浅析声明书公证的风险防范

骆军


　　声明书公证是公证机构根据当事人的申请，依法证明其声明行为真实、合法的活动。声明多体现在民事、经济交往过程中，它以声明人意思自治为原则，用书面形式来体现。声明书经过公证，通过证明声明人的真实意思表示，可以防止他人伪造、篡改或者冒名顶替，使声明书接受者和使用者消除疑虑。因为声明书系单方的法律行为，所产生的后果亦由声明人自行承担，所以公证机构在办证实践中对声明人的意思表示真实和民事法律行为的把握上都十分重视，而对声明书内容的合法性问题研判上有所忽视。有部分公证涉诉案件系声明书公证所引发，对公证行业而言，对此动向有必要予以重视和关注，并认真加以分析，笔者希望通过对声明书公证相关问题进行解析，得到一些启示，以更好地预防和化解办理声明书公证的风险。

一、声明书生效时间的判定

　　在公证处的实际业务操作中，声明书主要分为主张权利、放弃权利、承担义务、澄清事实四种，一般的声明书均自发表之时即生效，但放弃权利和承担义务的声明则需视其声明的时间而确定。如某债务人于2006年7月8日发表声明：“本人自2006年3月15日起对XX债务承担清偿责任”，那么此声明的效力应溯及到2006年3月15日，即从声明书所确定的时间起对上述债务承担清偿责任。也就是说如果发表声明的时间与所声称的时间不符，则以声称的时间为生效时间。类似特例的产生基于以下原因：一是当事人在诉讼过程已提交了放弃权利或承担义务的声明书证据材料，但法院在审理时建议当事人提供公证机构公证的声明书，以提高证据的效力；二是采证部门在审核材料时，要求当事人提供经公证的声明书，以判别声明书的真实性和合法性；三是第三方要求当事人提供经公证的放弃权利或承担义务的声明书，以增强声明内容的可信度和可靠性。需要特别注意的是声明书中所声称的时间如果是还未发生的时间，那么该声明应是无效的声明。声明书的内容只能是客观存在的事实，所声明的内容如果与事实（这里的事实是指推定的事实，如无相反的证据证明，则所声明的内容即为推定的事实）相符，那么该声明为有效声明，如果与事实不符，那么该声明即为无效，而在提前发表的声明中，则因所声明的时间还未发生，所声明的内容可能发生也可能不发生，即该声明所涉及的事实是一种不确定的事实，即使将来成为事实，该声明在发表时不可能推定出该事实，则该声明应属无效声明。如某声明人发表声明自愿放弃对XX不动产的所有权，而在发表声明时实际并未拥有不动产的所有权，那么该声明则是一个无效声明，就是以后合法取得了不动产的所有权，该声明仍然无效，要使声明书有效，必须在取得不动产所有权后另行发表声明。概括地说声明内容的时间只能早于或等于发表声明的时间，而不能对将来的事情发表声明，将来的事情是不可能推定其为事实的。

二、声明书公证产生风险的主因和问题

　　在声明书公证办理过程中，可能因为声明书公证系单方法律行为，操作也较为简单，所以部分公证员对办理此项公证要求不高，把关不严，审查不细，由于主观上的轻视和一些客观因素，部分声明书公证就可能出现风险，并引发争议。声明书公证产生风险的主因和问题是：

1、声明书公证产生风险的主因

（1）、办证理念和思维出现偏差。因为公证制度从初创、停滞到恢复、发展这一系列过程只有短短的二十几年历史，公证制度的逐步建立与完善也是一个从模仿到不断自我更新的过程，公证的理论体系和办证实践难免存在一些不成熟之处，对公证员而言，在办证实践中如果缺少一套完整的公证理论加以指导，办证理念得不到统一和澄清，在思维上容易出现偏差，这些偏差会潜移默化地表露在对法理的认识和实务的操作方面。

（2）、实务操作的格式化造成公证人员思维方式的固定化。对单方法律行为所涉及的公证事项，办证操作即简单又固化，公证员的一些思维论证、法律推理等脑力劳动的付出根本无法得到充分的体现，长此以往，公证员在办理声明书类公证时易出现惰性的思维和机械的操作方式。

