MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE
MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 163)
CONTENTS
Section
PART I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and application
2. Interpretation
3. Ordinance not to apply to authorized institutions
4. Registrar of Money Lenders and supervisory functions of Registrar
5. Official secrecy
6. Inspection of register
6A. Documents admissible in evidence
PART II LICENSING OF MONEY LENDERS
7. Restriction on carrying on of business of money lender
8. Application for licence and public notification of application
9. Investigation and lodgement of applications
10. Licensing court
10A. Selection of assessors and payment of fees to assessors
10B. Powers of licensing court
10C. Immunity
11. Determination of application for licence
12. Effect and duration of licence
13. Renewal
14. Revocation and suspension
15. Transfer of licence and addition or substitution of new premises
16. Appeals
17. Duty to notify changes of particulars
PART III MONEY LENDERS' TRANSACTIONS
18. Form of agreement
19. Duty of money lender to give information to borrower
20. Duty of money lender to give information to surety
21. Early payment by borrower
22. Illegal agreements
23. Loan etc. not recoverable unless money lender licensed
PART IV EXCESSIVE INTEREST RATES
24. Prohibition of excessive interest rates
25. Reopening of certain transactions
PART V GENERAL
26. Restriction on money-lending advertisements
27. Charges for expenses etc. not recoverable
28. Power of Registrar and police to enter premises and inspect books,
etc.
29. Offences by money lenders
30. Offences of fraudulent inducement and obstruction
30A. Offences relating to licensing court
31. Liability for offences by companies
32. Penalties and disqualification
32A. Time limitation for instituting certain prosecutions
33. Burden of proof
33A. General exemptions
33B. Specific exemptions
33C. Legislative Council may amend Schedule 1
34. Regulations
35. Saving
36. Existing loans
Schedule 1
Schedule 2
To provide for the control and regulation of money lenders and money-
lending transactions, the appointment of a Registrar of Money Lenders and
the licensing of persons carrying on business as money lenders; to provide
protection and relief against excessive interest rates and extortionate
stipulations in respect of loans; to provide for offences and for matters
connected with or incidental to the foregoing; and to repeal the Money-
lenders Ordinance 1911.
[12 December 1980] L. N. 347 of 1980
PART I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and application
(1) This Ordinance may be cited as the Money Lenders Ordinance.
(2) This Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding any agreement to the
contrary.
2. Interpretation
(1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-
"company" means a body corporate-
(a) incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32);
(b) incorporated by any other Ordinance; or
(c) incorporated or established outside Hong Kong; (Added 69 of 1988 s. 2)
"disqualified person" means a person in respect of whom there is in force
an order made by a court under section 32 (2);
"effective rate", in relation to interest, means the true annual
percentage rate of interest calculated in accordance with Schedule 2;
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
"firm" means an unincorporate body of 2 or more individuals, or 1 or more
individuals and 1 or more companies, or 2 or more companies, who have
entered into partnership with one another with a view to carrying on
business for profit; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
"interest" does not include any sum lawfully agreed to be paid in
accordance with this Ordinance on account of stamp duty or other similar
duty, but save as aforesaid includes any amount (by whatever name called)
in excess of the principal, which amount has been or is to be paid or
payable in consideration of or otherwise in respect of a loan;
"licence" means a money lender's licence granted under section 11 or
renewed under section 13, and "licensed" and "licensee" have corresponding
meanings; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
"licensing court" means-
(a) a magistrate sitting alone; or
(b) a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors,
as the case may be, in accordance with section 10, 14 or 15; (Replaced 69
of 1988 s. 2)
"loan" includes advance, discount, money paid for or on account of or on
behalf of or at the request of any person, or the forbearance to require
payment of money owing on any account whatsoever, and every agreement
(whatever its terms or form may be) which is in substance or effect a loan
of money, and also an agreement to secure the repayment of any such loan,
and "lend" and "lender" shall be construed accordingly;
"money lender" means every person whose business (whether or not he
carries on any other business) is that of making loans or who advertises
or announces himself or holds himself out in any way as carrying on that
business, but does not include-
(a) a person specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or
(b) as respects a loan specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1, any person who
makes such loan; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
"prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made under section 34;
"principal", in relation to a loan, means the amount actually lent;
"register" means the register kept by the Registrar under section 4;
"Registrar" means the Registrar of Money Lenders appointed under section
4;
"subsidiary" means subsidiary within the meaning of section 2 of the
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32). (Added 69 of 1988 s. 2)
(2) For the purposes of this Ordinance, where by an agreement for the loan
of money the interest charged on the loan is not expressed in terms of a
rate, any amount paid or payable to the lender under the agreement (other
than simple interest charged in accordance with the proviso to section 22)
shall be appropriated to principal and interest in the proportion that the
total amount of principal bears to the total amount of the interest, and
the rate per cent per annum represented by the interest charged as
calculated in accordance with Schedule 2 shall be deemed to be the rate of
interest charged on the loan. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
(3) For the purpose of determining the amount of the principal of a loan,
any amount thereof which is not shown to have been lent except for the
purpose of treating it as an instalment paid by the borrower in repayment
of the loan and which is so treated by the lender shall be disregarded.
(4) References in this Ordinance to an assessor are references to a person
appointed to a panel of assessors under section 7A of the Magistrates
Ordinance (Cap. 227). (Added 69 of 1988 s. 2)
3. Ordinance not to apply to authorized institutions
This Ordinance shall not apply to-
(a) an authorized institution within the meaning of the Banking Ordinance
(Cap. 155); or
(b) as respects a loan made to such an authorized institution, any person
who makes such loan.
(Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 3)
4. Registrar of Money Lenders and supervisory functions of Registrar
(1) The Governor shall appoint a public officer to be the Registrar of
Money Lenders.
(2) The Registrar shall establish and maintain a register in which he
shall cause to be kept particulars, other than specified particulars, of-
(a) applications for the grant or renewal of licences; (Amended 69 of 1988
s. 4)
(b) licences which are in force or have been revoked or suspended;
(c) such other matters, if any, as he thinks fit.
(3) In this section "specified particulars" means particulars furnished
under section 8 which are specified in regulations made under section 34
as particulars which shall not be entered in the register.
5. Official secrecy
(1) Except as may be necessary for the exercise or performance of any
function or duty under this Ordinance or for carrying into effect the
provisions of this Ordinance, the Registrar and every person employed in
carrying out or in assisting any person to carry out the provisions of
this Ordinance-
(a) shall preserve and aid in preserving secrecy with regard to all
matters relating to the affairs of any person that may come to his
knowledge in the exercise or performance of any function or duty under
this Ordinance;
(b) shall not communicate any such matter to any person other than the
person to whom such matter relates; and
(c) shall not suffer or permit any person to have access to any records in
the possession, custody or control of any person to whom this subsection
applies.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply-
(a) to the disclosure of information in the form of a summary of similar
information provided by a number of persons if the summary is so framed as
to prevent particulars relating to the business of any particular person
being ascertained from it;
(b) to the disclosure of information with a view to the institution of, or
otherwise for the purposes of, any criminal proceedings; (Replaced 69 of
1988 s. 5)
(c) in connection with any civil proceedings arising out of, or relating
to, section 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 33, 33B or 36; or (Added 69 of 1988 s. 5)
(d) to the disclosure of information to the Financial Secretary, the
Secretary for Monetary Affairs, or any public officer authorized by the
Financial Secretary for the purposes of this paragraph where, in the
opinion of the Registrar, it is desirable or expedient that information
should be disclosed in the public interest. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 5)
(3) Any person who-
(a) contravenes subsection (1); or
(b) aids, abets, counsels or procures any person to contravene subsection
(1), commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine of $ 100,000 and to
imprisonment for 2 years.
6. Inspection of register
(1) Any person shall be entitled on payment of the prescribed fee-
(a) to inspect the register during ordinary office hours and take copies
of any entry; or
(b) to obtain from the Registrar a copy, certified by or under the
authority of the Registrar to be correct, of any entry in the register.
(2) The Registrar shall give public notice, in such manner as he may deem
fit, of the place where and the times when the register may be inspected.
6A. Documents admissible in evidence
A document purporting to be a copy, certified by or under the authority of
the Registrar to be true and correct, of any entry in the register shall
be admissible in evidence in criminal or civil proceedings before any
court on its production without further proof and, until the contrary is
proved, the court shall presume that-
(a) the signature and certification to the document is that of the
Registrar or a person authorized by him in that behalf, and
(b) the document is a true and correct copy.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 6)
PART II LICENSING OF MONEY LENDERS
7. Restriction on carrying on of business of money lender
(1) No person shall carry on business as a money lender-
(a) without a licence;
(b) at any place other than the premises specified in such licence; or
(c)
otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of a licence.
(2) A licence shall be in the prescribed form.
8. Application for licence and public notification of application
(1) An application for a licence shall be made to the Registrar in the
prescribed form and in the prescribed manner, and shall be accompanied by
the prescribed fee and a statement in writing containing the prescribed
particulars in respect of the application.
(2) An application made under this section in respect of a company may be
made by any person authorized in that behalf by such company. (Amended 69
of 1988 s. 7)
(3) An application made under this section in respect of partners in a
firm may be made by any such partner.
(4) The Registrar shall, in such manner as may be prescribed, give public
notice of every application made under this section.
9. Investigation and lodgement of applications
(1) Where an application is made under section 8, the applicant shall at
the same time send a copy of the application to the Commissioner of
Police, and the Commissioner of Police may cause an investigation to be
carried out in respect of the application for the purpose of determining
whether, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police, there are grounds
for objecting to the application under section 11.
(2) For the purpose of carrying out an investigation under this section,
the Commissioner of Police may in writing require the applicant to produce
for inspection such books, records or documents or to furnish such
information relating to the application or any business carried on or
intended to be carried on by him as the Commissioner of Police may
specify.
(3) In respect of an application made under section 8, no step other than
the registration of such application shall be taken by the Registrar prior
to-
(a) the date on which a period of 60 days after the date on which the
application is made expires; or
(b) the date on which the Commissioner of Police notifies the Registrar
that any investigation carried out under this section in respect of the
application has been completed, whichever is the earlier (in this section
referred to as "the material date").
(4) Where the Registrar or the Commissioner of Police intends to object
under section 11 to any application for a licence, he shall, not later
than 7 days after the material date, serve notice on the applicant of his
intention to object and of the grounds of such objection; and where such
notice is served by the Commissioner of Police, he shall send a copy
thereof to the Registrar.
(5) Upon the expiration of a period of 7 days after the material date in
respect of any application made under section 8, the Registrar shall lodge
the application with such magistrate as he deems fit, together with a copy
of any notice served on the applicant under subsection (4). (Replaced 69
of 1988 s. 8)
(6) The Registrar shall give notice to the Commissioner of Police of any
lodgement made under subsection (5).
