Announcements
Announcements
Bankruptcy Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2022
The Bankruptcy Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 3) Notice 2022 was published in the Gazette on 22 April 2022 to amend Schedule 3 to the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) to reflect the change of name of The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries to The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute. The notice was tabled before the Legislative Council on 27 April 2022.
To view the notice, please visit
https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20222616/es22022261655.pdf
Official Receiver's Office to resume normal public services starting from April 21
To align with the Government's arrangements for gradual resumption of public services, the Official Receiver’s Office (ORO) will resume normal public services from April 21 with continuation of targeted measures to reduce social contact and application of infection control measures.
All offices of the ORO will be open from 8.30 am to 5.45 pm from Monday to Friday. For details on the office hours of specific public services, please visit the ORO’s website at https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/about_us/contact_us/office_hours_and_further_assistance.html. As there may be a higher demand for the public services at the beginning of service resumption, the waiting and processing times for the services provided by the ORO may be longer. Members of the public are urged to come forward for the services only when such services are immediately required.
With a view to reducing flow of people and social contact, members of the public are encouraged to avoid coming to the offices of the ORO in so far as possible. For the delivery of documents to ORO, the public may make use of the ORO’s designated drop box on the Deck Floor of Queensway Government Offices. They can also make use of the electronic services of the ORO and contact the ORO by:
(a) telephone (Hotline number: 2867 2448);
(b) email (oroadmin@oro.gov.hk); or
(c) fax (Fax number: 3105 1814).
As to the meetings of creditors, meetings of contributories and adjournment thereof, creditors and contributories are recommended to lodge their proxy with the ORO by way of fax at 3105 1814 and avoid attending the meetings in person. The proxy forms can be accessed at the ORO’s website below. Members of the public are also advised not to attend the meeting unless it is absolutely necessary.
For bankruptcy cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/bankruptcy_forms.html
For liquidation cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/liquidation_forms.html
For any enquiries, please contact the ORO through its hotline at 2867 2448.
Temporary Unemployment Relief Scheme
The Government has introduced a Temporary Unemployment Relief (“TUR”) Scheme to provide assistance for people who have lost their jobs due to the fifth wave of the epidemic and to reduce their financial stress before they find another job. A one-off subsidy of $10,000 will be granted to each eligible person under the Scheme.
Application for subsidy under the TUR Scheme commences on 23 March 2022. Any undischarged bankrupt who intends to apply for the subsidy can visit the website of the Scheme for detailed information on the Scheme (https://www.tur.gov.hk/en/index.html). For obligations of an undischarged bankrupt after receipt of the subsidy, please see the FAQ (No. 3.13) on the Scheme (https://www.tur.gov.hk/en/faq.html).
New Online Service for Debtors: Appointment Booking for Attestation Services via GovHK Portal
With effect from 18 February 2022, the Official Receiver’s Office has launched a new service for debtors who intend to file “Debtor’s Bankruptcy Petition” (“the Petition”) and wish to have the Petition attested before an authorized staff of the Official Receiver’s Office to book an appointment for the attestation service online via the GovHK Portal.
Please click here for details.
Official Receiver’s Office staff member preliminarily tests positive for COVID-19
The Official Receiver’s Office (ORO) today (February 5) said that a staff member has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.
The staff member concerned works in the public counter of ORO on 10th Floor, High Block, Queensway Government Offices and last performed duties on January 31. She has no recent travel history. She was wearing a face mask and following disease prevention measures while performing duties. She had also properly maintained social distancing with people she had contact with. Her body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening at work and she did not have any symptoms.
Thorough cleaning and disinfection has been arranged at the premises concerned. The ORO has also arranged for all staff of the same floor to undergo COVID-19 testing and work from home until a negative test result is obtained. The ORO will maintain close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health in taking appropriate follow-up actions.
The public counter of ORO on 10th Floor, High Block, Queensway Government Offices will be closed on February 7 (Monday) and will provide emergency and essential public services from 9am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm, from February 8 (Tuesday) until further notice. Meanwhile, the opening hours of other offices of the ORO will remain unchanged during office hours (i.e. 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.45pm from Monday to Friday).
