REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR CONTROLLING THEREGISTRATION OF ENTERPRISES AS LEGAL PERSONS
REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR CONTROLLING THEREGISTRATION OF ENTERPRISES AS LEGAL PERSONS
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document
REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR CONTROLLING THE
REGISTRATION OF ENTERPRISES AS LEGAL PERSONS
(Adopted by the Fourth Executive Meeting of the State Council on
May 13, 1988, promulgated by Decree No. 1 of the State Council of the
People's Republic of China on June 3, 1988, and effective as of July 1,
1988)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
In accordance with relevant provisions of the General Principles of the
Civil Law of the People's Republic of China, the present Regulations are
formulated with a view to establishing a system for controlling the
registration of enterprises as legal persons, confirming their status as
such, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, stamping out
illegal business operations, and preserving social and economic order.
Article 2
Any of the following enterprises which are qualified as legal persons
shall register as such in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
present Regulations:
(1) enterprises owned by the whole people;
(2) enterprises under collective ownership;
(3) jointly operated enterprises;
(4) Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign contractual
joint ventures and foreign-capital enterprises established within the
territory of the People's Republic of China;
(5) privately operated enterprises;
(6) other enterprises required by the law to register as legal persons.
Article 3
Those enterprises applying for registration as legal persons shall be
given Business Licenses for Enterprises as Legal Persons and the status of
legal persons when their applications for registration have been examined
and approved by the authorities in charge of the registration of
enterprises as legal persons and their legitimate rights and interests
shall be protected by laws of the State.
Those enterprises, which are required by law to register as legal persons
but which have not gone through the procedures of examination and approval
registration by the authorities in charge of the registration of
enterprises as legal persons, shall not be allowed to engage in business
operations.
Chapter II Registration Authorities
Article 4
The authorities in charge of the registration of enterprises as legal
persons (hereinafter referred to as the registration authorities) are the
State Administration for Industry and Commerce and administrative
departments for industry and commerce at various levels. Registration
authorities at various levels shall perform their functions according to
law under the leadership of higher registration authorities and be free
from unlawful interference.
Article 5
The registration of national corporations, enterprise groups and
corporations handling import-export business set up with the approval of
the State Council or departments authorized by the State Council shall be
examined and approved by the State Administration for Industry and
Commerce. The registration of Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures,
Chinese-foreign contractual joint ventures and foreign-capital enterprises
shall be examined and approved by the State Administration for Industry
and Commerce or by local administrative departments for industry and
commerce authorized by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
The registration of son (or branch) companies of national corporations,
enterprises, enterprise groups or companies handling import-export trade
established with the approval of the people's governments of provinces,
autonomous regions or municipalities directly under the Central Government
or departments authorized by them shall be examined and approved by the
administrative departments for industry and commerce of the provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central
Government. The registration of other enterprises shall be examined and
approved by the administrative departments for industry and commerce of
the cities of counties (districts) where the enterprises are located.
Article 6
Registration authorities at various levels shall institute a file of the
registration of enterprises as legal persons and a system for tabulating
statistics relating to such registration, and collect basic information
about the registration of enterprises as legal persons so as to serve the
development of a planned commodity economy. Registration authorities
shall offer, in a planned manner and according to the needs of society,
the service of providing the public with data about the registration of
enterprises as legal persons.
Chapter III Conditions for Registration and Entities to Apply for Registration
Article 7
Entities applying for registration as enterprises as legal persons must
satisfy the following conditions, i.e. having:
(1) name, organization and articles of association;
(2) fixed sites for business operations and essential facilities;
(3) funds and employees in conformity with State regulations and in line
with their scale of production, operation or service;
(4) ability to bear civil liabilities independently;
(5) a scope of business in conformity with the provisions of the relevant
laws, regulations and policies of the State.
Article 8
The application of an enterprise for registration as a legal person shall
be filed by the person responsible for establishing the enterprise.
The registration as a legal person of a jointly operated enterprise which
bears civil liabilities independently shall be applied for by the person
responsible for initiating the said enterprise.
Chapter IV Items of Registration
Article 9
The major items to be registered for an enterprise as a legal person are:
name, residence, site for business operation, legal representative,
economic nature, scope of business, mode of operation, registered capital,
number of employees, duration of operation and subdivisions.
Article 10
An enterprise as a legal person shall use only one name. The name to be
used by the enterprise as a legal person in its application for
registration shall be examined by the registration authorities and, after
it is approved and registered, the enterprise as a legal person shall
enjoy the right to the exclusive use of the registered name within a
definite limit.
