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Hong Kong


MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE
　(CHAPTER 163)
　CONTENTS
　　
　　ion
　　I　　　　PRELIMINARY
　　hort title and application
　　nterpretation
　　rdinance not to apply to authorized institutions
　　egistrar of Money Lenders and supervisory functions of Registrar
　　fficial secrecy
　　nspection of register
　　Documents admissible in evidence
　　II　　　 LICENSING OF MONEY LENDERS
　　estriction on carrying on of business of money lender
　　pplication for licence and public notification of application
　　nvestigation and lodgement of applications
　　Licensing court
　　Selection of assessors and payment of fees to assessors
　　Powers of licensing court
　　Immunity
　　Determination of application for licence
　　Effect and duration of licence
　　Renewal
　　Revocation and suspension
　　Transfer of licence and addition or substitution of new premises
　　Appeals
　　Duty to notify changes of particulars
　　III　　　MONEY LENDERS' TRANSACTIONS
　　Form of agreement
　　Duty of money lender to give information to borrower
　　Duty of money lender to give information to surety
　　Early payment by borrower
　　Illegal agreements
　　Loan etc. not recoverable unless money lender licensed
　　IV　　　 EXCESSIVE INTEREST RATES
　　Prohibition of excessive interest rates
　　Reopening of certain transactions
　　V　　　　GENERAL
　　Restriction on money-lending advertisements
　　Charges for expenses etc. not recoverable
　　Power of Registrar and police to enter premises and inspect books,
　　
　　Offences by money lenders
　　Offences of fraudulent inducement and obstruction
　　Offences relating to licensing court
　　Liability for offences by companies
　　Penalties and disqualification
　　Time limitation for instituting certain prosecutions
　　Burden of proof
　　General exemptions
　　Specific exemptions
　　Legislative Council may amend Schedule 1
　　Regulations
　　Saving
　　Existing loans
　　dule 1
　　dule 2
　　provide for the control and regulation of money　lenders　and　
money-
　　ing transactions, the appointment of a Registrar of Money Lenders　
and
　　licensing of persons carrying on business as money lenders; to
provide
　　ection and relief against excessive interest　rates　and　
extortionate
　　ulations in respect of loans; to provide for offences and for　
matters
　　ected with or incidental to the foregoing; and to　repeal　the　
Money-
　　ers Ordinance 1911.
　　December 1980] L. N. 347 of 1980
　PART I PRELIMINARY
　　
　　hort title and application
　　This Ordinance may be cited as the Money Lenders Ordinance.
　　This Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding any agreement
to　the
　　rary.
　　nterpretation
　　In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--
　　pany" means a body corporate--
　　incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32);
　　incorporated by any other Ordinance; or
　　incorporated or established outside Hong Kong; (Added 69 of 1988
s. 2)
　　qualified person" means a person in respect of whom there is in　
force
　　rder made by a court under section 32 (2);
　　ective　rate",　in　relation　to　interest,　means　the　true　
annual
　　entage rate of interest calculated in accordance with Schedule
2;
　　nded 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　m" means an unincorporate body of 2 or more individuals, or 1 or　
more
　　viduals and 1 or more companies, or 2　or　more　companies,　who　
have
　　red into partnership with one another　with　a　view　to　
carrying　on
　　ness for profit; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　erest" does not　include　any　sum　lawfully　agreed　to　be　
paid　in
　　rdance with this Ordinance on account of stamp duty or　other　
similar
　　, but save as aforesaid includes any amount (by whatever name　
called)
　　xcess of the principal, which amount has been or　is　to　be　
paid　or
　　ble in consideration of or otherwise in respect of a loan;
　　ence" means a money lender's　licence　granted　under　section　
11　or
　　wed under section 13, and "licensed" and "licensee" have
corresponding
　　ings; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　ensing court" means--
　　a magistrate sitting alone; or
　　a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors,
　　he case may be, in accordance with section 10, 14 or 15; (Replaced　
69