10. Licensing court
(1) Where an application is lodged under section 9 (5), the licensing
court shall hear and determine the application in accordance with section
11.
(2) For the purposes of hearing and determining an application lodged
under section 9 (5), the licensing court shall be constituted by-
(a) where no notice has been served on the applicant under section 9 (4)
or 11 (2) (b) (i), subject to subsection (3), a magistrate sitting alone;
and
(b) where a notice has been served on the applicant under section 9 (4) or
11 (2) (b) (i), a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors.
(3) Without limiting the generality of the power of the licensing court
under section 10B (f) to adjourn the hearing of an application lodged
under section 9 (5), the licensing court shall, where-
(a) it is constituted by a magistrate sitting alone; and
(b) it grants leave under section 11 (2) (b) (ii) to a person to object to
the application, adjourn the hearing to another date to be heard and
determined by the licensing court constituted by a magistrate sitting with
2 assessors.
(4) Where the licensing court is constituted by a magistrate sitting with
2 assessors, the decision of the licensing court shall be that of the
majority of the members and shall be recorded in writing:
Provided that the magistrate's rulings on matters of law shall bind the
licensing court.
(5) The Registrar shall be provided with a copy of each decision of the
licensing court. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 9)
10A. Selection of assessors and payment of fees to assessors
(1) Where under this Ordinance the licensing court is required to be
constituted by a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors, the Registrar of the
Supreme Court shall select those assessors.
(2) Where an assessor selected under subsection (1) attends the licensing
court for which he has been so selected, he shall, irrespective of whether
he sits as an assessor, be paid a fee of an amount equal to the fee fixed
under section 7A (2) of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227) to be paid to
an assessor for his services. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 9)
10B. Powers of licensing court
Subject to this Ordinance, the licensing court may determine its own
procedure and in particular may-
(a) receive and consider any material, whether by way of oral evidence,
written statements, documents or otherwise, notwithstanding that such
material would not be admissible in evidence in civil or criminal
proceedings;
(b) by notice in writing signed by the presiding magistrate, require any
person to attend before it at any hearing and to give evidence and produce
documents;
(c) administer oaths and affirmations;
(d) examine on oath, affirmation or otherwise any person attending before
it at any hearing and require such person to answer all questions put by
or with its consent;
(e) determine the manner in which the material referred to in paragraph
(a) shall be received; and
(f) adjourn any hearing from time to time as it may deem fit, and may do
all things-
(i) ancillary to the powers conferred by this section; or
(ii) reasonably necessary for the discharge of its functions under this
Ordinance. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 9)
10C. Immunity
Any-
(a) member of the licensing court; and
(b) witness, party to any proceedings, representative or other person
appearing before the licensing court, shall have the same privileges and
immunities in any proceedings before the licensing court or in the
exercise of the licensing court's functions as he would have before a
court in civil proceedings.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 9)
11. Determination of application for licence
(1) The licensing court shall fix a date for the hearing of an application
lodged under section 9 (5) and shall give 14 clear days' notice of such
date to the applicant, the Registrar and the Commissioner of Police.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 10)
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the licensing court shall grant a licence
upon the hearing of an application lodged under section 9 (5) except
where-
(a) the Registrar or the Commissioner of Police has served notice under
section 9 of his intention to object to the application and, at the
hearing of the application, objection to the application is made by or on
behalf of the Registrar or, as the case may be, the Commissioner of
Police; or
(b) objection to the application is made by any other person appearing at
the hearing in person or by counsel who-
(i) has served notice of his intention to object and the grounds of such
objection on the applicant, the Registrar and the Commissioner of Police
and lodged a copy of such notice in the office of the licensing court, not
later than 4 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing under subsection
(1); or (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 10)
(ii) is granted leave by the licensing court to make such objection, and
for the purposes of this section "counsel" means a person qualified to
practise as a barrister or solicitor under the Legal Practitioners
Ordinance (Cap. 159).
(3) The licensing court shall not grant a licence to a person who is a
disqualified person.
(4) The licensing court shall, in considering an application to which
subsection (2) (a) or (b) applies, hear any evidence given by the
applicant or any witnesses called on his behalf and any evidence adduced
by or on behalf of the Registrar or the Commissioner of Police or any
other person who appears at the hearing under subsection (2) (b).
(5)
Subject to subsection (3), the licensing court shall not grant a licence
upon an application to which subsection (2) (a) or (b) applies unless the
court is satisfied-
(a) that the applicant, or in the case of a firm every partner thereof, is
a fit and proper person to carry on business as a money lender;
(b) in the case of a company, that any person who controls such company or
in accordance with whose directions or instructions the directors thereof
are accustomed to act is a fit and proper person to be associated with the
business of money-lending; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 10)
(c) that as respects the carrying on of business as a money lender, any
person responsible or proposed to be responsible for the management of the
business or any part thereof, or in the case of a company any director or
secretary or other officer thereof, is a fit and proper person to be
associated with the business of money-lending; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 10)
(d) that the name under which the applicant applies to be licensed is not
misleading or otherwise undesirable;
(e) that as respects any of the premises to which the application relates,
such premises and the situation thereof are suitable for the carrying on
of the business of money-lending;
(f) that the applicant has complied with the provisions of this Part and
any regulations relating to the application; and
(g) that in all the circumstances the grant of such licence is not
contrary to the public interest.
(6) A licence granted under this section shall be subject to such
conditions as the licensing court may impose.
(7) A licence granted under this section shall not be issued and shall not
enter into force except on payment to the licensing court of the
prescribed fee.
12. Effect and duration of licence
Every licence shall authorize the person named therein to carry on
business as a money lender for a period of 12 months from-
(a) in the case of a licence granted under section 11, the day on which it
is so granted; and
(b) in the case of a licence renewed under section 13, irrespective of
whether the renewal of the licence was made prior to, upon or after its
expiration, and notwithstanding section 13 (5), the day immediately
following the day on which it would have, but for its renewal, or has, as
the case may be, expired. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 11)
13. Renewal
(1) A licensee may apply for the renewal of his licence within a period of
3 months prior to the expiration thereof.
(2) This section does not apply to a licensee whose licence is revoked.
(3) An application for renewal made under this section shall be made in
the prescribed manner and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(4) Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 shall apply to an application for renewal
made under this section as they apply to an application made under section
8.
(5) Any licence in respect of which an application for renewal is made
under this section and which expires prior to the determination of such
application shall, unless such application is withdrawn, or the licence is
revoked or suspended under section 14, be deemed to continue in force
until the determination of such application.
14. Revocation and suspension
(1) On the application of the Registrar or the Commissioner of Police, a
licensing court constituted by a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors may
make an order revoking or suspending any licence granted by the licensing
court if, in the opinion of the licensing court- (Amended 69 of 1988 s.
12)
(a) the licensee has ceased to be a fit and proper person to carry on
business as a money lender; or
(b) the premises specified in the licence or any of such premises have, or
the situation thereof has, ceased to be suitable for the carrying on of
the business of money-lending; or
(c) the licensee has been in serious breach of any condition of the
licence or has ceased to satisfy any other condition relating to his
business as a money lender in respect of which the licensing court is
required to be satisfied under section 11 (5); or
(d) the business of the licensee has been carried on at any time or on any
occasion since the date on which the licence was granted by recourse to
the use of any methods, or in any manner, contrary to the public interest.
(2) The licensing court shall fix a date for the hearing of an application
under this section, and shall give 14 clear days' notice of such date to
the Registrar and the Commissioner of Police and the licensee; such notice
shall call on the licensee to show cause as to why such application ought
not to be granted and an order for the revocation or suspension of his
licence ought not to be made.
(3) In this section "licence" includes a licence deemed to continue in
force under section 13 (5).
15. Transfer of licence and addition or substitution of new premises
(1) Except as provided in this section, a licence shall not be
transferable.
(2) Where a licensed money lender dies, the widow or widower or any member
of the family of the deceased money lender of the age of 21 years or
upwards, or any person on behalf of the family, may apply to the licensing
court to have his or her name endorsed on the licence. (Amended 69 of 1988
s. 13)
(3) Where a licensee intends to carry on business as a money lender at any
premises in addition to the premises specified in his licence, he may
apply to the licensing court to have such additional premises endorsed on
his licence. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 13)
(4) Where a licensed money lender intends to transfer his business as a
money lender from any premises specified in his licence to any premises
not so specified, he may apply to the licensing court to have the premises
to which he intends to transfer such business endorsed on his licence in
substitution for such first- mentioned premises. (Amended 69 of 1988 s.
13)
(5) Every application under this section shall be made to the Registrar in
the prescribed manner and accompanied by the prescribed fee and notice of
the application shall be given to the Commissioner of Police. (Replaced 69
of 1988 s. 13)
(6) The Registrar and the Commissioner of Police shall be entitled to
appear and be heard at the hearing of any application under this section
and to object to the granting of any such application.
(6A) Where the Registrar or the Commissioner of Police intends to object
under subsection (6) to the granting of any application under this
section, he shall, not later than one month after such application is made
under subsection (5), serve notice on the applicant of his intention to
object specifying the grounds of objection; and where such notice is
served by the Commissioner of Police, he shall send a copy thereof to the
Registrar. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 13)
(6B) Upon the expiration of a period of one month after any application
under this section is made under subsection (5), the Registrar shall lodge
the application with such magistrate as he deems fit, together with a copy
of any notice served on the applicant under subsection (6A). (Added 69 of
1988 s. 13)
(7) The licensing court shall not grant an application under this section
unless the court is satisfied that-
(a) notice of the application has been given to the Registrar and the
Commissioner of Police;
(b) in the case of an application under subsection (2), the applicant is a
fit and proper person to carry on the business of the deceased money
lender;
(c) in the case of an application under subsection (3), the additional
premises and the situation thereof are suitable for the carrying on of the
business of money-lending;
(d) in the case of an application under subsection (4), the premises to
which the money lender intends to transfer his business and the situation
thereof are suitable for the carrying on of the business of money-lending;
(e) in the case of an application in respect of any premises under
subsection (3) or (4), any person responsible or proposed to be
responsible for the management of the business carried on at such premises
is a fit and proper person to be associated with the business of money-
lending.
(8) Where the licensing court grants an application for an endorsement
under this section, the endorsement shall be made in the office of the
licensing court upon payment of the prescribed fee.
(9) A licence endorsed under subsection (2) shall have effect in all
respects as if the licence had been issued to the person whose name is
endorsed thereon and this Ordinance shall apply accordingly to such person
as it applies to a licensee.