（3）、转型期的社会有时功利性会占据主导地位，公证当事人为达到其个人的目的或谋取利益，会不择手段，因此虚假材料、冒名顶替、隐瞒事实等情况的出现也成为必然现象，这对于处在不断变动状态的公证业而言也容易出现风险。

（4）、声明公证书的定式化不足以正确地概括该类公证的全部事实和内容，无法客观、公正地体现声明人办理该公证的全貌，包括当事人的意思表示、行为能力、事实内容等，同时定式化的公证书制约了公证员的思维和办证操作，公证业务的管辖又给当事人留下了可乘之机。

2、声明书公证容易出现风险的问题

（1）声明人的意思表示在形式上存在缺陷。声明书须体现的是声明人的真实意思表示，意思表示是声明人作出民事法律行为的核心要素和必备要件，无意思表示不足以成为民事法律行为，声明书体现的是声明人旨在设立、变更或终止一定民事法律关系的书面表示行为，因而声明书必须在公证员面前亲自作出。但是由于一些客观的因素，对于年老体弱者或不识字、不能签名者，如果在办证过程中所有公证材料上仅以盖章形式代替，未按手印并建立声明人的指纹档案备查，未拍照或者摄像，随着时间的推移，公证当事人或者利害关系人可能会以此为由向公证处提出异议，就很容易引发争议。

（2）对声明内容和提交材料审查不严。声明书公证要求提交的材料相对其他公证事项而言较少，在提交能证明公证当事人的真实身份、住所等材料的基础上，部分公证机构对声明所涉及的事实和内容须提交的相关证据材料要求不高，这可能与办证的理念有关，声明书公证一般都注重于意思表示和行为能力，对声明所涉及事实和内容只要不违反法律和公序良俗就可以，声明行为所产生的责任和后果也由声明人自己承担，所以对声明所涉及事实和内容，部分公证员在办证过程中论证思考不充分或者不严密。而那些缺少材料支撑的声明书公证非常容易被异议人找出漏洞，也极易引发争议。因为《公证法》颁布施行后，要求公证机构办理公证，应当遵守法律，坚持客观、公正的原则，公证员在办理声明书公证过程中，如果因为审查不仔细、论证不严密而导致撤证的情形发生，公证处仍然需要承担相关的责任。

（3）告知义务履行不充分。作为公证机构受理申请后，应当告知当事人申请公证事项的法律意义和可能产生的法律后果，告知其在办理公证过程中享有的权利和承担的义务。告知义务是公证机构及公证员的法定义务，不履行告知义务就违反了公证法定程序。在办理声明书公证过程中，因为涉及声明所需告知的内容较少，有的公证员在办证过程中对主张权利、放弃权利、承担义务、澄清事实四类声明书未加仔细研究，告知内容既简单又无针对性，有些内容应告知而实际未告知，这也可能会因未充分履行告知义务而导致公证当事人对声明内容及后果产生误解，并因此而引发争议。

（4）声明人用欺诈、隐瞒事实等方式骗取公证书的。部分公证当事人为谋取个人的私利采用欺诈和隐瞒事实等方式骗取公证书，一类是提交的材料均系真实，而公证当事人却是冒名顶替的，另一类是公证当事人身份是真实的，所提交的材料却是虚假或者经过篡改的。声明人用欺诈和隐瞒事实等方式骗取公证书后，如果声明所涉及的财产或者权利已经发生变更或转移，真正的权利人或者利害关系人一旦提出异议，公证机构将非常被动，上述情况也是公证处目前较难处理的一类问题。

（5）对权属处于待定状态的事实，公证处给予办理声明书公证的。有的声明人对将来可能发生的事实申请办理声明书公证，如前所述涉及到声明生效的时间问题，因为提前发表的声明中，则因所声称的时间还未发生，所声称的内容可能发生也可能不发生，即该声明所涉及的事实是一种不确定的事实，处于一种待定状态，即使将来成为事实，该声明在发表时也不可能推定出该事实，则该声明应属无效声明。公证处办理该类公证事项须严格加以把握和控制，如果因疏忽大意出具了公证书，将来也可能引发争议。