Those who apply for establishing Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures,
Chinese-foreign contractual joint ventures or foreign-capital enterprises
shall apply to the registration authorities for registering the names of
the enterprises before their contracts and articles of association are
examined and approved.
Article 11
The legal representative of an enterprise as a legal person, which has
been registered after examination and approval by a registration
authority, shall be the signatory who exercises functions and powers on
behalf of the enterprise. The signature of the legal representative shall
be submitted to the registration authority for the record.
Article 12
The registered capital of an enterprise as a legal person represents the
total value of the property the State entrusts to it for operation and
management or that of the property owned by the enterprise itself.
When an enterprise as a legal person registers for starting operations,
the discrepancy between the sum of capital it applies for registration and
the sum of capital it actually possesses shall be handled in accordance
with specific regulations of the State.
Article 13
The scope of business of an enterprise as a legal person shall be in
harmony with its capital, sites, equipment, employees and technical force.
It may focus on one line of business as its main operation while engaging
in other operations simultaneously in accordance with relevant regulations
of the State. An enterprise as a legal person shall engage in operations
within the scope of business as approved in registration.
Chapter V Registration for Starting Operations
Article 14
An enterprise as a legal person shall apply to a registration authority
for registration for starting operations within 30 days after the approval
of the department in charge of it or that of an authority for examination
and approval. For an enterprise which does not have a department in charge
or authority for examination and approval, its application for
registration for starting operations shall be examined by a registration
authority. The registration authority shall make a decision of approval or
disapproval of the application for registration within 30 days after
receiving it.
Article 15
An enterprise as a legal person shall submit the following papers when
applying for registration for starting operations:
(1) an application for registration signed by the person responsible for
its establishment;
(2) the document of approval issued by the department in charge or the
authority for examination and approval;
(3) its articles of association;
(4) a certificate of its credit worthiness, a certificate of the
verification of its capital or a guarantee for its capital;
(5) a certificate of the identity of the principal responsible person of
the enterprise;
(6) a certificate of the right to use the residence and site for
operation;
(7) other relevant papers and certificates.
Article 16
When the application filed by an entity for starting operations as an
enterprise as a legal person has been examined and approved by a
registration authority and a Business Licenses for Enterprises as a Legal
Person is received, the enterprise shall be considered as established. The
enterprises as a legal person may henceforth have its official seal made,
open a bank account, sign contracts and conduct business operations by
dint of its Business License.
The registration authority may, after a check-up, issue duplicates of the
Business License, if the enterprise as a legal person needs them for its
business operations.
Chapter VI Changes in Registration
Article 17
An enterprise as a legal person shall apply for making changes in its
registration whenever it changes its name, residence, site, legal
representative, economic nature, scope of business, mode of operation,
registered capital or duration of operation and whenever it increases or
disbands its branches.
Article 18
An enterprise as a legal person shall apply to the registration authority
for making changes in its registration within 30 days after the changes
are approved by the department in charge or by the authority for
examination and approval.
Article 19
An enterprise as a legal person shall apply to the registration authority
for making changes in its registration, or for registration for starting
operations or for cancelling its registration, whenever it is split up,
or merged with others or moved elsewhere, within 30 days after these
changes are approved by the department in charge or by the authority for
examination and approval.
Chapter VII Cancellation of Registration
Article 20
An enterprise as a legal person shall go through the procedures for
cancelling its registration with the registration authority when it closes
down, is dissolved, declares bankruptcy or terminates its business
operations for other reasons.
Article 21
Whenever an enterprise as a legal person is to cancel its registration, it
must submit an application signed by its legal representative, a document
of approval issued by the department in charge or by the authority for
examination and approval, a certificate showing the completion of the
clearing up of its liabilities, or a document showing that a liquidation
organization will be responsible for clearing up its creditor's rights and
liabilities. The registration authority, after examining and approving the
application, shall recall the Business License for Enterprise as a Legal
Person, duplicates of the License, take over the official seal of the
enterprise, and notify the banks at which it has opened an account of the
cancellation of its registration.
Article 22
An enterprise as a legal person, which fails to start operations 6 months
after receiving its Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person or
which has ceased its operations for a year, shall be regarded as having
closed down, and the registration authority shall recall its Business
License for Enterprises as a Legal Person, duplicates of the License, take
over its official seal and notify the banks at which it has opened an
account of the cancellation of its registration.
Chapter VIII Announcement, Annual Check-up and Control of Certi- ficates
Article 23
The registration authority shall issue registration announcements whenever
an enterprise as a legal person starts operations, changes its name or
cancels its registration. No other organ shall be entitled to issue such
announcements without the approval of the registration authority.