(10) For the purposes of hearing an application under this section the
licensing court may be constituted by-
(a) a magistrate sitting alone; or
(b) a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors, except that, where a notice has
been served on the applicant under subsection (6A), the licensing court
shall be constituted by a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors. (Added 69
of 1988 s. 13)
16. Appeals
Any person aggrieved by a decision of a licensing court under section 11,
13, 14 or 15 may appeal to the High Court and the decision of the High
Court shall be final.
17. Duty to notify changes of particulars
(1) Where any change takes place in any particulars entered in the
register in respect of any licensee (including any change of name by law),
or a change takes place-
(a) in the case of a firm, in the membership thereof whether by reason of
an amalgamation or the reduction of the number of partners or otherwise;
(b) in the case of a company-
(i) in the officers thereof;
(ii) in the control thereof by any person;
(iii) in the number of shares, or shares of a prescribed class, therein
held by any person whereby the nominal value of any such shares held by
that person exceeds such proportion of the nominal value of the share
capital thereof or of the issued shares of that class, as the case may be,
as may be prescribed;
(c) in the persons responsible for the management of his business as a
money lender at any premises where the business is carried on, the
licensee shall give notice in writing of such change to the Registrar
within 21 days after the change takes place and the Registrar may in
respect of any such change enter such particulars, or alter any
particulars entered, in the register as he thinks fit. (Amended 69 of 1988
s. 14)
(2) Where notice of any change is given to the Registrar under subsection
(1), the Registrar may be notice in writing require the licensee to
furnish him with such information, verified in such manner, as the
Registrar may specify with respect to such change.
PART III MONEY LENDERS' TRANSACTIONS
18. Form of agreement
(1) No agreement for the repayment of money lent by a money lender or for
the payment of interest on money so lent, and no security given to any
money lender in respect of any such agreement or loan, shall be
enforceable unless-
(a) within 7 days after the making of the agreement, a note or memorandum
in writing of the agreement is made in accordance with subsection (2) and
signed personally by the borrower, and a copy of such note or memorandum
is given to the borrower at the time of signing; and
(b) there is included in or attached to such copy a summary, in such form
as may be prescribed, of such provisions of this Part and Part IV as may
be prescribed, and no such agreement or security shall be enforceable if
it is proved that the note or memorandum was not signed by the borrower
before the money was lent or the security was given.
(2) The note or memorandum shall contain all the terms of the agreement
and in particular shall set out-
(a) the name and address of the money lender;
(b) the name and address of the borrower;
(c) the name and address of the surety, if any;
(d) the amount of the principal of the loan in words and figures;
(e) the date of the making of the agreement;
(f) the date of the making of the loan;
(g) the terms of repayment of the loan;
(h) the form of security for the loan, if any;
(i) the rate of interest charged on the loan expressed as a rate per cent
per annum, or the rate per cent per annum represented by the interest
charged as calculated in accordance with Schedule 2; and (Amended 69 of
1988 s. 15)
(j) a declaration as to the place of negotiation and completion of the
agreement for the loan.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the court before which the
enforceability of any agreement or security comes in question is satisfied
that in all the circumstances it would be inequitable that any such
agreement or security which does not comply with this section should be
held not to be enforceable, the court may order that such agreement or
security is enforceable to such extent, and subject to such modifications
or exceptions, as the court considers equitable. (Amended 69 of 1988 s.
15)
19. Duty of money lender to give information to borrower
(1) In respect of every agreement, whether made before or after the
commencement of this Ordinance, for the repayment of money lent by a money
lender, the money lender shall, on demand in writing being made by the
borrower at any time during the continuance of the agreement and on tender
by the borrower of the prescribed fee for expenses, supply to the borrower
or, if the borrower so requires, to any person specified in that behalf in
the demand, a statement (consisting of the original and a copy) signed by
the money lender or his agent showing-
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(a) the date on which the loan was made, the amount of the principal of
the loan and the rate per cent per annum of interest charged;
(b) the amount of any payment already received by the money lender in
respect of the loan and the date on which it was made;
(c) the amount of every sum due to the money lender but unpaid, and the
date on which it became due, and the amount of interest accrued due and
unpaid in respect of every such sum;
(d) the amount of every sum not yet due which remains outstanding, and the
date on which it will become due; and
(e) the following words, in both English and Chinese, prominently and
legibly on its face-
"THE BORROWER OR OTHER PERSON TO WHOM THIS STATEMENT IS SUPPLIED IS
REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 19 (1A) OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE TO ENDORSE
ON THE COPY OF THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAS RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL OF THE
STATEMENT AND TO RETURN THE COPY AS SO ENDORSED TO THE MONEY LENDER.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(1A) The borrower or other person to whom the original and a copy of a
statement referred to in subsection (1) is supplied under that subsection
by a money lender shall, as soon as practicable after being so supplied-
(a) endorse on the copy of that statement words to the effect that he has
received the original of that statement; and
(b) return the copy of that statement as so endorsed to that money lender,
who shall then retain it during the continuance of the agreement to which
that statement relates. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(2) A money lender shall, on demand in writing by the borrower, supply a
copy of any document relating to a loan made by him or any security
therefor to the borrower or, if the borrower so requires and on payment by
the borrower to the lender of the prescribed fee, to any person specified
in that behalf in the demand. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(3) Subsection (1) or (2) does not apply to a request made by a borrower
less than 1 month after a previous request thereunder relating to the same
agreement was complied with.
(4) If a money lender to whom a demand has been made under this section
fails without reasonable excuse to comply therewith within 1 month after
the demand has been made, he shall not, so long as the default continues,
be entitled to sue for or recover any sum due under the agreement on
account either of principal or interest, and interest shall not be
chargeable in respect of the period of default.
20. Duty of money lender to give information to surety
(1) A money lender who makes any agreement for the loan of money in
relation to which security is provided shall within 7 days after the
making of the agreement give to the surety (if a different person from the
borrower)-
(a) a copy of the note or memorandum in writing made under section 18 (1);
(b) a copy of the security instrument, if any; and
(c) a statement in writing signed by or on behalf of the money lender
showing-
(i) the total sum payable under the agreement by the borrower;
(ii) the various amounts comprised in that total sum with the date, or the
mode of determining the date when each becomes due.
(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), a surety may at any time during
the continuance of an agreement (whether made before or after the
commencement of this Ordinance) in relation to which the security is
provided require the money lender by notice in writing to furnish him with
a statement in writing signed by or on behalf of the money lender
showing-
(a) the total sum paid under the agreement by the borrower;
(b) the total sum which has become payable under the agreement by the
borrower but remains unpaid, and the various amounts comprised in that
total sum, with the date when each became due; and
(c) the total sum which is to become payable under the agreement by the
borrower, and the various amounts comprised in that total sum, with the
date, or the mode of determining the date, when each becomes due.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a request made by a surety less than
1 month after a previous request under that subsection relating to the
same agreement was complied with.
(4) If a money lender fails to comply with subsection (1) or a request to
which subsection (2) applies he shall not be entitled, while the default
continues, to enforce the security so far as provided in relation to the
agreement.
21. Early payment by borrower
(1) A borrower under any agreement for the loan of money by a money lender
shall be entitled at any time by notice in writing to the money lender and
the payment to the money lender of all amounts payable as principal by the
borrower which are outstanding under the agreement, together with interest
computed up to the date of such payment, to discharge his indebtedness
under the agreement:
Provided that the effective rate of such interest shall not exceed the
effective rate at which interest would have been payable under the
agreement if the borrower had not exercised his right under this section
to discharge his indebtedness. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 17)
(2) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 17)
22. Illegal agreements
(1) Any agreement made for the loan of money by a money lender shall be
illegal if it provides directly or indirectly for-
(a) the payment of compound interest;
(b) prohibiting the repayment of the loan by instalments; or
(c) the rate or amount of interest being increased by reason of any
default in the payment of sums due under the agreement:
Provided that provision may be made by any such agreement that if default
is made in the payment upon the due date of any sum payable to the money
lender under the agreement, whether in respect of principal or interest,
the money lender shall be entitled, subject to Part IV, to charge simple
interest on that sum from the date of the default until the sum is paid at
an effective rate not exceeding the effective rate payable in respect of
the principal apart from any default, and any interest so charged shall
not be reckoned for the purposes of this Ordinance as part of the interest
charged in respect of the loan.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the court before which the legality
of any agreement comes in question is satisfied that in all the
circumstances it would be inequitable that any such agreement which does
not comply with this section should be held to be unenforceable, the court
may order that such agreement is enforceable to such extent, and subject
to such modifications or exceptions, as the court considers equitable.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 18)
23. Loan etc. not recoverable unless money lender licensed
No money lender shall be entitled to recover in any court any money lent
by him or any interest in respect thereof or to enforce any agreement made
or security taken in respect of any loan made by him unless he satisfies
the court by the production of his licence or otherwise that at the date
of the loan or the making of the agreement or the taking of the security
(as the case may be) he was licensed:
Provided that if the court is satisfied that in all the circumstances it
would be inequitable if a money lender who did not satisfy it that he was
licensed at the relevant time was thereby not entitled to so recover such
money or interest or to enforce such agreement or security, the court may
order that the money lender is entitled to recover such money or interest
or to enforce such agreement or security to such extent, and subject to
such modifications or exceptions, as the court considers equitable.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 19)
PART IV EXCESSIVE INTEREST RATES
24. Prohibition of excessive interest rates
(1) Any person (whether a money lender or not) who lends or offers to lend
money at an effective rate of interest which exceeds 60 per cent per annum
commits an offence.
(2) No agreement for the repayment of any loan or for the payment of
interest on any loan and on security given in respect of any such
agreement or loan shall be enforceable in any case in which the effective
rate of interest exceeds the rate specified in subsection (1).
(3) The Legislative Council may be resolution alter the rate specified in
subsection (1):
Provided that in relation to any agreement for the repayment of any loan
or for the payment of interest on any loan which is in force at the date
when such rate is so altered, the rate so specified as at the coming into
force of such agreement shall continue to apply.
(4) Any person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable
to a fine of $ 100,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years.
(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to-
(a) a loan specified in paragraph 12 in Part 2 of Schedule 1; or
(b) as respects such loan, any person who makes such loan. (Replaced 69 of
1988 s. 20)
25. Reopening of certain transactions
(1) Subject to section 24 (2), where-
(a) proceedings are taken in any court by any person (whether a money
lender or not) for the recovery of any money lent or the enforcement of
any agreement or security in respect of any loan; and
(b) subject to subsection (3), there is evidence which satisfies the court
that the transaction is extortionate, the court may reopen the transaction
so as to do justice between the parties having regard to all the
circumstances, and, for that purpose, make such orders and give such
directions in respect of the terms of the transaction or the rights of the
parties thereunder as the court may think fit.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a transaction is extortionate if-
(a) it requires the debtor or a relative of his to make payments (whether
unconditionally or on certain contingencies) which are grossly exorbitant;
or
(b) it otherwise grossly contravenes ordinary principles of fair dealing.