During the pandemic, the ORO has been strictly implementing disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the office, providing masks and other personal protective equipment for staff, and stepping up the cleaning and sterilising measures for the working environment. The ORO has also reminded its staff to pay attention to personal hygiene and stay vigilant. Staff have been reminded to seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.
Latest arrangement for public services of Official Receiver's Office
To align with the special work arrangement announced by the Government today (February 3) and to reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, the Official Receiver's Office (ORO) announced the latest arrangement for provision of emergency and essential public services from tomorrow (February 4) until further notice as follows:
While opening hours of all offices of the ORO will remain unchanged (i.e. 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.45pm from Monday to Friday), the provision of services will be scaled down and the waiting/processing time for the services provided by the ORO may be longer. Details on the office hours of specific public services are available at the ORO’s website (https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/about_us/contact_us/office_hours_and_further_assistance.html)
To achieve social distancing with a view to reducing the risk of the spread of the virus in the community, members of the public are encouraged to avoid coming to the offices of the ORO in so far as possible. For the delivery of documents to ORO, the public may make use of the ORO designated drop box on the Deck Floor of Queensway Government Offices. They can make use of the electronic services of the ORO and to contact the ORO by:
(a) telephone (hotline number 2867 2448);
(b) email (oroadmin@oro.gov.hk); or
(c) fax (fax number: 3105 1814).
Members of the public who have appointments with this office will be notified of an alternate appointment date as soon as possible.
As to the meetings of creditors, meetings of contributories and adjournment thereof, those scheduled to be held on or after February 4 will be convened as scheduled. To avoid contagion of the disease by personal contact, creditors/contributories are recommended to lodge their proxy with the ORO by way of fax and avoid attending the meeting in person. The proxy forms can be accessed at the ORO’s website below. Members of the public are also advised not to attend the meeting unless it is absolutely necessary.
For bankruptcy cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/bankruptcy_forms.html
For liquidation cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/liquidation_forms.html
For any enquiries, please contact us through our hotline at 2867 2448.
New Online Service for Creditors: Submission of Proof of Debt via GovHK Portal
With effect from 28 January 2022, the Official Receiver’s Office has launched a new service for creditors to submit their proofs of debt online via the GovHK Portal.
Please click here for details.
One-stop service for Online Application for “Certificate of Non-Bankruptcy”
The Official Receiver’s Office has enhanced the e-Services to provide one-stop service for Online Application for “Certificate of Non-Bankruptcy”. With effect from 28 January 2022, member of public who has registered “iAM Smart” can submit application, make payment, track the application status online and download the “Certificate of Non-Bankruptcy” via GovHK Portal.
Please click here for details.
Official Receiver's Office to Implement New Special Work Arrangements Starting from January 25
In view of the latest local epidemic situation and in alignment with the announcement by the Government on January 24, the Official Receiver's Office (ORO) will implement new special work arrangements to reduce the number of staff present in the office while generally maintaining basic public services, from January 25 until further notice, which may possibly lead to longer waiting / processing time for the services provided.
Opening hours of all offices of the ORO will remain unchanged (i.e. 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.45pm from Monday to Friday) [Note: For details on the office hours of specific public services, please visit the ORO’s website at https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/about_us/contact_us/office_hours_and_further_assistance.html.] Members of the public are urged to come forward for the services only when such services are urgently required.
To achieve social distancing and to reduce flow of people and social contact, members of the public are encouraged to avoid coming to the offices of the ORO as so far as possible. For the delivery of documents to the ORO, the public may make use of the ORO’s designated drop box on the Deck Floor of Queensway Government Offices. They can also make use of the electronic services of the ORO and contact the ORO by:
(a) telephone (hotline number: 2867 2448);
(b) email (oroadmin@oro.gov.hk); or
(c) fax (fax number: 3105 1814).