Article 24
A system for conducting annual check-up shall be instituted to administer
the registration of enterprises as legal persons. An enterprise as a legal
person shall submit its annual check-up report, its balance sheet or
statement of assets and liabilities to the registration authority at the
time it prescribes. The registration authority shall check up the major
items contained in the registration of the enterprise as a legal person.
Article 25
The Business License for Enterprises as a Legal Person issued by the
registration authority is the certificate of an enterprise as a legal
person. Except the registration authority, which may withhold or cancel it
in accordance with the legal procedures, no other organ or individual is
entitled to take over, detain or destroy it. An enterprise as a legal
person, which has lost its Business License for Enterprise as a Legal
Person or duplicates of the License, must announce the loss in a newspaper
before it can apply for a replacement.
The Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person and its duplicates
may not be forged, altered, leased, lent, sold or reproduced without
permission.
Article 26
An enterprise as a legal person shall pay registration and annual check-up
fees according to the rules when it registers for starting operations and
applies for making changes in its registration and when it receives the
annual check-up. The fees to be charged on registration for starting
operations shall be 0.1% of the sum of the enterprise's registered
capital; in cases where the registered capital exceeds 10 million yuan,
the fees to be charged on the portion in excess of the said sum shall be
0.05% of it; in cases where the registered capital exceeds 100 million
yuan, no fees shall be charged on the portion in excess of the said sum.
The minimum registration fee shall be 50 yuan. Fees to be charged on
making changes in the registration and conducting the annual check-up
shall be prescribed by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
Chapter IX Control of the Registration of Business Operations by Institutions and Scientific and Technological Public Organizations
Article 27
When institutions or scientific and technological public organizations
establish enterprises qualified as legal persons in line with relevant
regulations of the state, the applications for registration shall be filed
by the enterprises. They may engage in business operations only after
their applications for registration have been approved by the registration
authorities and after they have received their respective Business
Licenses for Enterprise as a Legal Person.
Article 28
Institutions, which are run like enterprises in accordance with relevant
regulations of the State and which no longer receive operating funds from
the State, or scientific and technological public organizations which are
established for business operations, shall apply for registration if they
are qualified to be enterprises as legal persons. They may engage in
business operations only after their applications have been approved by
the registration authorities and they have received their respective
Business Licenses for Enterprise as a Legal Person.
Chapter X Supervision and Control
Article 29
The registration authorities shall exercise the following functions of
supervision and control over enterprises as legal persons according to
law:
(1) supervising the registration for starting operations, the application
for making changes and the cancellation of registration by enterprises as
legal persons according to regulations;
(2) supervising the conduct of business operations by enterprises as legal
persons in line with the items of registration, articles of association
and contracts;
(3) supervising the compliance of enterprises as legal persons and their
legal representatives with laws, regulations and policies of the State;
(4) stopping, investigating or dealing with illegal business operations of
enterprises as legal persons; protecting their legitimate rights and
interests.
Article 30
The registration authority may, in light of the circumstances, penalize an
enterprise as legal person by warning, fine, confiscation of illegal
earnings, suspension of business for consideration, or withholding or
revoking the Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person, if it is
involved in any of the following case:
(1) concealing the true situation and resorting to deception in the course
of registration or starting operations before the approval of its
registration;
(2) altering major items in the registration without permission or
engaging in business operations beyond the scope of business as approved
in registration;
(3) failing to cancel registration according to the rules or failing to
submit the annual check-up report or receive the annual check-up;
(4) forging, altering, leasing, lending, transferring, selling or
reproducing the Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person or its
duplicates without permission;
(5) withdrawing or transferring capital, concealing assets or dodging
liabilities;
(6) engaging in illegal business operations.
While penalizing an enterprise as a legal person in line with the above
provisions, the registration authority shall investigate its legal
representative's administrative and economic responsibilities according to
the seriousness of the violations of the law; judicial organs shall
investigate the criminal responsibilities of those who have violated the
criminal law.
Article 31
The registration authority shall ascertain the facts and act according to
law when dealing with the illegal activities of an enterprise as a legal
person and notify the parties concerned of its decision in writing.
Article 32
When an enterprise as a legal person disagrees with the penalty meted out
by the registration authority, it may appeal within 15 days after
receiving the notice of penalty, to the immediate higher registration
authority for reconsideration. The higher registration authority shall
make a reconsideration decision within 30 days after receiving the appeal
for reconsideration. The enterprise may file a suit in a people's court
within 30 days after receiving the notice of reconsideration if it
disagrees with the reconsideration decision. The registration authority
may, in accordance with the prescribed procedures, ask the bank at which
the enterprise has an account to transfer from its account the sum to be
fined or confiscated as penalty, if it fails to appeal or to pay the fine
or the confiscated sum at the expiry of the prescribed period.