(3) Any agreement for the repayment of a loan or for the payment of
interest on a loan in respect of which the effective rate of interest
exceeds 48 per cent per annum shall, having regard to that fact alone, be
presumed for the purposes of this section to be a transaction which is
extortionate; but except where such rate exceeds the rate specified in
section 24 (1), the court may declare that any such agreement is not
extortionate for the purposes of this section if, having regard to all the
circumstances relating to the agreement, the court is satisfied that such
rate is not unreasonable or unfair.
(4) In determining whether a transaction is extortionate for the purposes
of this section, regard shall be had to such evidence as is adduced
concerning-
(a) interest rate prevailing at the time it was made;
(b) the factors mentioned in subsections (5) and (6); and
(c) any other relevant considerations.
(5) Factors applicable under subsection (4) (b) in relation to the debtor
include-
(a) his age, experience, business capacity and state of health;
and
(b) the degree to which, at the time of entering into the transaction, he
was under financial pressure, and the nature of that pressure.
(6) Factors applicable under subsection (4) (b) in relation to the lender
or other person by whom the proceedings are taken include-
(a) the degree of risk accepted by the lender, having regard to the nature
and value of any security provided;
(b) his relationship to the debtor;
(c) whether or not a specious cash price was quoted for any goods or
services included in the transaction; and
(d) where one or more other transactions are to be taken into account, the
question how far any such other transaction was reasonably required for
the protection of the debtor or the lender, or was in the interest of the
debtor.
(7) Any court in which proceedings might be taken for the recovery of any
loan or security in respect of a loan shall have and may at the instance
of the debtor or any surety exercise the like powers as may be exercised
under this section where proceedings are taken for the recovery of a loan;
and the court may entertain any application under this subsection by the
debtor or surety notwithstanding that the time for repayment of the loan
or any instalment thereof has not arrived.
(8) On any application relating to the admission or amount of a proof by a
money lender in any bankruptcy proceedings, the court may exercise the
like powers as may be exercised under this section where proceedings are
taken for the recovery of money.
(9) The Legislative Council may by resolution alter the rate specified in
subsection (3) but, in relation to any agreement referred to in that
subsection which is in force at the date when such rate is so altered, the
rate so specified as at the coming into force of such agreement shall
continue to apply.
(9A) Nothing in this section shall apply to-
(a) a loan specified in paragraph 12 in Part 2 of Schedule 1; or
(b) as respects such loan, any person who makes such loan. (Added 69 of
1988 s. 21)
(10) In this section "debtor" means any person primarily liable for the
repayment of a loan or for the payment of interest in respect of a loan.
PART V GENERAL
26. Restriction on money-lending advertisements
(1) A money lender shall not for the purpose of his business as a money
lender issue or publish or cause to be issued or published any
advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar document which
does not show the name of the money lender as specified in his licence in
such manner as to be not less conspicuous than any other name. (Amended
69 of 1988 s. 22)
(2) Where any advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar
document issued or published by or on behalf of a money lender purports to
indicate the terms of interest on which he is willing to make loans or any
particular loan, such advertisement, circular, business letter or other
document shall show the interest proposed to be charged-
(a) subject to section 24 (1), as a rate per cent per annum; and
(b) in such manner as to be not less conspicuous than any other matter
mentioned therein.
(3) A money lender or any other person shall not for the purpose of the
money lender's business as a money lender issue or publish or cause to be
issued or published any advertisement which does not clearly show the
words "Money Lender's Licence No." immediately followed by the number of
the licence of the money lender. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 22)
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) and section 29 (9), the name of the
money lender as specified in his licence shall be deemed to include any
change by law of the name of the money lender, irrespective of whether his
licence specifies the new name. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 22)
27. Charges for expenses etc. not recoverable
(1) Any agreement entered into between a money lender and a borrower or
intending borrower for the payment by the borrower or intending borrower
to the money lender of any sum for or on account of costs, charges or
expenses (other than stamp duties or similar duties) incidental to or
relating to the negotiations for or the granting of the loan or proposed
loan or the guaranteeing or securing of the repayment thereof shall be
illegal. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 23)
(2) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 23)
(3) Subject to section 33A (5), it shall not be lawful for any money
lender or his partner, employer, employee, principal or agent or any
person acting for or in collusion with any money lender to charge, recover
or receive any sum as for or on account of any such costs, charges or
expenses (other than stamp duties or similar charges) or to demand or
receive any remuneration or reward whatsoever from a borrower or intending
borrower for or in connection with or preliminary to procuring,
negotiating or obtaining any loan made or guaranteeing or securing the
repayment thereof. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 23)
(4) If any money or money's worth is directly or indirectly paid or
allowed to or received by any person in contravention of this section, the
amount or value thereof, to the extent of such contravention and
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, may be recovered by the
borrower from such person or, if such person is the money lender or a
partner, employer, employee, principal or agent of the money lender or is
in any way acting for or in collusion with him, may be set off against the
amount actually lent (and that amount shall be deemed to be reduced
accordingly) or may be recovered by the borrower from such person or from
the money lender.
28. Power of Registrar and police to enter premises and inspect books,
etc.
(1) Where-
(a) the Registrar or any other person authorized in writing for the
purposes of this section by the Registrar; or
(b) a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent or any other
police officer authorized in writing for the purposes of this section by a
police officer of or above such rank, has a reasonable suspicion that a
money lender has committed an offence against this Ordinance (in this
section referred to as the "suspected offence"), he may enter any premises
where the business of the money lender is being carried on and may demand
the production of and inspect the money lender's licence or any books,
accounts, documents or writings relating to any loan made by the money
lender or relating to his business as a money lender, and may take notes,
copies or extracts thereof or therefrom.
(2) Where pursuant to subsection
(1) a police officer has entered any premises where the business of a
money lender is being carried on, he may seize any books, accounts,
documents or writings relating to any loan made by the money lender or
relating to his business as a money lender that the police officer
reasonably believes to be related to the suspected offence.
(3) Any books, accounts, documents or writings seized under subsection (2)
shall, as soon as practicable after such seizure, be delivered to the
Commissioner of Police, or to some person nominated by him in that behalf,
by the police officer who seized them.
(4) Where any books, accounts, documents or writings seized under
subsection (2) are delivered in accordance with subsection (3) to the
Commissioner of Police, or to some person nominated by him in that behalf,
the Commissioner of Police or that person, as the case may be, shall, if
no prosecution is instituted within 3 months after such delivery in
respect of the suspected offence to which they relate, return, or arrange
for the return of, such books, accounts, documents or writings to the
money lender from whom they were so seized.
(Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 24)
29. Offences by money lenders
(1) Any person who carries on business as a money lender-
(a) without a licence; or
(b) at any place other than the premises specified in his licence; or
(c) otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of his licence; or
(d) during any period when his licence is suspended, commits an offence.
(2) Any person who makes any false or misleading statement or furnishes
any false or misleading information in connection with any application for
a licence or the renewal of a licence or in connection with any
application for an exemption under section 33B commits an offence.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(3) Any person who, being a licensee, fails to give notice under section
17 (1) of any change in respect of such licensee, or who, having been
required by the Registrar under section 17 (2) to furnish any information
in respect of such change, fails to furnish such information or furnishes
any false or misleading information commits an offence.
(4) Any money lender who-
(a) fails to make a note or memorandum in writing of an agreement in
compliance with section 18;
(b) fails to give a copy of such note or memorandum to the borrower in
compliance with section 18 (1) (a); or
(c) fails to include in or attach to such copy a summary in writing in
compliance with section 18 (1) (b), commits an offence.
(5) Any money lender who demands or accepts security for a loan in any
form prohibited by regulations made under section 34 commits an offence.
(6) Any money lender who fails to comply with any demand in writing made
by a borrower under section 19 to supply any statement or copy of any
document to the borrower or any person specified in the demand commits an
offence.
(6A) Any money lender who fails to retain a copy of a statement referred
to in section 19 (1) supplied to him under section 19 (1A) during the
continuance of the agreement to which that statement relates commits an
offence. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(7) Any money lender who fails to give a surety any information to which
the surety is entitled under section 20
(1) or in respect of which the surety has made a request by notice in
writing under section 20 (2) commits an offence.
(8) Any money lender who issues or publishes, or causes to be issued or
published, any advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar
document which contravenes section 26 (1) or (2) commits an offence.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(8A) Subject to subsection (8B), any money lender or other person who
issues or publishes, or causes to be issued or published, any
advertisement which contravenes section 26 (3) commits an offence. (Added
69 of 1988 s. 25)
(8B) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (8A)
relating to an advertisement, it shall be a defence for such person to
show-
(a) that he carries on the business of issuing or publishing or causing to
be issued or published advertisements;
(b) that he received the advertisement for issuing or publishing or
causing to be issued or published in the ordinary course of business; and
(c) that at the time he issued or published or caused to be issued or
published the advertisement he believed upon reasonable grounds that the
advertisement clearly showed the words "Money Lender's Licence No."
immediately followed by the number of the licence of the money lender
concerned.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(9) Any money lender who for any of the purposes of his business uses any
name other than the name specified in his licence commits an offence.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(10) Any money lender or his partner, employer, employee, principal or
agent or any person acting for or in collusion with any money lender who
charges, recovers or receives any sum as for or on account of any costs,
charges or expenses (other than stamp duties or similar charges) referred
to in section 27 (3) or demands or receives any remuneration or reward
whatsoever from a borrower or intending borrower for or in connection with
or preliminary to procuring, negotiating or obtaining any loan made or
guaranteeing or securing the repayment thereof commits an offence. (Added
69 of 1988 s. 25)
30. Offences of fraudulent inducement and obstruction
(1) Any person who by any false, misleading or deceptive statement,
representation or promise, or by any dishonest concealment of material
facts, fraudulently induces or attempts to induce-
(a) any money lender to lend money to any person or to agree to the terms
on which money is or is to be borrowed;
(b) any person to borrow money from a money lender or to agree to the
terms on which money is or is to be lent, commits an offence.
(2) Any person who-
(a) wilfully obstructs an authorized person in the performance of his
functions under section 28; or
(b) without reasonable cause fails to give an authorized person such
assistance or information as he may require in the performance of such
functions, commits an offence. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 26)
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), "authorized person" means-
(a) the Registrar or any other person authorized by him in writing under
section 28; or
(b) a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent or any other
police officer authorized by him in writing under section 28.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 26)
30A. Offences relating to licensing court
Any person who-
(a) refuses or fails to comply with any lawful order, requirement or
direction of the licensing court; or
(b) disturbs or otherwise interferes with the proceedings of the licensing
court, commits an offence. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 27)
31. Liability for offences by companies
Where at any time a company commits an offence under this Ordinance with
the consent or connivance of, or because of neglect by, any individual,
the individual commits the like offence if at that time-
(a) he is a director, manager, secretary or similar officer of the
company; or
(b) he is purporting to act as such officer; or
(c) the company is managed by its members, of whom he is one. (Amended 69
of 1988 s. 28)
32. Penalties and disqualification
(1) Any person who commits an offence under this Ordinance shall be
liable-
(a) in the case of an offence under section 29, to a fine of $ 100,000 and
to imprisonment for 2 years;
(b) in the case of any other offence for which no penalty is provided, to
a fine of $ 10,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.