（6）声明书已经作出并办理公证手续，而当事人又翻悔或者要求撤销的。有的声明人已经就主张权利、放弃权利、承担义务、澄清事实发表声明并办理公证手续，但无正当理由又不能提出充分证据足以推翻声明书公证却又翻悔或者要求撤销的，从法律的严肃性和声明作出后将产生相关的法律责任和后果的角度分析，公证处不可能同意声明人的要求，因为当事人无正当理由又不能提出充分证据足以推翻声明书公证，公证处如果容许当事人随意翻悔或者撤销声明的，那么完全可能因当事人的翻悔或者撤销声明的行为引发争议，声明行为所导致的后果也会由当事人自己承担而转移为由公证处承担，同时影响到公证处的社会形象和公信力。

（7）声明人就同一事项在不同公证处取得公证书的。因为部分声明书公证既可以在当事人住所地、经常居住地、不动产所在地办理，也可以在行为地办理，有的当事人为达到其非法目的，钻公证管辖的漏洞，在某公证处办证不能达到其预期目的的情况下，又在其他公证处办证，有的是以公证书来否决公证书，有的是取得不同公证处就同一事项出具的不同公证书在同一部门使用，以达到其非法目的，这种不同公证处就同一事项出具的不同公证书极易引发混乱和争议，同时对公证机构也会产生不良的社会影响。

三、声明书公证须把握的基本点

　　从办证的角度去分析，公证机构办理声明书公证审查的内容和注意的事项主要有以下四个方面：

（1）声明体现的是声明人意思自治的原则，系声明人的真实意思表示，意思表示是声明人作出民事法律行为的核心要素和必备要件，同时声明人在办理声明公证时应具有相应的民事行为能力；（2）声明书是一种明示的书面表示行为，且必须是声明人在公证员面前亲自发表，而不得委托他人代理；（3）公证机构着重证明的是声明人的意思表示行为的真实性，对声明书内容一般不做核实（如公证员认为确有疑问需要核实的除外），声明书发表后所产生的法律责任和后果均由声明人自己承担，但是声明的内容不得违反法律和公序良俗；（4）对涉及财产所有权变更、转移或者人身关系方面的声明，需注意审查声明的事实和内容，并进行必要的论证和核实，其目的在于防止欺诈等行为的产生和造成不良的社会影响。

四、如何防范声明书公证的风险

　　既然声明书公证在办理过程中可能因为审查不严或者操作不当而产生风险问题，作为办证人员有必要对此问题引起高度关注，办理声明书公证的风险问题可通过以下措施加以防范。
对外贸易经济合作部