Article 33
When an enterprise as a legal person has its business license revoked, the
registration authority shall take over its official seal and notify the
bank at which it has an account of the cancellation of its registration,
and the department in charge or a liquidation organization shall be
responsible for settling its creditor's rights and liabilities.
Article 34
Any functionary of the department in charge, the authority for examination
and approval or of the registration authority, who has violated the
present Regulations, neglected his duties to a serious extent, abused his
powers, practised graft and embezzlement, extorted and taken bribes or
encroached on the legitimate rights and interests of an enterprise as a
legal person, shall be given administrative or economic penalty in light
of the circumstances; the judicial organ shall investigate, according to
law, his criminal responsibility, if the violates the criminal law.
Chapter XI Supplementary Provisions
Article 35
When an enterprise as a legal person establishes a branch which is
incapable of bearing civil liability independently, the registration of
the branch shall be applied for by the enterprise. The branch shall
receive a Business License after the application is approved by the
registration authority and may engage in business operations within the
scope of business as approved in registration.
In accordance with relevant State regulations, administrative institutions
depending on State funding or scientific and technological social bodies
must apply for registration if they engage in business operations or
establish enterprises not qualified as legal persons. They shall receive
Business Licenses after their applications are approved by the
registration authorities and may engage in business operations within the
scope of business as approved in registration.
The specific control of the registration involved shall be enforced with
reference to the provisions of the present Regulations.
Article 36
For new enterprises to be established with the approval of relevant
departments of the State Council or planning departments at various
levels, if their preparations have been under way for more than 1 year,
applications for the registration of the establishment shall be filed
according to specific regulations.
Article 37
Enterprises qualified as legal persons, whose registration was approved by
the registration authorities before the present Regulations are put into
effect, are not required to go through the formalities again for
registration as enterprises as legal persons.
Article 38
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce shall be responsible
for interpreting the present Regulations; and the rules for their
implementation shall also be formulated by the State Administration for
Industry and Commerce.
Article 39
The present Regulations shall enter into force on July 1, 1988. The
Regulations for Controlling the Registration of Chinese-Foreign Equity
Joint Ventures promulgated by the State Council on July 26, 1980, the
Regulations for Controlling the Registration of Industrial and Commercial
Enterprises promulgated by the State Council on August 9, 1982, and the
Interim Provisions for Controlling the Registration of Companies approved
by the State Council on August 14, 1985 and promulgated by the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce on August 25, 1985 shall all be
abrogated on the same date.
eplacement.
The Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person and its duplicates
may not be forged, altered, leased, lent, sold or reproduced without
permission.
Article 26
An enterprise as a legal person shall pay registration and annual check-up
fees according to the rules when it registers for starting operations and
applies for making changes in its registration and when it receives the
annual check-up. The fees to be charged on registration for starting
operations shall be 0.1% of the sum of the enterprise's registered
capital; in cases where the registered capital exceeds 10 million yuan,
the fees to be charged on the portion in excess of the said sum shall be
0.05% of it; in cases where the registered capital exceeds 100 million
yuan, no fees shall be charged on the portion in excess of the said sum.
The minimum registration fee shall be 50 yuan. Fees to be charged on
making changes in the registration and conducting the annual check-up
shall be prescribed by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
Chapter IX Control of the Registration of Business Operations by Institutions and Scientific and Technological Public Organizations
Article 27
When institutions or scientific and technological public organizations
establish enterprises qualified as legal persons in line with relevant
regulations of the state, the applications for registration shall be filed
by the enterprises. They may engage in business operations only after
their applications for registration have been approved by the registration
authorities and after they have received their respective Business
Licenses for Enterprise as a Legal Person.
Article 28
Institutions, which are run like enterprises in accordance with relevant
regulations of the State and which no longer receive operating funds from
the State, or scientific and technological public organizations which are
established for business operations, shall apply for registration if they
are qualified to be enterprises as legal persons. They may engage in
business operations only after their applications have been approved by
the registration authorities and they have received their respective
Business Licenses for Enterprise as a Legal Person.
Chapter X Supervision and Control
Article 29
The registration authorities shall exercise the following functions of
supervision and control over enterprises as legal persons according to
law:
(1) supervising the registration for starting operations, the application
for making changes and the cancellation of registration by enterprises as
legal persons according to regulations;
(2) supervising the conduct of business operations by enterprises as legal
persons in line with the items of registration, articles of association
and contracts;
(3) supervising the compliance of enterprises as legal persons and their
legal representatives with laws, regulations and policies of the State;
(4) stopping, investigating or dealing with illegal business operations of
enterprises as legal persons; protecting their legitimate rights and
interests.