(2) Where any person is convicted of an offence under this Ordinance, the
magistrate may order that such person shall be disqualified from holding
a licence for such period not exceeding 5 years from the date of such
conviction as may be specified in the order.
(3) A licence held by any person against whom an order is made under
subsection (2) shall, as from the date of the order, cease to have effect
for the purposes of this Ordinance.
32A. Time limitation for instituting certain prosecutions
Proceedings for an offence under section 24 or 29 (3) shall be instituted
within 2 years of the commission of the offence. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 29)
33. Burden of proof
(1) When in any proceedings under this Ordinance against any person it is
alleged that such person is not the holder of a licence, it shall in the
absence of proof to the contrary be presumed that such person is not
licensed.
(2) When in any proceedings under this Ordinance against any person it is
alleged that-
(a) such person is not a person specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or
(b) that a loan alleged to have been made by such person is not a loan
specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1, the fact so alleged shall in the
absence of proof to the contrary be presumed. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 30)
33A. General exemptions
(1) The Registrar may, after consultation with the Financial Secretary, by
notice in the Gazette-
(a) exempt a class of persons (whether money lenders or not) specified in
the notice from all or any of the provisions of this Ordinance specified
in the notice; or
(b) exempt a loan, or class of loans, by a class of persons (whether money
lenders or not), specified in the notice from all or any of the provisions
of this Ordinance specified in the notice.
(2) An exemption under subsection (1) shall be subject to such conditions,
if any, as are specified in the notice.
(3) The Registrar may at any time by notice in the Gazette-
(a) revoke an exemption under subsection (1); or
(b) revoke, vary, or add to any condition subject to which such exemption
is granted.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Ordinance, any notice-
(a) under section 21 (2) or 27 (a) of this Ordinance as in force at any
time before the commencement of the Money Lenders (Amendment)
Ordinance 1988 (69 of 1988); and
(b) in force immediately before that commencement, shall remain in force
and continue to have effect as if section 17 or 23 (a) and (b), as the
case may be, of the Money Lenders
(Amendment) Ordinance 1988 (69 of 1988) had never come into operation but
the Registrar may, after consultation with the Financial Secretary, by
notice in the Gazette, revoke any such notice.
(5) Where, at any time before the commencement of the Money Lenders
(Amendment) Ordinance 1988 (69 of 1988), section 27 (1) did not apply in
relation to an agreement referred to in section 27 (2) of this Ordinance
as in force at any time before that commencement, then section 27 (3)
shall, in the like manner-
(a) be deemed never to have applied in relation to that agreement; and
(b) not apply in relation to that agreement in so far as section 27 (1)
does not apply in relation to that agreement by virtue of subsection (4)
of this section. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 31)
33B. Specific exemptions
(1) A person (whether a money lender or not) may make an application-
(a) in the prescribed form; and
(b) accompanied by the prescribed fee, to the Registrar to be exempted
from all or any of the provisions of this Ordinance.
(2) Where the Registrar receives an application under subsection (1) he
shall, after consultation with the Financial Secretary, by notice in
writing served on the person who made the application-
(a) grant the exemption subject to such conditions, if any, as he may deem
fit; or
(b) refuse to grant the exemption.
(3) Without limiting the generality of the Registrar's power under
subsection (2) (a) to impose conditions on an exemption granted under that
subsection-
(a) such conditions may include a condition that the exemption shall apply
to a loan, or class of loans, specified in the exemption; and
(b) the Registrar may, by notice in writing served on the person to whom
the exemption is granted, revoke, vary, or add to any condition subject to
which the exemption is granted.
(4) An exemption granted under subsection (2) (a) shall be in the
prescribed form and-
(a) may be revoked at any time by the Registrar by notice in writing
served on the person to whom the exemption is granted;
and
(b) unless sooner revoked under paragraph (a), shall remain in force for a
period of 3 years, or such lesser period as may be specified by the
Registrar after consultation with the Financial Secretary, commencing on
the date on which the exemption is so granted or, if the exemption
specifies a later date, that later date, and that exemption may be renewed
from time to time by further applications made under subsection (1).
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 31)
33C. Legislative Council may amend Schedule 1
The Legislative Council may be resolution amend Schedule 1.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 31)
34. Regulations
The Governor in Council may make regulations-
(a) prescribing anything required or permitted to be prescribed under this
Ordinance;
(b) specifying any particulars furnished under section 8 as particulars
which shall not be entered in the register under section 4;
(c) imposing restrictions in relation to the form in which security for
any loan may be demanded or accepted by a money lender;
(d) for the better carrying into effect of this Ordinance.
35. Saving
(1) (Omitted as spent)
(2) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 32)
(3) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 32)
(4) The Registrar shall take possession of the register and any documents
relating thereto kept at the office of the Registrar of Companies under
the Money-lenders Ordinance 1911, and such register and other documents
shall be deemed to form part of the records kept by the Registrar under
this Ordinance and shall be available for inspection in the same manner as
the register kept under this Ordinance.
36. Existing loans
(1) This section applies to any agreement made before the commencement of
this Ordinance for the payment of any loan or for the payment of interest
on any loan, and to any security given (whether given before or after the
commencement of this Ordinance) in respect of any such agreement or loan.
(2) Nothing in this Ordinance shall render any agreement or security to
which this section applies void or unenforceable, but no such agreement or
security shall be enforceable as against the borrower or surety or any
other person except to the extent that-
(a) any benefit accruing to the lender by virtue thereof is not more
favourable; and
(b) any obligation or liability incurred by the borrower or surety or
other person by virtue thereof is not more onerous, than it would have
been if such agreement had been made or, as the case may be, such security
had been given on terms consistent with the requirements of this
Ordinance.
(3) Where proceedings are taken in any court for the enforcement of any
agreement or security to which this section applies, the court may make
such orders and give such directions in respect of the terms thereof or
the rights and obligations of the parties in respect thereof as the court
may deem necessary or desirable having regard to the requirements of this
Ordinance relating to an agreement or security of the kind in question.
SCHEDULE 1
[ss. 2, 24, 25, 33 & 33C]
PART 1 EXEMPTED PERSONS
1. Any subsidiary of an authorized institution within the meaning of the
Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155).
2. A co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies
Ordinance (Cap. 33).
3. A credit union registered under the Credit Unions Ordinance (Cap. 119)
and the Credit Union League of Hong Kong incorporated under Part XI of
that Ordinance.
4. A trade union registered under the Trade Unions Ordinance (Cap. 332).
5. An insurer, within the meaning of the Insurance Companies Ordinance
(Cap. 41), authorized under that Ordinance to carry on a class, or
classes, of insurance business specified in Part 2 of the First Schedule
to that Ordinance.
6. (Repealed L. N. 140 of 1991)
7. The University and Polytechnic Grants Committee.
8. A bank which is-
(a) incorporated or established outside Hong Kong;
(b) recognized as a bank by a banking supervisory authority-
(i) of the country, territory, state or province of its incorporation or
establishment; and
(ii) declared in writing, by the Commissioner of Banking within the
meaning of the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155), to be a banking supervisory
authority in respect of which he is of the opinion that it exercises
adequate prudential supervision for the purposes of this paragraph; and
(c) carrying on in that country, territory, state or province the business
of banking.
9. An organization-
(a) which is a member of the International Union of Credit and Investment
Insurers ("The Berne Union"); or
(b) in respect of which the Registrar has declared in writing that he is
satisfied that it was established by one or more national governments with
the object of financing, or guaranteeing the financing of, the export of a
country's goods or services.
PART 2 EXEMPTED LOANS
1. A loan made bona fide by an employer to his employee.
2. A loan made to a company secured by a mortgage, charge, lien or other
encumbrance-
(a) registered, or to be registered, under the Companies Ordinance (Cap.
32); or
(b) which would, in the case of a company referred to in paragraph (b) or
(c) of the definition of "company" in section 2
(1), be able to be registered under that Ordinance if that company were a
company referred to in paragraph (a) of that definition.
3. A loan made by a company under a bona fide credit-card scheme operated
by the company to any holder of a credit-card issued under that scheme.
4. A loan made bona fide for the purchase of immovable property on the
security of a mortgage of that property and a loan made bona fide to
refinance such a mortgage.
5. A loan made by a company or a firm or individual whose ordinary
business does not primarily or mainly involve the lending of money, in the
ordinary course of that business.
6. A loan made by a licensed pawnbroker under the Pawnbrokers Ordinance
(Cap. 166), being a loan to which that Ordinance applies.
7. A loan made by any statutory body under any power conferred by law in
that behalf.
8. A loan made from-
(a) a fund established by resolution of the Legislative Council or by or
under an Ordinance;
(b) any superannuation or provident fund.
9. A loan made from any chit-fund operated under the Chit-Fund Businesses
(Prohibition) Ordinance (Cap. 262).
10. (a) A loan made by a holding company to its subsidiary or by a
subsidiary to its holding company or another subsidiary company of the
same holding company.
(b) Section 2 (7) and (8) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) shall apply
to the interpretation of this paragraph as it applies to the
interpretation of that Ordinance.
11. A loan made to a company where the loan-
(a) forms part of a transaction involving the export from, or the import
into, Hong Kong of goods or services; and
(b) is for the purpose of facilitating that export or import, as the case
may be, of those goods or services.
12. (a) A loan made to a company that has a paid up share capital of not
less than $ 1,000,000 or an equivalent amount in any other approved
currency.
(b) For the purposes of this paragraph "approved currency" means a
currency-
(i) freely convertible into Hong Kong dollars; or
(ii) approved in writing by the Registrar for the purposes of this
paragraph.
13. A loan upon terms involving the issue by a company of debentures or
other securities in respect of which a prospectus has been registered
under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32).
14. A loan made to a company the shares or debentures of which are listed
on-
(a) the Unified Exchange within the meaning of the Stock Exchanges
Unification Ordinance (Cap. 361); or
(b) any other stock market declared in writing, by the Securities and
Futures Commission established under the Securities and Futures Commission
Ordinance (Cap. 24), to be approved for the purposes of this paragraph.