关于设立外商投资股份有限公司若干问题的暂行规定(附英文)
1995年1月10日，对外贸易经济合作部

第一条 为进一步扩大国际经济技术合作和交流，引进外资，促进社会主义商品经济的发展，外国的公司、企业和其他经济组织或个人（以下简称外国股东），按照平等互利的原则，可与中国的公司、企业或其他经济组织（以下简称中国股东）在中国境内，共同举办外商投资股份有限公司（以下简称公司）。
第二条 本规定所称的外商投资股份有限公司是指依本规定设立的，全部资本由等额股份构成，股东以其所认购的股份对公司承担责任，公司以全部财产对公司债务承担责任，中外股东共同持有公司股份。外国股东购买并持有的股份占公司注册资本25％以上的企业法人。
第三条 公司为外商投资企业的一种形式，适用国家法律、法规对于外商投资企业的有关规定。
第四条 设立公司应符合国家有关外商投资企业产业政策的规定。国家鼓励设立技术先进的生产型公司。
第五条 公司可采取发起方式或者募集方式设立。
第六条 以发起方式设立的公司，除应符合公司法规定的发起人的条件外，其中至少有一个发起人应为外国股东。
以募集方式设立的公司，除应符合前款条件外，其中至少有一个发起人还应有募集股份前3年连续盈利的记录，该发起人为中国股东时，应提供其近3年经过中国注册会计师审计的财务会计报告；该发起人为外国股东时，应提供该外国股东居所所在地注册会计师审计的财务报告。
第七条 公司的注册资本应为在登记注册机关登记注册的实收股本总额，公司注册资本的最低限额为人民币3千万元。其中外国股东购买并持有的股份应不低于公司注册资本的25％。
第八条 股东认购的股份的转让应符合本规定第七条所规定的条件。发起人股份的转让，须在公司设立登记3年后进行，并经公司原审批机关批准。
第九条 发起人达成设立公司协议后，可共同委托一发起人办理设立公司的申请手续。具体程序是：
（一）申请人向其省、自治区、直辖市及计划单列市政府主管部门（以下称主管部门）提交设立公司的申请书、可行性研究报告、资产评估报告等文件。
以募集方式设立公司的，申请人还须提交招股说明书。
（二）上述文件经主管部门审查同意后，由主管部门转报省、自治区、直辖市及计划单列市对外经贸部门。上述文件经省、自治区、直辖市及计划单列市对外经贸部门核准后，发起人正式签定设立公司的协议、章程。
（三）发起人签定设立公司的协议、章程，报省、自治区、直辖市对外经贸部门审查同意后，报对外贸易经济合作部审查批准。对外贸易经济合作部在45日内决定批准或不批准。
第十条 发起人提交的各项文件必须用中文书写。在发起人各方认为需要时，可商定再用一种外文书写，但以审批生效的中文文本为准。
第十一条 设立公司的申请书应概要说明：
（一）发起人的名称、住所、法定代表人；
（二）组建公司的名称、住所及宗旨；
（三）公司设立方式、股本总额、类别、每股面值、发起人认购比例、股份募集范围和途径；
（四）发起人的生产经营情况，包括近3年生产经营、资产与负债、利润等情况（限于以募集方式设立公司的发起人）；
（五）公司的资金投向及经营范围；
（六）提出申请的时间，发起人的法定代表签名并加盖发起人单位公章；
（七）其他需要说明的事项。
第十二条 发起人协议应包括以下主要内容：
（一）发起人的名称、住所、法定代表人的姓名、国籍、住所、职务；
（二）组建公司的名称、住所；
（三）公司的宗旨、经营范围；
（四）公司设立的方式、组织形式；
（五）公司注册资本、股份总额、类别、发起人认购股份的数额、形式及期限；
（六）发起人的权利和义务；
（七）违约责任；
（八）适用法律及争议的解决；
（九）协议的生效与终止；
（十）订立协议的时间、地点，发起人签字；
（十一）其他需要载明的事项。
第十三条 发起人设立公司的协议、章程经对外贸易经济合作部批准后，发起人应在30日内凭对外贸易经济合作部颁发的批准证书到银行开立专用帐户。发起人应自批准证书签发之日起90日内一次缴足其认购的股份。发起人在公司发行的股份缴足之前应承担连带认缴责任。公司不能设立时，发起人为设立行为所发生的费用和债务负连带责任。
第十四条 以发起方式设立公司的，发起人按本规定第十一条的规定缴足其认购的股份后，应当选举董事会和监事会，由董事会向公司登记机关报送设立公司的批准文件、公司章程、验资证明等文件，申请设立登记。