Article 30
The registration authority may, in light of the circumstances, penalize an
enterprise as legal person by warning, fine, confiscation of illegal
earnings, suspension of business for consideration, or withholding or
revoking the Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person, if it is
involved in any of the following case:
(1) concealing the true situation and resorting to deception in the course
of registration or starting operations before the approval of its
registration;
(2) altering major items in the registration without permission or
engaging in business operations beyond the scope of business as approved
in registration;
(3) failing to cancel registration according to the rules or failing to
submit the annual check-up report or receive the annual check-up;
(4) forging, altering, leasing, lending, transferring, selling or
reproducing the Business License for Enterprise as a Legal Person or its
duplicates without permission;
(5) withdrawing or transferring capital, concealing assets or dodging
liabilities;
(6) engaging in illegal business operations.
While penalizing an enterprise as a legal person in line with the above
provisions, the registration authority shall investigate its legal
representative's administrative and economic responsibilities according to
the seriousness of the violations of the law; judicial organs shall
investigate the criminal responsibilities of those who have violated the
criminal law.
Article 31
The registration authority shall ascertain the facts and act according to
law when dealing with the illegal activities of an enterprise as a legal
person and notify the parties concerned of its decision in writing.
Article 32
When an enterprise as a legal person disagrees with the penalty meted out
by the registration authority, it may appeal within 15 days after
receiving the notice of penalty, to the immediate higher registration
authority for reconsideration. The higher registration authority shall
make a reconsideration decision within 30 days after receiving the appeal
for reconsideration. The enterprise may file a suit in a people's court
within 30 days after receiving the notice of reconsideration if it
disagrees with the reconsideration decision. The registration authority
may, in accordance with the prescribed procedures, ask the bank at which
the enterprise has an account to transfer from its account the sum to be
fined or confiscated as penalty, if it fails to appeal or to pay the fine
or the confiscated sum at the expiry of the prescribed period.
Article 33
When an enterprise as a legal person has its business license revoked, the
registration authority shall take over its official seal and notify the
bank at which it has an account of the cancellation of its registration,
and the department in charge or a liquidation organization shall be
responsible for settling its creditor's rights and liabilities.
Article 34
Any functionary of the department in charge, the authority for examination
and approval or of the registration authority, who has violated the
present Regulations, neglected his duties to a serious extent, abused his
powers, practised graft and embezzlement, extorted and taken bribes or
encroached on the legitimate rights and interests of an enterprise as a
legal person, shall be given administrative or economic penalty in light
of the circumstances; the judicial organ shall investigate, according to
law, his criminal responsibility, if the violates the criminal law.
Chapter XI Supplementary Provisions
Article 35
When an enterprise as a legal person establishes a branch which is
incapable of bearing civil liability independently, the registration of
the branch shall be applied for by the enterprise. The branch shall
receive a Business License after the application is approved by the
registration authority and may engage in business operations within the
scope of business as approved in registration.
In accordance with relevant State regulations, administrative institutions
depending on State funding or scientific and technological social bodies
must apply for registration if they engage in business operations or
establish enterprises not qualified as legal persons. They shall receive
Business Licenses after their applications are approved by the
registration authorities and may engage in business operations within the
scope of business as approved in registration.
The specific control of the registration involved shall be enforced with
reference to the provisions of the present Regulations.
Article 36
For new enterprises to be established with the approval of relevant
departments of the State Council or planning departments at various
levels, if their preparations have been under way for more than 1 year,
applications for the registration of the establishment shall be filed
according to specific regulations.
Article 37
Enterprises qualified as legal persons, whose registration was approved by
the registration authorities before the present Regulations are put into
effect, are not required to go through the formalities again for
registration as enterprises as legal persons.
Article 38
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce shall be responsible
for interpreting the present Regulations; and the rules for their
implementation shall also be formulated by the State Administration for
Industry and Commerce.
Article 39
The present Regulations shall enter into force on July 1, 1988. The
Regulations for Controlling the Registration of Chinese-Foreign Equity
Joint Ventures promulgated by the State Council on July 26, 1980, the
Regulations for Controlling the Registration of Industrial and Commercial
Enterprises promulgated by the State Council on August 9, 1982, and the
Interim Provisions for Controlling the Registration of Companies approved
by the State Council on August 14, 1985 and promulgated by the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce on August 25, 1985 shall all be
abrogated on the same date.
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