(Amended 10 of 1989 s. 65)
15. A loan made to the subsidiary of a company referred to in paragraph
14. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 33)
SCHEDULE 2
[ss. 2 & 18]
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 34)
CALCULATION OF TRUE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE OF INTEREST
1. Any amount paid or payable to the lender under the agreement (other
than simple interest charged in accordance with the proviso to section 22
(1)) shall be appropriated to principal and interest in the proportion
that the total amount of principal bears to the total amount of the
interest. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 34)
2. The amount of principal outstanding at any time shall be taken to be
the balance remaining after deducting from the principal the total of the
portions of any payments appropriated to principal in accordance with
paragraph 1.
3. The several amounts taken to be outstanding by way of principal during
the several periods ending on the dates on which payments are made shall
be multiplied in each case by the number of calendar months during which
those amounts are taken to be respectively outstanding, and there shall be
ascertained the aggregate amount of the sum so produced.
4. The total amount of the interest shall be divided by one-twelfth part
of the aggregate amount mentioned in paragraph 3 and the quotient,
multiplied by one hundred, shall be taken to be the rate of interest per
cent per annum.
5. If having regard to the intervals between successive payments it is
desired so to do, the calculation of interest may be made by reference to
weeks instead of months, and in such a case the foregoing paragraphs shall
have effect as though in paragraph 3 the word "weeks" were substituted for
the words "calendar months", and in paragraph 4 the words "one-fifty-
second" were substituted for the words "one-twelfth".
6. Where any interval between successive payments is not a number of
complete weeks or complete months, the foregoing paragraphs shall have
effect as though 1 day were one-seventh part of a week or one-thirtieth
part of a month (as the case may be).
ct of every agreement, whether made before or after the
commencement of this Ordinance, for the repayment of money lent by a money
lender, the money lender shall, on demand in writing being made by the
borrower at any time during the continuance of the agreement and on tender
by the borrower of the prescribed fee for expenses, supply to the borrower
or, if the borrower so requires, to any person specified in that behalf in
the demand, a statement (consisting of the original and a copy) signed by
the money lender or his agent showing-
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(a) the date on which the loan was made, the amount of the principal of
the loan and the rate per cent per annum of interest charged;
(b) the amount of any payment already received by the money lender in
respect of the loan and the date on which it was made;
(c) the amount of every sum due to the money lender but unpaid, and the
date on which it became due, and the amount of interest accrued due and
unpaid in respect of every such sum;
(d) the amount of every sum not yet due which remains outstanding, and the
date on which it will become due; and
(e) the following words, in both English and Chinese, prominently and
legibly on its face-
"THE BORROWER OR OTHER PERSON TO WHOM THIS STATEMENT IS SUPPLIED IS
REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 19 (1A) OF THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE TO ENDORSE
ON THE COPY OF THE STATEMENT THAT HE HAS RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL OF THE
STATEMENT AND TO RETURN THE COPY AS SO ENDORSED TO THE MONEY LENDER.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(1A) The borrower or other person to whom the original and a copy of a
statement referred to in subsection (1) is supplied under that subsection
by a money lender shall, as soon as practicable after being so supplied-
(a) endorse on the copy of that statement words to the effect that he has
received the original of that statement; and
(b) return the copy of that statement as so endorsed to that money lender,
who shall then retain it during the continuance of the agreement to which
that statement relates. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(2) A money lender shall, on demand in writing by the borrower, supply a
copy of any document relating to a loan made by him or any security
therefor to the borrower or, if the borrower so requires and on payment by
the borrower to the lender of the prescribed fee, to any person specified
in that behalf in the demand. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 16)
(3) Subsection (1) or (2) does not apply to a request made by a borrower
less than 1 month after a previous request thereunder relating to the same
agreement was complied with.
(4) If a money lender to whom a demand has been made under this section
fails without reasonable excuse to comply therewith within 1 month after
the demand has been made, he shall not, so long as the default continues,
be entitled to sue for or recover any sum due under the agreement on
account either of principal or interest, and interest shall not be
chargeable in respect of the period of default.
20. Duty of money lender to give information to surety
(1) A money lender who makes any agreement for the loan of money in
relation to which security is provided shall within 7 days after the
making of the agreement give to the surety (if a different person from the
borrower)-
(a) a copy of the note or memorandum in writing made under section 18 (1);
(b) a copy of the security instrument, if any; and
(c) a statement in writing signed by or on behalf of the money lender
showing-
(i) the total sum payable under the agreement by the borrower;
(ii) the various amounts comprised in that total sum with the date, or the
mode of determining the date when each becomes due.
(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), a surety may at any time during
the continuance of an agreement (whether made before or after the
commencement of this Ordinance) in relation to which the security is
provided require the money lender by notice in writing to furnish him with
a statement in writing signed by or on behalf of the money lender
showing-
(a) the total sum paid under the agreement by the borrower;
(b) the total sum which has become payable under the agreement by the
borrower but remains unpaid, and the various amounts comprised in that
total sum, with the date when each became due; and
(c) the total sum which is to become payable under the agreement by the
borrower, and the various amounts comprised in that total sum, with the
date, or the mode of determining the date, when each becomes due.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a request made by a surety less than
1 month after a previous request under that subsection relating to the
same agreement was complied with.
(4) If a money lender fails to comply with subsection (1) or a request to
which subsection (2) applies he shall not be entitled, while the default
continues, to enforce the security so far as provided in relation to the
agreement.
21. Early payment by borrower
(1) A borrower under any agreement for the loan of money by a money lender
shall be entitled at any time by notice in writing to the money lender and
the payment to the money lender of all amounts payable as principal by the
borrower which are outstanding under the agreement, together with interest
computed up to the date of such payment, to discharge his indebtedness
under the agreement:
Provided that the effective rate of such interest shall not exceed the
effective rate at which interest would have been payable under the
agreement if the borrower had not exercised his right under this section
to discharge his indebtedness. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 17)
(2) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 17)
22. Illegal agreements
(1) Any agreement made for the loan of money by a money lender shall be
illegal if it provides directly or indirectly for-
(a) the payment of compound interest;
(b) prohibiting the repayment of the loan by instalments; or
(c) the rate or amount of interest being increased by reason of any
default in the payment of sums due under the agreement:
Provided that provision may be made by any such agreement that if default
is made in the payment upon the due date of any sum payable to the money
lender under the agreement, whether in respect of principal or interest,
the money lender shall be entitled, subject to Part IV, to charge simple
interest on that sum from the date of the default until the sum is paid at
an effective rate not exceeding the effective rate payable in respect of
the principal apart from any default, and any interest so charged shall
not be reckoned for the purposes of this Ordinance as part of the interest
charged in respect of the loan.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the court before which the legality
of any agreement comes in question is satisfied that in all the
circumstances it would be inequitable that any such agreement which does
not comply with this section should be held to be unenforceable, the court
may order that such agreement is enforceable to such extent, and subject
to such modifications or exceptions, as the court considers equitable.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 18)
23. Loan etc. not recoverable unless money lender licensed
No money lender shall be entitled to recover in any court any money lent
by him or any interest in respect thereof or to enforce any agreement made
or security taken in respect of any loan made by him unless he satisfies
the court by the production of his licence or otherwise that at the date
of the loan or the making of the agreement or the taking of the security
(as the case may be) he was licensed:
Provided that if the court is satisfied that in all the circumstances it
would be inequitable if a money lender who did not satisfy it that he was
licensed at the relevant time was thereby not entitled to so recover such
money or interest or to enforce such agreement or security, the court may
order that the money lender is entitled to recover such money or interest
or to enforce such agreement or security to such extent, and subject to
such modifications or exceptions, as the court considers equitable.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 19)
PART IV EXCESSIVE INTEREST RATES
24. Prohibition of excessive interest rates
(1) Any person (whether a money lender or not) who lends or offers to lend
money at an effective rate of interest which exceeds 60 per cent per annum
commits an offence.
(2) No agreement for the repayment of any loan or for the payment of
interest on any loan and on security given in respect of any such
agreement or loan shall be enforceable in any case in which the effective
rate of interest exceeds the rate specified in subsection (1).
(3) The Legislative Council may be resolution alter the rate specified in
subsection (1):
Provided that in relation to any agreement for the repayment of any loan
or for the payment of interest on any loan which is in force at the date
when such rate is so altered, the rate so specified as at the coming into
force of such agreement shall continue to apply.
(4) Any person who commits an offence under this section shall be liable
to a fine of $ 100,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years.
(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to-
(a) a loan specified in paragraph 12 in Part 2 of Schedule 1; or
(b) as respects such loan, any person who makes such loan. (Replaced 69 of
1988 s. 20)
25. Reopening of certain transactions
(1) Subject to section 24 (2), where-
(a) proceedings are taken in any court by any person (whether a money
lender or not) for the recovery of any money lent or the enforcement of
any agreement or security in respect of any loan; and
(b) subject to subsection (3), there is evidence which satisfies the court
that the transaction is extortionate, the court may reopen the transaction
so as to do justice between the parties having regard to all the
circumstances, and, for that purpose, make such orders and give such
directions in respect of the terms of the transaction or the rights of the
parties thereunder as the court may think fit.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a transaction is extortionate if-
(a) it requires the debtor or a relative of his to make payments (whether
unconditionally or on certain contingencies) which are grossly exorbitant;
or
(b) it otherwise grossly contravenes ordinary principles of fair dealing.
(3) Any agreement for the repayment of a loan or for the payment of
interest on a loan in respect of which the effective rate of interest
exceeds 48 per cent per annum shall, having regard to that fact alone, be
presumed for the purposes of this section to be a transaction which is
extortionate; but except where such rate exceeds the rate specified in
section 24 (1), the court may declare that any such agreement is not
extortionate for the purposes of this section if, having regard to all the
circumstances relating to the agreement, the court is satisfied that such
rate is not unreasonable or unfair.
(4) In determining whether a transaction is extortionate for the purposes
of this section, regard shall be had to such evidence as is adduced
concerning-
(a) interest rate prevailing at the time it was made;
(b) the factors mentioned in subsections (5) and (6); and
(c) any other relevant considerations.
(5) Factors applicable under subsection (4) (b) in relation to the debtor
include-
(a) his age, experience, business capacity and state of health;
and
(b) the degree to which, at the time of entering into the transaction, he
was under financial pressure, and the nature of that pressure.
(6) Factors applicable under subsection (4) (b) in relation to the lender
or other person by whom the proceedings are taken include-
(a) the degree of risk accepted by the lender, having regard to the nature
and value of any security provided;
(b) his relationship to the debtor;
(c) whether or not a specious cash price was quoted for any goods or
services included in the transaction; and
(d) where one or more other transactions are to be taken into account, the
question how far any such other transaction was reasonably required for
the protection of the debtor or the lender, or was in the interest of the
debtor.
(7) Any court in which proceedings might be taken for the recovery of any
loan or security in respect of a loan shall have and may at the instance
of the debtor or any surety exercise the like powers as may be exercised
under this section where proceedings are taken for the recovery of a loan;
and the court may entertain any application under this subsection by the
debtor or surety notwithstanding that the time for repayment of the loan
or any instalment thereof has not arrived.
