新公司条例ThenewCompaniesOrdinance-HongKong.PDF

Cover Story 封面專題 Hong Kong Lawyer 香港律師 The new Companies Ordinance 新《公司條例》 Teresa Ma and Samantha Thompson highlight 本文兩位作者馬嘉明和唐思敏著重探 certain notable changes to be introduced by the 討了新《公司條例》所帶來的一些顯 new Companies Ordinance which will become 著改變，該等改變將構成未來香港公 the legal framework for the formation and 司設立和營運的法律框架 operation of companies in Hong Kong ollowing a near 20-year hiatus, the new Hong Kong Companies 經歷了近二十年的停滯後，立法會終於在2012 FOrdinance (the ‘New Ordinance’) was passed by the Legislative 在年7月12 日通過了新的香港《公司條例》（下 Council on 12 July 2012. The last major review and amendment of the 稱《新條例》）。上一次對現行《公司條例》（第 existing Companies Ordinance (Cap 32) (the ‘Existing Ordinance’) 32章）（下稱《現行條例》）進行重大檢討和修訂 was undertaken in 1984. The majority of the provisions of the Existing 已是在1984年。《現行條例》的大部分條文仍然是 Ordinance originated from the UK Companies Act 1929 and the statute was generally felt in need of overhaul. 以《1929年英國公司法》為藍本，公眾一般都認為 The Existing Ordinance is and the New Ordinance will be the 有必要對此法例進行全面修訂。 legal framework for the formation and operation of companies 目前，《現行條例》為規管香港設立和經營公司 in Hong Kong (including overseas companies operating in the （包括在香港營運的海外公司）提供了法律框架， jurisdiction). The changes to be introduced by the New Ordinance are 而《新條例》也將繼續承擔此任。《新條例》將引 extensive and will affect not just companies themselves but also parties 入廣泛的修訂，此等修訂不僅會對公司，而且會對 who have dealings with companies, such as members and creditors. The New Ordinance was published in the Government Gazette in 那些與公司有往來的當事人（如成員及債權人）產 August 2012. It will become effective on a day to be appointed by the 生影響。 Secretary for Financial S