　　988 s. 2)
　　n" includes advance, discount, money paid for or on account of　
or　on
　　lf of or at the request of any person, or the forbearance　to　
require
　　ent of money owing on any　account　whatsoever,　and　every　
agreement
　　tever its terms or form may be) which is in substance or effect
a loan
　　oney, and also an agreement to secure the repayment of any such　
loan,
　　"lend" and "lender" shall be construed accordingly;
　　ey lender" means every　person　whose　business　(whether　or　
not　he
　　ies on any other business) is that of making loans or　who　
advertises
　　nnounces himself or holds himself out in any way as carrying　on　
that
　　ness, but does not include--
　　a person specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or
　　as respects a loan specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1, any　person　
who
　　s such loan; (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　scribed" means prescribed by regulations made under section 34;
　　ncipal", in relation to a loan, means the amount actually lent;
　　ister" means the register kept by the Registrar under section 4;
　　istrar" means the Registrar of Money Lenders appointed　under　
section
　　
　　sidiary" means subsidiary within the　meaning　of　section　2　
of　the
　　anies Ordinance (Cap. 32). (Added 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　
　　For the purposes of this Ordinance, where by an agreement for the
loan
　　oney the interest charged on the loan is not expressed in terms　
of　a
　　, any amount paid or payable to the lender under the agreement　
(other
　　simple interest charged in accordance with the proviso to section
22)
　　l be appropriated to principal and interest in the proportion that
the
　　l amount of principal bears to the total amount of the　interest,　
and
　　rate per cent　per　annum　represented　by　the　interest　
charged　as
　　ulated in accordance with Schedule 2 shall be deemed to be the
rate of
　　rest charged on the loan. (Amended 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　For the purpose of determining the amount of the principal of a　
loan,
　　amount thereof which is not shown to have been　lent　except　for　
the
　　ose of treating it as an instalment paid by the borrower in　
repayment
　　he loan and which is so treated by the lender shall be disregarded.
　　References in this Ordinance to an assessor are references to a
person
　　inted to a panel of assessors under　section　7A　of　the　
Magistrates
　　nance (Cap. 227). (Added 69 of 1988 s. 2)
　　rdinance not to apply to authorized institutions
　　Ordinance shall not apply to--
　　an authorized institution within the meaning of the Banking
Ordinance
　　. 155); or
　　as respects a loan made to such an authorized institution, any　
person
　　makes such loan.
　　laced 69 of 1988 s. 3)
　　egistrar of Money Lenders and supervisory functions of Registrar
　　The Governor shall appoint a public officer to　be　the　
Registrar　of
　　y Lenders.
　　The Registrar shall establish and maintain　a　register　in　
which　he
　　l cause to be kept particulars, other than specified particulars,
of--
　　applications for the grant or renewal of licences; (Amended 69
of 1988
　　)
　　licences which are in force or have been revoked or suspended;
　　such other matters, if any, as he thinks fit.
　　In this section "specified particulars"　means　particulars　
furnished
　　r section 8 which are specified in regulations made under　
section　34
　　articulars which shall not be entered in the register.
　　fficial secrecy
　　Except as may be necessary for the　exercise　or　performance　
of　any
　　tion or duty under this Ordinance or　for　carrying　into　
effect　the
　　isions of this Ordinance, the Registrar and every person　
employed　in
　　ying out or in assisting any person to carry　out　the　
provisions　of
　　Ordinance--
　　shall preserve and aid　in　preserving　secrecy　with　regard　
to　all
　　ers relating to the affairs　of　any　person　that　may　come　
to　his
　　ledge in the exercise or performance of any　function　or　duty　
under
　　Ordinance;
　　shall not communicate any such matter to any　person　other　
than　the
　　on to whom such matter relates; and
　　shall not suffer or permit any person to have access to any records
in
　　possession, custody or control of any person to whom　this　
subsection
　　ies.