(8) On any application relating to the admission or amount of a proof by a
money lender in any bankruptcy proceedings, the court may exercise the
like powers as may be exercised under this section where proceedings are
taken for the recovery of money.
(9) The Legislative Council may by resolution alter the rate specified in
subsection (3) but, in relation to any agreement referred to in that
subsection which is in force at the date when such rate is so altered, the
rate so specified as at the coming into force of such agreement shall
continue to apply.
(9A) Nothing in this section shall apply to-
(a) a loan specified in paragraph 12 in Part 2 of Schedule 1; or
(b) as respects such loan, any person who makes such loan. (Added 69 of
1988 s. 21)
(10) In this section "debtor" means any person primarily liable for the
repayment of a loan or for the payment of interest in respect of a loan.
PART V GENERAL
26. Restriction on money-lending advertisements
(1) A money lender shall not for the purpose of his business as a money
lender issue or publish or cause to be issued or published any
advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar document which
does not show the name of the money lender as specified in his licence in
such manner as to be not less conspicuous than any other name. (Amended
69 of 1988 s. 22)
(2) Where any advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar
document issued or published by or on behalf of a money lender purports to
indicate the terms of interest on which he is willing to make loans or any
particular loan, such advertisement, circular, business letter or other
document shall show the interest proposed to be charged-
(a) subject to section 24 (1), as a rate per cent per annum; and
(b) in such manner as to be not less conspicuous than any other matter
mentioned therein.
(3) A money lender or any other person shall not for the purpose of the
money lender's business as a money lender issue or publish or cause to be
issued or published any advertisement which does not clearly show the
words "Money Lender's Licence No." immediately followed by the number of
the licence of the money lender. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 22)
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) and section 29 (9), the name of the
money lender as specified in his licence shall be deemed to include any
change by law of the name of the money lender, irrespective of whether his
licence specifies the new name. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 22)
27. Charges for expenses etc. not recoverable
(1) Any agreement entered into between a money lender and a borrower or
intending borrower for the payment by the borrower or intending borrower
to the money lender of any sum for or on account of costs, charges or
expenses (other than stamp duties or similar duties) incidental to or
relating to the negotiations for or the granting of the loan or proposed
loan or the guaranteeing or securing of the repayment thereof shall be
illegal. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 23)
(2) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 23)
(3) Subject to section 33A (5), it shall not be lawful for any money
lender or his partner, employer, employee, principal or agent or any
person acting for or in collusion with any money lender to charge, recover
or receive any sum as for or on account of any such costs, charges or
expenses (other than stamp duties or similar charges) or to demand or
receive any remuneration or reward whatsoever from a borrower or intending
borrower for or in connection with or preliminary to procuring,
negotiating or obtaining any loan made or guaranteeing or securing the
repayment thereof. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 23)
(4) If any money or money's worth is directly or indirectly paid or
allowed to or received by any person in contravention of this section, the
amount or value thereof, to the extent of such contravention and
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, may be recovered by the
borrower from such person or, if such person is the money lender or a
partner, employer, employee, principal or agent of the money lender or is
in any way acting for or in collusion with him, may be set off against the
amount actually lent (and that amount shall be deemed to be reduced
accordingly) or may be recovered by the borrower from such person or from
the money lender.
28. Power of Registrar and police to enter premises and inspect books,
etc.
(1) Where-
(a) the Registrar or any other person authorized in writing for the
purposes of this section by the Registrar; or
(b) a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent or any other
police officer authorized in writing for the purposes of this section by a
police officer of or above such rank, has a reasonable suspicion that a
money lender has committed an offence against this Ordinance (in this
section referred to as the "suspected offence"), he may enter any premises
where the business of the money lender is being carried on and may demand
the production of and inspect the money lender's licence or any books,
accounts, documents or writings relating to any loan made by the money
lender or relating to his business as a money lender, and may take notes,
copies or extracts thereof or therefrom.
(2) Where pursuant to subsection
(1) a police officer has entered any premises where the business of a
money lender is being carried on, he may seize any books, accounts,
documents or writings relating to any loan made by the money lender or
relating to his business as a money lender that the police officer
reasonably believes to be related to the suspected offence.
(3) Any books, accounts, documents or writings seized under subsection (2)
shall, as soon as practicable after such seizure, be delivered to the
Commissioner of Police, or to some person nominated by him in that behalf,
by the police officer who seized them.
(4) Where any books, accounts, documents or writings seized under
subsection (2) are delivered in accordance with subsection (3) to the
Commissioner of Police, or to some person nominated by him in that behalf,
the Commissioner of Police or that person, as the case may be, shall, if
no prosecution is instituted within 3 months after such delivery in
respect of the suspected offence to which they relate, return, or arrange
for the return of, such books, accounts, documents or writings to the
money lender from whom they were so seized.
(Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 24)
29. Offences by money lenders
(1) Any person who carries on business as a money lender-
(a) without a licence; or
(b) at any place other than the premises specified in his licence; or
(c) otherwise than in accordance with the conditions of his licence; or
(d) during any period when his licence is suspended, commits an offence.
(2) Any person who makes any false or misleading statement or furnishes
any false or misleading information in connection with any application for
a licence or the renewal of a licence or in connection with any
application for an exemption under section 33B commits an offence.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(3) Any person who, being a licensee, fails to give notice under section
17 (1) of any change in respect of such licensee, or who, having been
required by the Registrar under section 17 (2) to furnish any information
in respect of such change, fails to furnish such information or furnishes
any false or misleading information commits an offence.
(4) Any money lender who-
(a) fails to make a note or memorandum in writing of an agreement in
compliance with section 18;
(b) fails to give a copy of such note or memorandum to the borrower in
compliance with section 18 (1) (a); or
(c) fails to include in or attach to such copy a summary in writing in
compliance with section 18 (1) (b), commits an offence.
(5) Any money lender who demands or accepts security for a loan in any
form prohibited by regulations made under section 34 commits an offence.
(6) Any money lender who fails to comply with any demand in writing made
by a borrower under section 19 to supply any statement or copy of any
document to the borrower or any person specified in the demand commits an
offence.
(6A) Any money lender who fails to retain a copy of a statement referred
to in section 19 (1) supplied to him under section 19 (1A) during the
continuance of the agreement to which that statement relates commits an
offence. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(7) Any money lender who fails to give a surety any information to which
the surety is entitled under section 20
(1) or in respect of which the surety has made a request by notice in
writing under section 20 (2) commits an offence.
(8) Any money lender who issues or publishes, or causes to be issued or
published, any advertisement, circular, business letter or other similar
document which contravenes section 26 (1) or (2) commits an offence.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(8A) Subject to subsection (8B), any money lender or other person who
issues or publishes, or causes to be issued or published, any
advertisement which contravenes section 26 (3) commits an offence. (Added
69 of 1988 s. 25)
(8B) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (8A)
relating to an advertisement, it shall be a defence for such person to
show-
(a) that he carries on the business of issuing or publishing or causing to
be issued or published advertisements;
(b) that he received the advertisement for issuing or publishing or
causing to be issued or published in the ordinary course of business; and
(c) that at the time he issued or published or caused to be issued or
published the advertisement he believed upon reasonable grounds that the
advertisement clearly showed the words "Money Lender's Licence No."
immediately followed by the number of the licence of the money lender
concerned.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(9) Any money lender who for any of the purposes of his business uses any
name other than the name specified in his licence commits an offence.
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 25)
(10) Any money lender or his partner, employer, employee, principal or
agent or any person acting for or in collusion with any money lender who
charges, recovers or receives any sum as for or on account of any costs,
charges or expenses (other than stamp duties or similar charges) referred
to in section 27 (3) or demands or receives any remuneration or reward
whatsoever from a borrower or intending borrower for or in connection with
or preliminary to procuring, negotiating or obtaining any loan made or
guaranteeing or securing the repayment thereof commits an offence. (Added
69 of 1988 s. 25)
30. Offences of fraudulent inducement and obstruction
(1) Any person who by any false, misleading or deceptive statement,
representation or promise, or by any dishonest concealment of material
facts, fraudulently induces or attempts to induce-
(a) any money lender to lend money to any person or to agree to the terms
on which money is or is to be borrowed;
(b) any person to borrow money from a money lender or to agree to the
terms on which money is or is to be lent, commits an offence.
(2) Any person who-
(a) wilfully obstructs an authorized person in the performance of his
functions under section 28; or
(b) without reasonable cause fails to give an authorized person such
assistance or information as he may require in the performance of such
functions, commits an offence. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 26)
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), "authorized person" means-
(a) the Registrar or any other person authorized by him in writing under
section 28; or
(b) a police officer of or above the rank of superintendent or any other
police officer authorized by him in writing under section 28.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 26)
30A. Offences relating to licensing court
Any person who-
(a) refuses or fails to comply with any lawful order, requirement or
direction of the licensing court; or
(b) disturbs or otherwise interferes with the proceedings of the licensing
court, commits an offence. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 27)
31. Liability for offences by companies
Where at any time a company commits an offence under this Ordinance with
the consent or connivance of, or because of neglect by, any individual,
the individual commits the like offence if at that time-
(a) he is a director, manager, secretary or similar officer of the
company; or
(b) he is purporting to act as such officer; or
(c) the company is managed by its members, of whom he is one. (Amended 69
of 1988 s. 28)
32. Penalties and disqualification
(1) Any person who commits an offence under this Ordinance shall be
liable-
(a) in the case of an offence under section 29, to a fine of $ 100,000 and
to imprisonment for 2 years;
(b) in the case of any other offence for which no penalty is provided, to
a fine of $ 10,000 and to imprisonment for 6 months.
(2) Where any person is convicted of an offence under this Ordinance, the
magistrate may order that such person shall be disqualified from holding
a licence for such period not exceeding 5 years from the date of such
conviction as may be specified in the order.
(3) A licence held by any person against whom an order is made under
subsection (2) shall, as from the date of the order, cease to have effect
for the purposes of this Ordinance.
32A. Time limitation for instituting certain prosecutions
Proceedings for an offence under section 24 or 29 (3) shall be instituted
within 2 years of the commission of the offence. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 29)
33. Burden of proof
(1) When in any proceedings under this Ordinance against any person it is
alleged that such person is not the holder of a licence, it shall in the
absence of proof to the contrary be presumed that such person is not
licensed.