As for the meetings of creditors, meetings of contributories and adjournment thereof, creditors are recommended to lodge their proxy with the ORO by way of fax at 3105 1814 and avoid attending a meeting in person. The proxy forms can be accessed at the ORO’s website below. Members of the public are also advised not to attend such meetings unless it is absolutely necessary.
For bankruptcy cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/bankruptcy_forms.html
For liquidation cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/liquidation_forms.html
All offices of the ORO will strengthen infection control measures, including enhanced cleansing and disinfection of public areas, mandatory body temperature checks and checks on use of the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile app upon entry into premises of the ORO, and mandatory wearing of masks. All visitors must observe the relevant measures and follow the instructions of our staff on-site when entering the ORO premises.
For any enquiries, please contact the ORO through our hotline at 2867 2448.
To Enhance Social Distancing
In light of the latest development of the epidemic situation, the Official Receiver's Office (ORO) will continue to implement targeted measures to reduce social contact and to apply infection control measures.
To achieve social distancing and to reduce flow of people and social contact, members of the public are encouraged to avoid coming to the offices of the ORO as so far as possible. For the delivery of documents to the ORO, the public may make use of the ORO’s designated drop box on the Deck Floor of Queensway Government Offices. They can also make use of the electronic services of the ORO and contact the ORO by:
(a) telephone (hotline number: 2867 2448);
(b) email (oroadmin@oro.gov.hk); or
(c) fax (fax number: 3105 1814).
As for the meetings of creditors, meetings of contributories and adjournment thereof, creditors are recommended to lodge their proxy with the ORO by way of fax at 3105 1814 and avoid attending a meeting in person. The proxy forms can be accessed at the ORO’s website.
1. For bankruptcy cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/bankruptcy_forms.html
2. For liquidation cases
https://www.oro.gov.hk/eng/our_services/pforms/liquidation_forms.html
Members of the public are also advised not to attend such meetings unless it is absolutely necessary.
All offices of the ORO will strengthen infection control measures, including enhanced cleansing and disinfection of public areas, mandatory body temperature checks and checks on use of the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile app upon entry into premises of the ORO, and mandatory wearing of masks. All visitors must observe the relevant measures and follow the instructions of our staff on-site when entering the ORO premises.
For any enquiries, please contact the ORO through our hotline at 2867 2448.
Important Notice for Petitioner in Bankruptcy Proceedings
It is the duty of petitioners (including petitioning creditors in creditor’s petition cases and debtors in self petition cases) and their legal representatives to ensure that bankruptcy petitions presented by them to court are prosecuted efficiently and expeditiously. The duty includes (but not limited to) attending the petition hearing and adjourned hearings (if any) at the appointed date and time, communicating proactively with the court on matters regarding the petition, responding timely to the requisitions that may be raised by the court from time to time, proceeding with the petition efficiently and applying for adjournment only where circumstances fully justify.
Any petitions presented that are not in compliance with the relevant requirements or amount to an abuse of process (e.g. the bankruptcy proceedings being invoked in an improper manner or for an improper purpose such as using it as a means for debt collection or negotiation with creditors) is liable to be dismissed by the court with costs ordered against the petitioner.
Use of "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application on Official Receiver’s Office premises starting 1 November 2021
In accordance with the Government’s announcement on the strict enforcement of requirement of using “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application (“the app”) when entering government buildings or offices, starting from 1 November 2021, except for exempted persons specified in the paragraph below, all persons entering the premises of the Official Receiver’s Office (ORO) are required to use the app to scan the venue QR code before entry.
Persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, those with disabilities that render use of the app difficult and individual persons granted exemption due to actual circumstances, will be exempt from the requirement of using the app when they enter ORO premises. The exempted persons are required to complete a record form to register their names, the first four digits or letters of their identification documents, their contact numbers and the date and time of their visits, with relevant identification documents presented for verification at the request of our staff on-site. Our staff will also verify the contact numbers by making phone calls.
Any person who does not use the app and fail to provide the required information in the record form, ORO may deny their entry.