　　
　　Subsection (1) does not apply--
　　to the disclosure of information in the form of a summary　of　
similar
　　rmation provided by a number of persons if the summary is so framed
as
　　revent particulars relating to the business of any　particular　
person
　　g ascertained from it;
　　to the disclosure of information with a view to the institution
of, or
　　rwise for the purposes of, any criminal proceedings; (Replaced　
69　of
　　s. 5)
　　in connection with any civil proceedings arising out of,　or　
relating
　　section 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 33, 33B or 36; or (Added 69 of 1988
s. 5)
　　to the disclosure of　information　to　the　Financial　
Secretary,　the
　　etary for Monetary Affairs, or any public officer　authorized　
by　the
　　ncial Secretary for the purposes　of　this　paragraph　where,　
in　the
　　ion of the Registrar, it is desirable or　expedient　that　
information
　　ld be disclosed in the public interest. (Added 69 of 1988 s. 5)
　　Any person who--
　　contravenes subsection (1); or
　　aids, abets, counsels or procures any person to contravene
subsection
　　commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine of $ 100,000 and　
to
　　isonment for 2 years.
　　nspection of register
　　Any person shall be entitled on payment of the prescribed fee--
　　to inspect the register during ordinary office hours and　take　
copies
　　ny entry; or
　　to obtain from the　Registrar　a　copy,　certified　by　or　
under　the
　　ority of the Registrar to be correct, of any entry in the register.
　　The Registrar shall give public notice, in such manner as he may　
deem
　　of the place where and the times when the register may be
inspected.
　　Documents admissible in evidence
　　cument purporting to be a copy, certified by or under the
authority of
　　Registrar to be true and correct, of any entry in the　register　
shall
　　dmissible in evidence in criminal　or　civil　proceedings　
before　any
　　t on its production without further proof and, until the　
contrary　is
　　ed, the court shall presume that--
　　the signature and　certification　to　the　document　is　that　
of　the
　　strar or a person authorized by him in that behalf, and
　　the document is a true and correct copy.
　　ed 69 of 1988 s. 6)
　PART II LICENSING OF MONEY LENDERS
　　
　　estriction on carrying on of business of money lender
　　No person shall carry on business as a money lender--
　　without a licence;
　　at any place other than the premises specified in such licence;
or
　　
　　rwise than in accordance with the conditions of a licence.
　　A licence shall be in the prescribed form.
　　pplication for licence and public notification of application
　　An application for a licence shall be made to　the　Registrar　in　
the
　　cribed form and in the prescribed manner, and shall be accompanied　
by
　　prescribed fee and a statement in writing　containing　the　
prescribed
　　iculars in respect of the application.
　　An application made under this section in respect of a company
may　be
　　by any person authorized in that behalf by such company. (Amended　
69
　　988 s. 7)
　　An application made under this section in respect　of　partners　
in　a
　　may be made by any such partner.
　　The Registrar shall, in such manner as may be prescribed, give　
public
　　ce of every application made under this section.
　　nvestigation and lodgement of applications
　　Where an application is made under section 8, the applicant　
shall　at
　　same time send a copy　of　the　application　to　the　
Commissioner　of
　　ce, and the Commissioner of Police may cause an　investigation　
to　be
　　ied out in respect of the application for the purpose　of　
determining
　　her, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police, there　are　
grounds
　　objecting to the application under section 11.
　　For the purpose of carrying out an investigation under　this　
section,
　　Commissioner of Police may in writing require the applicant to
produce
　　inspection such　books,　records　or　documents　or　to　
furnish　such
　　rmation relating to the application or　any　business　carried　
on　or
　　nded to be carried on　by　him　as　the　Commissioner　of　
Police　may
　　ify.
　　In respect of an application made under section 8, no step other　
than
　　registration of such application shall be taken by the Registrar
prior
　　
　　the date on which a period of 60 days after　the　date　on　which　
the
　　ication is made expires; or
　　the date on which the Commissioner of Police　notifies　the　
Registrar
　　any investigation carried out under this section in　respect　of　
the
　　ication has been completed, whichever is the earlier (in this　
section
　　rred to as "the material date").
　　Where the Registrar or the Commissioner of Police　intends　to　
object
　　r section 11 to any application for a licence,　he　shall,　not　
later
　　7 days after the material date, serve notice on the applicant of　
his
　　ntion to object and of the grounds of such objection; and　where　
such
　　ce is served by the Commissioner of　Police,　he　shall　send　a　
copy
　　eof to the Registrar.