以募集方式设立公司的，发行股份的股数缴足后，必须经法定的验资机构验资并出具证明。发起人应当在30日内主持召开公司创立大会，并选举董事会、监事会，董事会应于创立大会结束后30日内，向公司登记机关报送设立公司的批准文件、公司章程、验资证明、创立大会的会议记录等文件，申请设立登记。
公司登记机关自接到全部登记文件之日起30天内完成登记注册手续，并颁发营业执照。
第十五条 已设立中外合资经营企业、中外合作经营企业、外资企业（以下简称外商投资企业），如申请转变为公司的，应有最近连续3年的盈利记录。由原外商投资企业的投资者作为公司的发起人（或与其他发起人）签定设立公司的协议、章程，报原外商投资企业所在地的审批机关初审同意后转报对外贸易经济合作部审批。
申请转变应报送下列文件：
（一）原外商投资企业的合同、章程；
（二）原外商投资企业董事会关于企业改组的决议；
（三）原外商投资企业投资者关于终止原合同、章程的决议；
（四）原外商投资企业资产评估报告；
（五）发起人（包括但不限于原外商投资企业投资者）协议；
（六）公司章程；
（七）原外商投资企业的营业执照、批准证书，最近连续3年的财务报告；
（八）设立公司的申请书；
（九）发起人的资信证明；
（十）可行性研究报告。
第十六条 上述申请经对外贸易经济合作部批准后，发起人应自批准证书签发并缴足其认购的股本金后向公司登记机关办理变更登记手续。
第十七条 外商投资企业变更登记为公司后，原外商投资企业的一切权利、义务全部转由公司承担。
外商投资企业的中外投资者在原外商投资企业合同、章程中承诺的义务，应列入发起人协议及章程，同样适用所设立的公司。
第十八条 国有企业、集体所有制企业如申请转变为公司的，除符合本规定其他条款的规定外，还须符合以下条件：
（一）该企业至少营业5年并有最近连续3年的盈利记录；
（二）外国股东以可自由兑换的外币购买并持有该企业的股份占该企业注册资本的25％以上；
（三）企业的经营范围符合外商投资企业产业政策。
中外股东作为发起人签定设立公司的协议、章程，报企业所在地审批机关初审同意后转报对外贸易经济合作部审批。
申请转变应报送下列文件：
（一）原企业资产评估报告；
（二）设立公司的申请书；
（三）可行性研究报告；
（四）发起人协议；
（五）公司章程；
（六）原企业的营业执照、最近连续3年的资产负债表；
（七）发起人的资信证明；
（八）其他必要的文件。
第十九条 上述申请经对外贸易经济合作部批准后，发起人应自批准证书签发并缴足其认购的股本金后向公司登记机关办理变更登记手续。
第二十条 股份有限公司申请转变为公司的，除符合本规定其他条款的规定外，还须符合以下条件：
（一）该股份有限公司是经国家正式批准设立的；
（二）外国股东以可自由兑换的外币购买并持有该股份有限公司的股份占公司注册资本的25％以上；
（三）股份有限公司的经营范围符合外商投资企业产业政策。
第二十一条 股份有限公司通过向社会公开发行人民币特种股票（Ｂ股），申请转变为公司的，应报送如下文件：
（一）股东大会对转变为公司的决议；
（二）原股份有限公司资产评估报告；
（三）申请转变为公司的报告；
（四）原股份有限公司章程的补充、修改协议；
（五）证券管理部门批准公开发行人民币特种股票（Ｂ股）的文件；
（六）其它必要的文件。
第二十二条 股份有限公司通过增资扩股或转股发行外国股东持有的股份，申请转变为公司的，除报送前条第（一）、（二）、（三）、（四）款规定的文件外，还应报送股份有限公司与定向购股人的购股协议等其他必要的文件。
第二十三条 股份有限公司在境外发行境外上市外资股（包括但不限于Ｈ股和Ｎ股）并在境外上市申请转变为公司的，除报送第二十一条第（一）、（二）、（三）、（四）款规定的文件外还应报送如下文件：
（一）证券管理部门批准境外上市的文件；
（二）境外证券机构批准原股份有限公司股票上市的文件；
（三）境外上市的原股份有限公司股票交易情况。
第二十四条 上述申请经对外贸易经济合作部批准后，原股份有限公司应持批准证书和公司的募股证明向工商行政管理机关办理变更登记手续。
第二十五条 本暂行规定未规定的公司的其它事宜，按《公司法》、“国务院关于股份有限公司境外募集股份及上市的特别规定”及有关规定办理。
第二十六条 凡属外商投资企业改组成公司的，其减免税等优惠期限，不再重新计算。
第二十七条 香港、澳门、台湾地区的公司、企业、其它经济组织或个人，在大陆投资设立公司的，准用此暂行规定。
第二十八条 本暂行规定由对外贸易经济合作部负责解释。

