which he would not otherwise be liable.

(2) The amount of such an indemnity may be recovered by civil
proceedings as a debt or liquidated demand.

7. Nothing in this Ordinance shall relieve or be deemed to relieve a
transferor or transferee, or any person who sells a business under or
pursuant to a change, from any liability to which he would otherwise be
subject.

8. (1) A transferee who in good faith and without preference has
paid in discharge or partial discharge of any liability for which he became
liable under this Ordinance, and for which he would not otherwise have
been liable, an amount which is equal to the value of the business
acquired by him, at the date on which the transfer took effect, shall not
be liable further under this Ordinance.

(2) The value of a business acquired by a transferee at the date on
which the transfer takes effect shall, until the contrary is proved,





be presumed to be an amount equal to the amount paid or agreed to be
paid (whether in terms of money or by means of any other
consideration) for the acquisition of the business.

9. Subject to section 6, no action shall be instituted to recover any
debt from or to enforce any obligation against any person liable therefor
under this Ordinance, and for which he would not otherwise have been
liable, more than 1 year after the date on which the transfer in respect of
which the liability arose took effect.

10. This Ordinance shall not apply to any transferee where the
transfer is effected

(a) by the Official Receiver or a trustee in bankruptcy;

(b)by the liquidator of a company in liquidation other than
voluntary liquidation;

(c) by the Cotonial Treasurer Incorporated;

(d) by the Director of Education Incorporated;

(e) by the Director of Social Welfare Incorporated;

(f)by a person selling under or pursuant to a charge which has
been registered for not less than 1 year at the date when the
transfer takes effect;

(g) pursuant to any order or direction of any court;

(h) by an executor or administrator; or

(i) by operation of law.

11. (1) The Fraudulent Transfers of Businesses Ordinance is
repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Fraudulent Transfers of
Businesses Ordinance shall continue to apply with respect to a transfer

(a) which took effect; and

(b)in respect of which notice was given under section 3 of that
Ordinance,

before the coming into operation of this Ordinance, as if this Ordinance
had not been passed.
Originally 32 of 1980. Short title. Interpretation. (Cap. 32.) (Cap. 128.) (Cap. 32.) (Cap. 20.) (Cap. 313.) (Cap. 281.) Transferee of business to be liable for liabilities of transferor. (Cap. 112.) Circumstances in which the transferee's liability ceases. Contents of notice of transfer and manner of giving notice. Right of transferee to indemnity. Liability of parties not affected. Limitation of liability of transferee. Limitation of time for institution of proceedings. Saving. Repeal and saving. (Cap. 49, 1964 Ed.)

Originally 32 of 1980. Short title. Interpretation. (Cap. 32.) (Cap. 128.) (Cap. 32.) (Cap. 20.) (Cap. 313.) (Cap. 281.) Transferee of business to be liable for liabilities of transferor. (Cap. 112.) Circumstances in which the transferee's liability ceases. Contents of notice of transfer and manner of giving notice. Right of transferee to indemnity. Liability of parties not affected. Limitation of liability of transferee. Limitation of time for institution of proceedings. Saving. Repeal and saving. (Cap. 49, 1964 Ed.)

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