　　Upon the expiration of a period of 7 days after the material　date　
in
　　ect of any application made under section 8, the Registrar shall
lodge
　　application with such magistrate as he deems fit, together with
a copy
　　ny notice served on the applicant under subsection (4).　
(Replaced　69
　　988 s. 8)
　　The Registrar shall give notice to the Commissioner of Police　of　
any
　　ement made under subsection (5).
　　
　　Licensing court
　　Where an application is lodged under　section　9　(5),　the　
licensing
　　t shall hear and determine the application in accordance with
section
　　
　　For the purposes of hearing　and　determining　an　application　
lodged
　　r section 9 (5), the licensing court shall be constituted by-
-
　　where no notice has been served on the applicant under section　
9　(4)
　　1 (2) (b) (i), subject to subsection (3), a magistrate sitting　
alone;
　　
　　where a notice has been served on the applicant under section 9
(4) or
　　2) (b) (i), a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors.
　　Without limiting the generality of the power of　the　licensing　
court
　　r section 10B (f) to adjourn the　hearing　of　an　application　
lodged
　　r section 9 (5), the licensing court shall, where--
　　it is constituted by a magistrate sitting alone; and
　　it grants leave under section 11 (2) (b) (ii) to a person to object
to
　　application, adjourn the hearing to　another　date　to　be　
heard　and
　　rmined by the licensing court constituted by a magistrate sitting
with
　　sessors.
　　Where the licensing court is constituted by a magistrate sitting　
with
　　sessors, the decision of the licensing court　shall　be　that　
of　the
　　rity of the members and shall be recorded in writing:
　　ided that the magistrate's rulings on matters of law　shall　bind　
the
　　nsing court.
　　The Registrar shall be provided with a copy of each　decision　of　
the
　　nsing court.　(Replaced 69 of 1988 s. 9)
　　Selection of assessors and payment of fees to assessors
　　Where under this Ordinance the　licensing　court　is　required　
to　be
　　tituted by a magistrate sitting with 2 assessors, the Registrar
of the
　　eme Court shall select those assessors.
　　Where an assessor selected under subsection (1) attends the　
licensing
　　t for which he has been so selected, he shall, irrespective of
whether
　　its as an assessor, be paid a fee of an amount equal to the fee　
fixed
　　r section 7A (2) of the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap. 227) to be
paid to
　　ssessor for his services.　(Added 69 of 1988 s. 9)
　　Powers of licensing court
　　ect to this Ordinance, the　licensing　court　may　determine　
its　own
　　edure and in particular may--
　　receive and consider any material, whether by way　of　oral　
evidence,
　　ten statements, documents　or　otherwise,　notwithstanding　
that　such
　　rial would　not　be　admissible　in　evidence　in　civil　or　
criminal
　　eedings;
　　by notice in writing signed by the presiding magistrate,　require　
any
　　on to attend before it at any hearing and to give evidence and
produce
　　ments;
　　administer oaths and affirmations;
　　examine on oath, affirmation or otherwise any person attending　
before
　　t any hearing and require such person to answer all questions　put　
by
　　ith its consent;
　　determine the manner in which the material referred to in
paragraph
　　shall be received; and
　　adjourn any hearing from time to time as it may deem fit, and　may　
do
　　things--
　　ancillary to the powers conferred by this section; or
　　reasonably necessary for the discharge of its　functions　under　
this
　　nance.　(Added 69 of 1988 s. 9)
　　
　　Immunity
　　-
　　member of the licensing court; and
　　witness, party to any　proceedings,　representative　or　other　
person
　　aring before the licensing court, shall have the same　privileges　
and
　　nities in any　proceedings　before　the　licensing　court　or　
in　the
　　cise of the licensing court's functions as　he　would　have　
before　a
　　t in civil proceedings.
　　ed 69 of 1988 s. 9)
　　Determination of application for licence
　　The licensing court shall fix a date for the hearing of an
application
　　ed under section 9 (5) and shall give 14 clear days'　notice　of　
such
　　to the applicant, the Registrar and the Commissioner of Police.
　　nded 69 of 1988 s. 10)
　　Subject to subsection (3), the licensing court shall grant　a　
licence
　　the hearing of an application　lodged　under　section　9　(5)　
except

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