Provisional Regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade andEconomic Cooperation on Certain Issues Concerning the Establishment ofCompanies Limited by Shares with Foreign Investment

(Promulgated on January 10, 1995)

Whole document
Provisional Regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation on Certain Issues Concerning the Establishment of
Companies Limited by Shares with Foreign Investment
(Promulgated on January 10, 1995)
Article 1
In order to further expand international economic co-operation and
technological exchange, to absorb foreign investment and to promote the
development of socialist market economy, foreign companies, enterprises
and other economic organizations or individuals (hereinafter referred to
as foreign shareholders) may incorporate themselves into a company limited
by shares with foreign investment (hereinafter referred to as the company)
with Chinese companies, enterprises or other economic organizations
(hereinafter referred to as Chinese shareholders) within Chinese territory
on the principle of equality and mutual benefit.
Article 2
In these Regulations, the term "a company limited by shares with
foreign investment" refers to an enterprise legal person established in
accordance with these Regulations, with the entire capital being divided
into shares of equal value, where the shareholders bear responsibilities
to the company to the extent of the number of the shares they hold and the
company bears responsibilities for its debts with all its assets, and
where the Chinese and foreign shareholders jointly hold the company's
stock, with the shares subscribed and held by foreign shareholders being
more than twenty-five per cent of the company's registered capital.
Article 3
The company is one of the forms of enterprises with foreign investment
and shall be governed by the relevant laws and regulations of the state
concerning enterprises with foreign investment.
Article 4
The establishment of such company shall be in conformity with the
state industrial policies concerning foreign investment. The state
encourages the establishment of production-oriented enterprises using
advanced technologies.
Article 5
The company may be established by means of promotion or offer.
Article 6
The company set up by means of promotion shall meet the conditions as
provided for in the Company Law on promoters, with at least one of the
promoters being a foreign shareholder.
The company established by means of offer shall meet the requirements
as provided for in the preceding paragraph, with at least one of the
promoters having records of continuously making profits in the recent
three consecutive years prior to the offer. In case the aforementioned
promoter is a Chinese shareholder, the last three years' financial
statements audited by a Chinese certified public accountant should be
furnished. In case the aforementioned promoter is a foreign shareholder,
the financial statements audited by a certified public accountant
registered in its country of residence should be furnished.
Article 7
The registered capital of the company shall be the total share capital
registered with the registration authority and actually paid in. The
minimum amount of the registered capital of the company shall be RMB 30
million, with the shares subscribed and held by foreign shareholders being
no less than twenty-five per cent of the registered capital.
Article 8
The transfer of the shares subscribed by the shareholders shall meet
the conditions stipulated in Article 7 of these Regulations. The
promoters' shares may be transferred after three years from the date of
registration of the company, subject to the approval by the original
examination and approval authority.
Article 9
After the promoters conclude an agreement to establish the company,
they may jointly entrust one of them to handle all matters regarding the
application for setting up the company. The detailed procedures are as
follows:
(1) the applicant shall submit an application for the setting up of
the company, feasibility study report, asset evaluation report, etc. to
the competent departments of the provinces, autonomous regions,
municipalities directly under Central Government and cities with
independent planning (hereinafter referred to as the competent
departments) where the applicant is located. Prospectus shall also be
submitted for the application of establishing a company through offer of
shares.
(2) the aforementioned documents, upon examination by and with the
consent of the competent departments, shall be submitted, through the
competent departments, to the foreign economic and trade departments of
the same provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under
Central Government and cities with independent planning. Upon approval of
the documents by foreign economic and trade departments, the promoters
shall officially sign an agreement for the establishment of the company
and its articles of association. And
(3) the agreement for the establishment of the company and the
articles of association signed by the promoters shall, upon examination by
and with consent of the foreign economic and trade departments of the
provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central
Government and cities with independent planning, be submitted to the
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic cooperation for examination and
approval. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall
decide to approve or disapprove it within 45 days.
Article 10
All kinds of documents provided by the promoters shall be written in
the Chinese language. Where all promoters consider it necessary, a foreign
language agreed upon by all the promoters can be used simultaneously.
However, the examined, approved and effectuated Chinese version shall be
authentic.
Article 11
The application for establishing a company shall lay down the
following:
(1) names, domiciles and the legal representative of the promoters;
(2) name, domicile and aims of the company to be established;
(3) method to establish the company, total value of shares, share
category, value per share, proportion of the shares subscribed by
promoters and the scope and means of the offer;
(4) the production and management situations of the promoters,
including information about production and management, assets and
liabilities and profitabilities in the recent three years (only applicable
to promoters who establish a company by means of offer);
(5) the fields of capital investment and business scope of the
company;
(6) time of the application, signature of the legal representative of
the promoters and official stamp of the promoters' unit; and.
(7) other matters that need to be elaborated.
Article 12
The promoters' agreement shall include the following main contents:
(1) names and domiciles of the promoters; name, nationality, domicile
and post of the legal representative;
(2) name and domicile of the company to be established;
(3) objectives and business scope of the company;
(4) means of establishment and structure of the company;
(5) the company's registered capital, total shares, share category
and the number, form and subscription period of the shares subscribed by
promoters;
(6) rights and obligations of the promoters;
(7) liability for breach of agreement;
(8) application of law and settlement of disputes;
(9) effectiveness and termination of the agreement;
(10) time and place of signature of the agreement, signature of the
promoters; and
(11) other matters that need to be notified.
Article 13
After the promoters' agreement to establish the company and the
articles of association are approved by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation, the promoters shall, within 30 days, open a
special-purpose bank account with a bank by presenting the certificate of
approval issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The promoters shall make full payment in one installment of all the shares
subscribed within 90 days from the date of issue of the certificate of
approval. The promoters shall undertake the joint and several liability
for the subscription before all the capital subscribed to the company by
themselves is paid. The promoters are also jointly liable for the debts
and expenses arising from actions to establish the company if the company
fails to be established.
Article 14
Where the company is established by means of promotion, after the
promoters have made full payment for shares subscribed in accordance with
the provisions of Article 11, an election for the board of directors and
the board of supervisors shall be made. The board of directors shall
submit the document of approval to establish the company, articles of
association, certificate of capital verification, etc. to the
registration authority and apply for the registration.
Where the company is established by means of offer, after the full
payment has been made for the shares issued, it must be verified and given
certificate by an authorized investment verification organization. The
promoters shall within 30 days, hold the founding meeting of the company
and elect the board of directors and the board of supervisors. The board
of directors shall submit document of approval, the company's articles of
association, certificate of capital verification, memorandum of the
founding meeting, etc. to the registration authority to apply for the
registration.
The registration authority shall complete the registration formalities
and issue the business licence within 30 days after it receives all
documents for registration.
Article 15
Where existing Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign
cooperative joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises
(hereinafter referred to as "enterprises with foreign investment") apply
to reorganize themselves into a company, the enterprises with foreign
investment must have a record of making profits for the recent 3
consecutive years. The investors of the original foreign investment
enterprises shall act as the promoters (or together with other promoters)
to sign the agreement for the set up of the company and the articles of
association and then submit them to the original examination and approval
authority in the location of the original foreign investment enterprise
for preliminary examination and approval and onward submission to the
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation for final approval.
The following documents shall be submitted where an enterprise with
foreign investment applies for such reorganization:
(1) contract, articles of association of the original enterprise with
foreign investment;
(2) decision of the board of directors of the original enterprise with
foreign investment on the reorganization of the enterprise;
(3) agreement of the investors of the original foreign investment
enterprise on the termination of the original contract and articles of
association;
(4) asset evaluation report of the original enterprise with foreign
investment;
(5) the promoter's (including but not limited to the investors of the
original enterprise with foreign investment) agreement;
(6) articles of association of the company;
(7) business licence, certificate of approval, and the financial
report of the recent 3 consecutive years;
(8) application letter for the establishment of the company;
(9) the promoters' credit references; and
(10) feasibility study report.
Article 16
After the foregoing applications are approved by the Ministry of
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the promoters shall go through the
procedure of alteration of registration after the issuance of approval
certificate and full payment of the capital shares subscribed.
Article 17
Upon the completion of the formalities for the alteration of