As it will take time to verify personal particulars under the new arrangement, the waiting and processing times for the services provided by the ORO may be longer. Members of the public are advised to allow sufficient time to come forward for the services and follow the instructions of our staff on-site when entering the ORO premises.
Additional Measures for Online Search Service starting from November 2021
To further enhance protection of personal data privacy, the Official Receiver’s Office (“ORO”) will introduce additional requirements for access to the search service for the individual voluntary arrangement (“IVA”) register provided by ORO. With effect from 1 November 2021, searchers of the IVA register are required to provide their personal information, including name and identification information, and confirm that information obtained from the search will only be used for the stated purpose of the register. Searchers are also required to acknowledge that they understand the consequences of using the personal data obtained for any unpermitted purposes or in contravention of the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486).
Public counter service of Official Receiver’s Office has resumed to normal
After urgent repair of the electricity supply, the public counter service of Official Receiver’s Office has now resumed to normal.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. For any enquiries, please contact us through our hotline at 2867 2448 or by email at oroadmin@oro.gov.hk.
Urgent repair of electricity supply for public counter of Official Receiver’s Office
Urgent repair of the electricity supply for the public counter of Official Receiver’s Office (ORO) is in progress. The public service may be interrupted and members of the public are encouraged to make use of the electronic services of the ORO. If the public need any assistance concerning our public counter services during the repair period, please contact the ORO by phone at 2867 2448 (office hours: (i.e. between 8.30am and 12.30pm and between 2pm and 5.45pm from Monday to Friday) or by email at oroadmin@oro.gov.hk. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Consumption Voucher Scheme
The Government has introduced a Consumption Voucher Scheme under which eligible Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals aged 18 or above may register electronically or otherwise to receive electronic consumption vouchers with a total value of $5,000 by instalments. Registration for the Consumption Voucher Scheme starts on July 4. Any undischarged bankrupt who intends to register for the Consumption Voucher Scheme can visit the website of the Scheme for detailed information on the Scheme (https://www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk). For obligations of an undischarged bankrupt after receipt of the vouchers, please see the FAQs (Part K) on the Scheme (https://www.consumptionvoucher.gov.hk/en/faqs.html).
New Online Application Services via GovHK
With effect from 25 January 2021, the Official Receiver’s Office has launched the following new online services via GovHK:
For details, please click “Electronic Services” and select the relevant online services.
Discontinuation of provision of public search service / facility in person or by mail
With effect from 2 November 2020, the following public search services will be provided online only and our counter will stop accepting applications for search using ORO Form “ORO 73”:
Members of the public can make application for the search service online via internet. Online search facility is available at our counter area. For details of the online search service, members of the public can visit the webpage of GovHK at https://www.gov.hk/en/business/registration/deregistration/compulsory.htm.
Cash Payout Scheme
The Government has introduced a Cash Payout Scheme under which eligible Hong Kong permanent residents may register electronically or use a paper form to receive $10,000. Registration for the Cash Payout Scheme started on June 21. Any undischarged bankrupt who intends to register for the Cash Payout Scheme can visit the website of the Scheme for detailed information on the Scheme (https://www.cashpayout.gov.hk/eng/index.html). For obligations of the undischarged bankrupt after receipt of the payment, please see the FAQs (No. 85) on the scheme (https://www.cashpayout.gov.hk/eng/faqs.html).
Arrangement for Online Search Service starting from July 2018
To enhance protection of personal data obtained from the bankruptcy register and the individual voluntary arrangement (“IVA”) register, the Official Receiver’s Office (“ORO”) has introduced a new arrangement for its online search service. With effect from 3 July 2018, searchers have to confirm acceptance of the purpose statement of the relevant search report(s) (i.e. bankruptcy search or IVA search or both) before conducting the search. Please note that such an acceptance will amount to the searcher’s confirmation to the ORO that he/she will use the personal data obtained from the search report(s) for the stated purposes only.
Q&As on Confirmation of the Search Purpose for Online Search Service (142KB)
In view of the coming into operation of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 on February 13, 2017, Panel A Scheme Rules (348KB) have been revised accordingly (with revision effective from February 13, 2017).
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