Gearing up for the New Companies Ordinance 为新的《公司条例》整装待发

The Government recently announced that the new Companies Ordinance (“New Companies Ordinance“) will take effect on 3 March 2014. This alert is to give you a heads-up on the implications of this new law, particularly in relation to your Memorandum and Articles of Association and how Deacons can help you and your organisation get prepared for it.
政府最近宣布新《公司条例》（「新公司条例」）将于2014年3月3日生效。本快讯旨在向贵司提示该项新法下，特别是关于组织章程大纲及组织章程细则方面, 应留意之地方。的近律师行将能协助阁下及贵司的机构为此做好准备。

This legal alert is of particular importance to in-house lawyers, company secretaries, company directors and others involved in company secretarial affairs.
本快讯对公司内部法律顾问﹑公司秘书﹑公司董事及其他需要处理公司秘书事务的人士尤其重要。

From 3 March 2014, all existing provisions of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) (“Existing Companies Ordinance“), except for those relating to winding-up and insolvency of companies and prospectuses, will be repealed. The Existing Companies Ordinance will be renamed as the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance. The prospectus regime, with possible reforms, is intended to be incorporated in the Securities and Futures Ordinance. All the other provisions relating to Hong Kong companies will be contained in the New Companies Ordinance.
自2014年3月3日起， 《公司条例》（第32章）（「现有公司条例」）中除有关公司清盘及无力偿债以及招股章程的条文外，所有其他现有条文将被废除。 现有公司条例将被重新命名为《公司（清盘及杂项条文）条例》。 有关招股章程制度， 待经过若干修订后， 拟被纳入《证券及期货条例》中。 有关香港公司的其他所有条文将载于新公司条例中。

The New Companies Ordinance will be one of the largest pieces of legislation in Hong Kong, containing 21 parts, 921 sections and 11 schedules.
新《公司条例》将成为香港最长篇幅的法例之一， 其包含21部、921条及11个附表。

Updating your Articles of Association
更新组织章程细则

The reformed legislation will bring about significant changes to the Articles of Association (“Articles“) of a Hong Kong company. The New Companies Ordinance provides for new sets of Model Articles for adoption in whole or in part by companies incorporated after 3 March 2014. These Model Articles differ significantly in form from Table A and Table C of the Existing Companies Ordinance on which the current Articles of most companies in Hong Kong are based.
该改革后的法例将为香港公司的组织章程细则（「章程细则」）带来重大变更。新公司条例规定了新一套的章程细则范本，可供2014年3月3日后注册成立的公司对此作出全部或部份采纳。 该等章程细则范本在格式上与香港大部分公司目前章程细则所依据的现有公司条例的A 表及C表极不相同。

There is strictly no immediate requirement to update your Memorandum of Association (“Memorandum“) and Articles as there are deeming provisions in the New Companies Ordinance which essentially means companies may continue to use their existing Memorandum and Articles, to the extent not automatically modified by the New Companies Ordinance. The New Companies Ordinance will abolish the requirement of Memorandum of Association and relevant information in the Memorandum of an existing company will be deemed incorporated in its Articles as from 3 March 2014.
严格而言， 贵司现时无需即时更新贵司的组织章程大纲（「章程大纲」）及章程细则，因为在新公司条例中有推定条文。简单来说,在有关内容没有被新公司条例自动修订的限度下，公司可继续使用其现有章程大纲及章程细则。新公司条例将废除章程大纲的要求，并规定自2014年3月3日起，现有公司的章程大纲中的相关资料将被视为章程细则的条文。

There will however be obvious benefits in updating your Memorandum and Articles to bring them in line with the new requirements. Our Corporate Commercial Group will be delighted to speak to you about your needs.
然而，更新贵司的章程大纲及章程细则使之与新规定一致，将属明显有益之举。 本行的商业事务部将很乐意与贵司讨论贵司在此方面的需要。

We are also updating our standard Articles for newly incorporated companies to take into account the new mandatory requirements as well as incorporating provisions which in our view will enhance corporate governance by the company.
本行亦正在为新注册成立的公司更新我们的标准章程细则，以反映新的强制性规定及加入依本行意见将提升公司企业管治程度的条文。

Understanding the new provisions
了解最新条文

The New Companies Ordinance will bring about some new requirements of corporate governance and information disclosure. In order to assist clients to familiarise themselves with the new requirements, we will be sending you a series of legal updates on this topic in the next couple of months leading up to March 2014.
新公司条例将带来有关企业管治及信息披露的若干新规定。为了协助客户熟悉新规定， 本行将在今后几个月至2014年3月，向贵司寄发有关此等规定的一系列法律更新快讯。

Next steps – how we can help
下一步 – 本行可为贵司提供之协助

We have formed a dedicated team to assist clients in reviewing and updating their Articles and to provide related training and advice.
本行已建立了一支内部专门团队协助客户审阅并更新其章程细则, 并提供相关培训及法律意见。

If you would like more tailored advice or in-house training, we would be pleased to discuss this with you. Please contact one of our partners below.
如果贵司希望获得更为切合贵司情况的法律意见或需本行为贵司提供内部培训，本行将很乐意与贵司讨论此类事宜。如欲获得更多详情，请联络以下任何一位合伙人。