registration, all the rights and obligations of the original enterprise
with foreign investment shall be fully assumed by the company.
The obligations committed by the Chinese and foreign investors of the
enterprise with foreign investment in the original contract and articles
of association should be specified in the promoter's agreement and
articles of association and made applicable to the company to be
established.
Article 18
A state-owned enterprise or a collectively-owned enterprise which
applies for reorganizing itself into a company shall meet the following
requirements in addition to other provisions as provided for in these
Regulations:
(1) the enterprise shall have an operational period of no less than
five years, and have records of taking profits in the recent three
consecutive years;
(2) shares of the enterprise as subscribed with freely convertible
foreign currencies and held by foreign shareholders shall take more than
twenty-five per cent of the registered capital of the enterprise; and
(3) the business scope of the enterprise shall be in line with the
state's industrial policies for enterprises with foreign investment.
The agreement for the setting up of the company and the articles of
association signed by Chinese and foreign shareholders as promoters shall
be submitted to the local examination and approval authority for
preliminary examination and approval and onward submission to the Ministry
of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation for final approval.
The following documents shall be submitted in order to apply for the
reorganization:
(1) asset evaluation report of the enterprise;
(2) application letter for the establishment of the company;
(3) feasibility study report;
(4) promoters' agreement;
(5) the company's articles of association;
(6) business license and balance sheets for the recent three
consecutive years of the enterprises;
(7) credit references of the promoters; and
(8) other necessary documents.
Article 19
Upon the approval by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation for the above mentioned application, the promoters shall,
after the issuance of the approval certificate and full payment of the
share capital subscribed, apply to the registration authority for the
alteration of registration.
Article 20
A company limited by shares applying for reorganizing itself into the
company shall meet the following requirements in addition to other
provisions as provided for in these Regulations:
(1) the establishment of the company limited by shares was duly
approved by the State;
(2) the shares subscribed with freely convertible foreign currencies
and held by Foreign Shareholders shall take more than twenty-five per cent
of the company's registered capital; and
(3) the business scope of the company limited by shares shall be in
line with the industrial policies for enterprises with foreign investment.
Article 21
Where a company limited by shares applies to reorganize itself into a
company by means of issuing Renminbi Special Shares (B Shares) to the
public, the following documents shall be submitted:
(1) the decision of the shareholders' meeting on reorganizing itself
into a company;
(2) asset evaluation report of the original company limited by shares;
(3) application report on the reorganizing itself into the company;
(4) agreement on the additions and amendments to the articles of
association of the original company limited by shares;
(5) approval document from the security administration authority on
the public offer of Renminbi Special Shares (B Shares); and
(6) other necessary documents.
Article 22
Where a company limited by shares applies to reorganize itself into a
company by increasing capital and making public offer of new shares or
reverting to offering shares to be held by foreign shareholders, it shall
submit, in addition to the documents set out in item (1), (2), (3) and (4)
in the preceding article, the share subscribing agreement entered into
between the company limited by shares and the specifically-targeted
subscriber (s) as well as other necessary documents.
Article 23
A company limited by shares, which is listed and makes public offer of
shares outside the Chinese territory to foreign investors (including but
not limited to H shares and N shares) and applies for the reorganization
into the company, should submit the following documents in addition to
documents set out in item (1), (2), (3) and (4) of Article 21:
(1) approval document from the security administration authority on
the overseas listing;
(2) approval document from the security administration authority
outside the Chinese territory on the public listing of the original
company limited by shares; and
(3) transaction records of the overseas listed shares of the original
company limited by shares.
Article 24
Upon approval by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation on the above mentioned application, the original company
limited by shares shall apply for the alteration of registration by
presenting the approval document and the public offering certificate to
the administration authority for industry and commerce.
Article 25
Other matters relating to the company that are not provided for in
these Provisional Regulations shall be handled in accordance with the
Company Law and Special Regulations of the State Council on Offer and
Listing of Shares Outside the Territory by Companies Limited by Shares.
Article 26
The tax holidays for tax exemption and reduction etc. shall not be
recalculated for a company reorganized by an enterprise with foreign
investment.
Article 27
These Provisional Regulations are applicable to the companies
established with investment by companies, enterprises, and other economic
organizations or individuals from the regions of Hong Kong, Macao and
Taiwan.
Article 28
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall take
charge of the interpretation of these Provisional Regulations.