Frequently Asked Questions about Electronic Submission System - Public Portal (Creditors)

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1. Q: What is Electronic Submission System (“ESS”)?
A:ESS is an information system developed and operated by the Official Receiver’s Office (“ORO”) to receive submissions of documents in electronic form from stakeholders including bankrupts, private insolvency practitioners (“PIPs”) and creditors.
2. Q: For whom is the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:The Public Portal (Creditors) is a gateway for general creditors to submit proof of debt form in bankruptcy and compulsory winding-up cases electronically where the Official Receiver acts as the trustee or liquidator.
3. Q: Are creditors required to register an account with ORO for using the service provided by the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:No, creditors are not required to register an account with ORO for using the service.
4. Q: What are the key features of the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:The Public Portal (Creditors) is specifically designed for general creditors to provide them with a simple, direct and effective means for filing proof of debt as mentioned above. It is particularly suitable for individuals and entities who are not regular creditors in insolvency cases. The portal provides the following key features:
  1. No account registration is required;
  2. Suitable for single submission of proof of debt form;
  3. Direct communication by a valid email address provided; and
  4. Supports digital signature and electronic payments (for more details, please refer to the answers below).
5. Q: What types of digital certificates are acceptable in the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:The Public Portal (Creditors) supports iAM Smart+ for individuals to digitally sign a proof of debt readily and free of charge on both mobile phones as well as on PCs [Note: iAM Smart version does not have a digital signature feature].

The portal also generally supports the main recognised digital certificates subscribed by individuals and entities on PCs operated on Microsoft Windows as follows:
  1. Hongkong Post e-Cert (Personal)
  2. Hongkong Post e-Cert (Organisational)
  3. Digi-Sign Personal ID-Cert Class 1, Class 8
  4. Digi-Sign Personal (Remote) ID-Cert Class 12
  5. Digi-Sign Organizational ID-Cert Class 2, Class 5 and Class 9
  6. Digi-Sign Organizational (Remote) ID-Cert Class 15
6. Q: What payment methods are available for paying the filing fee of Proof of Debt at the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:In case your claim is not for wages or salary and exceeds the amount of HK$250, you are required to pay a prescribed fee of HK35, which can be paid online by one of the following methods:-
  1. Faster Payment System (FPS)
  2. JCB / Mastercard / VISA
  3. UnionPay
  4. PPS
7. Q: Can I download and save a copy the proof of debt submitted via the Public Portal (Creditors) on my own device?
A:Yes, you are highly recommended to do so upon successfully submitted the form forthwith for your personal record, as the system does not save your submission history on the portal.
8. Q: Can I submit the Proof of Debt form in hard copy instead of using the ESS?
A:Yes. The ESS only provides an alternative means for submitting documents. However, you are encouraged to use the ESS as it is a more convenient, efficient, and environmentally sustainable process.
9. Q: What are the system requirements for using the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:The Public Portal (Creditors) can be accessed through common electronic devices, including personal computers and mobile devices. The system requirements are as follows:
  • Personal Computers:
    • Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 or above, macOS, Linux
    • Browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox or Safari (macOS)
  • Mobile Devices:
    • Operating System: iOS, Android
    • Browser: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari (iOS)
  • All Devices Require: Adobe Acrobat Reader, HTML5, TLS 1.2, JavaScript Enabled, Cookies Enabled.
10. Q: What are the service hours of the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:The Public Portal operates 24 hours daily and 7 days a week all year round, except for scheduled maintenance and unexpected downtime and/or otherwise announced.
11. Q: Where can I find assistance while using the Public Portal (Creditors)?
A:You may call our enquiry hotline at 2867 2448, operating from 8:30 am to 5:45 pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays or send your enquiry to us by email at oroadmin@oro.gov.hk.