(2) When in any proceedings under this Ordinance against any person it is
alleged that-
(a) such person is not a person specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or
(b) that a loan alleged to have been made by such person is not a loan
specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1, the fact so alleged shall in the
absence of proof to the contrary be presumed. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 30)
33A. General exemptions
(1) The Registrar may, after consultation with the Financial Secretary, by
notice in the Gazette-
(a) exempt a class of persons (whether money lenders or not) specified in
the notice from all or any of the provisions of this Ordinance specified
in the notice; or
(b) exempt a loan, or class of loans, by a class of persons (whether money
lenders or not), specified in the notice from all or any of the provisions
of this Ordinance specified in the notice.
(2) An exemption under subsection (1) shall be subject to such conditions,
if any, as are specified in the notice.
(3) The Registrar may at any time by notice in the Gazette-
(a) revoke an exemption under subsection (1); or
(b) revoke, vary, or add to any condition subject to which such exemption
is granted.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Ordinance, any notice-
(a) under section 21 (2) or 27 (a) of this Ordinance as in force at any
time before the commencement of the Money Lenders (Amendment)
Ordinance 1988 (69 of 1988); and
(b) in force immediately before that commencement, shall remain in force
and continue to have effect as if section 17 or 23 (a) and (b), as the
case may be, of the Money Lenders
(Amendment) Ordinance 1988 (69 of 1988) had never come into operation but
the Registrar may, after consultation with the Financial Secretary, by
notice in the Gazette, revoke any such notice.
(5) Where, at any time before the commencement of the Money Lenders
(Amendment) Ordinance 1988 (69 of 1988), section 27 (1) did not apply in
relation to an agreement referred to in section 27 (2) of this Ordinance
as in force at any time before that commencement, then section 27 (3)
shall, in the like manner-
(a) be deemed never to have applied in relation to that agreement; and
(b) not apply in relation to that agreement in so far as section 27 (1)
does not apply in relation to that agreement by virtue of subsection (4)
of this section. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 31)
33B. Specific exemptions
(1) A person (whether a money lender or not) may make an application-
(a) in the prescribed form; and
(b) accompanied by the prescribed fee, to the Registrar to be exempted
from all or any of the provisions of this Ordinance.
(2) Where the Registrar receives an application under subsection (1) he
shall, after consultation with the Financial Secretary, by notice in
writing served on the person who made the application-
(a) grant the exemption subject to such conditions, if any, as he may deem
fit; or
(b) refuse to grant the exemption.
(3) Without limiting the generality of the Registrar's power under
subsection (2) (a) to impose conditions on an exemption granted under that
subsection-
(a) such conditions may include a condition that the exemption shall apply
to a loan, or class of loans, specified in the exemption; and
(b) the Registrar may, by notice in writing served on the person to whom
the exemption is granted, revoke, vary, or add to any condition subject to
which the exemption is granted.
(4) An exemption granted under subsection (2) (a) shall be in the
prescribed form and-
(a) may be revoked at any time by the Registrar by notice in writing
served on the person to whom the exemption is granted;
and
(b) unless sooner revoked under paragraph (a), shall remain in force for a
period of 3 years, or such lesser period as may be specified by the
Registrar after consultation with the Financial Secretary, commencing on
the date on which the exemption is so granted or, if the exemption
specifies a later date, that later date, and that exemption may be renewed
from time to time by further applications made under subsection (1).
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 31)
33C. Legislative Council may amend Schedule 1
The Legislative Council may be resolution amend Schedule 1.
(Added 69 of 1988 s. 31)
34. Regulations
The Governor in Council may make regulations-
(a) prescribing anything required or permitted to be prescribed under this
Ordinance;
(b) specifying any particulars furnished under section 8 as particulars
which shall not be entered in the register under section 4;
(c) imposing restrictions in relation to the form in which security for
any loan may be demanded or accepted by a money lender;
(d) for the better carrying into effect of this Ordinance.
35. Saving
(1) (Omitted as spent)
(2) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 32)
(3) (Repealed 69 of 1988 s. 32)
(4) The Registrar shall take possession of the register and any documents
relating thereto kept at the office of the Registrar of Companies under
the Money-lenders Ordinance 1911, and such register and other documents
shall be deemed to form part of the records kept by the Registrar under
this Ordinance and shall be available for inspection in the same manner as
the register kept under this Ordinance.
36. Existing loans
(1) This section applies to any agreement made before the commencement of
this Ordinance for the payment of any loan or for the payment of interest
on any loan, and to any security given (whether given before or after the
commencement of this Ordinance) in respect of any such agreement or loan.
(2) Nothing in this Ordinance shall render any agreement or security to
which this section applies void or unenforceable, but no such agreement or
security shall be enforceable as against the borrower or surety or any
other person except to the extent that-
(a) any benefit accruing to the lender by virtue thereof is not more
favourable; and
(b) any obligation or liability incurred by the borrower or surety or
other person by virtue thereof is not more onerous, than it would have
been if such agreement had been made or, as the case may be, such security
had been given on terms consistent with the requirements of this
Ordinance.
(3) Where proceedings are taken in any court for the enforcement of any
agreement or security to which this section applies, the court may make
such orders and give such directions in respect of the terms thereof or
the rights and obligations of the parties in respect thereof as the court
may deem necessary or desirable having regard to the requirements of this
Ordinance relating to an agreement or security of the kind in question.
SCHEDULE 1
[ss. 2, 24, 25, 33 & 33C]
PART 1 EXEMPTED PERSONS
1. Any subsidiary of an authorized institution within the meaning of the
Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155).
2. A co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies
Ordinance (Cap. 33).
3. A credit union registered under the Credit Unions Ordinance (Cap. 119)
and the Credit Union League of Hong Kong incorporated under Part XI of
that Ordinance.
4. A trade union registered under the Trade Unions Ordinance (Cap. 332).
5. An insurer, within the meaning of the Insurance Companies Ordinance
(Cap. 41), authorized under that Ordinance to carry on a class, or
classes, of insurance business specified in Part 2 of the First Schedule
to that Ordinance.
6. (Repealed L. N. 140 of 1991)
7. The University and Polytechnic Grants Committee.
8. A bank which is-
(a) incorporated or established outside Hong Kong;
(b) recognized as a bank by a banking supervisory authority-
(i) of the country, territory, state or province of its incorporation or
establishment; and
(ii) declared in writing, by the Commissioner of Banking within the
meaning of the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155), to be a banking supervisory
authority in respect of which he is of the opinion that it exercises
adequate prudential supervision for the purposes of this paragraph; and
(c) carrying on in that country, territory, state or province the business
of banking.
9. An organization-
(a) which is a member of the International Union of Credit and Investment
Insurers ("The Berne Union"); or
(b) in respect of which the Registrar has declared in writing that he is
satisfied that it was established by one or more national governments with
the object of financing, or guaranteeing the financing of, the export of a
country's goods or services.
PART 2 EXEMPTED LOANS
1. A loan made bona fide by an employer to his employee.
2. A loan made to a company secured by a mortgage, charge, lien or other
encumbrance-
(a) registered, or to be registered, under the Companies Ordinance (Cap.
32); or
(b) which would, in the case of a company referred to in paragraph (b) or
(c) of the definition of "company" in section 2
(1), be able to be registered under that Ordinance if that company were a
company referred to in paragraph (a) of that definition.
3. A loan made by a company under a bona fide credit-card scheme operated
by the company to any holder of a credit-card issued under that scheme.
4. A loan made bona fide for the purchase of immovable property on the
security of a mortgage of that property and a loan made bona fide to
refinance such a mortgage.
5. A loan made by a company or a firm or individual whose ordinary
business does not primarily or mainly involve the lending of money, in the
ordinary course of that business.
6. A loan made by a licensed pawnbroker under the Pawnbrokers Ordinance
(Cap. 166), being a loan to which that Ordinance applies.
7. A loan made by any statutory body under any power conferred by law in
that behalf.
8. A loan made from-
(a) a fund established by resolution of the Legislative Council or by or
under an Ordinance;
(b) any superannuation or provident fund.
9. A loan made from any chit-fund operated under the Chit-Fund Businesses
(Prohibition) Ordinance (Cap. 262).
10. (a) A loan made by a holding company to its subsidiary or by a
subsidiary to its holding company or another subsidiary company of the
same holding company.
(b) Section 2 (7) and (8) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) shall apply
to the interpretation of this paragraph as it applies to the
interpretation of that Ordinance.
11. A loan made to a company where the loan-
(a) forms part of a transaction involving the export from, or the import
into, Hong Kong of goods or services; and
(b) is for the purpose of facilitating that export or import, as the case
may be, of those goods or services.
12. (a) A loan made to a company that has a paid up share capital of not
less than $ 1,000,000 or an equivalent amount in any other approved
currency.
(b) For the purposes of this paragraph "approved currency" means a
currency-
(i) freely convertible into Hong Kong dollars; or
(ii) approved in writing by the Registrar for the purposes of this
paragraph.
13. A loan upon terms involving the issue by a company of debentures or
other securities in respect of which a prospectus has been registered
under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32).
14. A loan made to a company the shares or debentures of which are listed
on-
(a) the Unified Exchange within the meaning of the Stock Exchanges
Unification Ordinance (Cap. 361); or
(b) any other stock market declared in writing, by the Securities and
Futures Commission established under the Securities and Futures Commission
Ordinance (Cap. 24), to be approved for the purposes of this paragraph.
(Amended 10 of 1989 s. 65)
15. A loan made to the subsidiary of a company referred to in paragraph
14. (Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 33)
SCHEDULE 2
[ss. 2 & 18]
(Amended 69 of 1988 s. 34)
CALCULATION OF TRUE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE OF INTEREST
1. Any amount paid or payable to the lender under the agreement (other
than simple interest charged in accordance with the proviso to section 22
(1)) shall be appropriated to principal and interest in the proportion
that the total amount of principal bears to the total amount of the
interest. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 34)
2. The amount of principal outstanding at any time shall be taken to be
the balance remaining after deducting from the principal the total of the
portions of any payments appropriated to principal in accordance with
paragraph 1.
3. The several amounts taken to be outstanding by way of principal during
the several periods ending on the dates on which payments are made shall
be multiplied in each case by the number of calendar months during which
those amounts are taken to be respectively outstanding, and there shall be
ascertained the aggregate amount of the sum so produced.
4. The total amount of the interest shall be divided by one-twelfth part
of the aggregate amount mentioned in paragraph 3 and the quotient,
multiplied by one hundred, shall be taken to be the rate of interest per
cent per annum.
5. If having regard to the intervals between successive payments it is
desired so to do, the calculation of interest may be made by reference to
weeks instead of months, and in such a case the foregoing paragraphs shall
have effect as though in paragraph 3 the word "weeks" were substituted for
the words "calendar months", and in paragraph 4 the words "one-fifty-
second" were substituted for the words "one-twelfth".
6. Where any interval between successive payments is not a number of
complete weeks or complete months, the foregoing paragraphs shall have
effect as though 1 day were one-seventh part of a week or one-thirtieth
part of a month (as the case may be).
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