放债人条例
Money Lenders Ordinance
放債人條例(下稱「本條例」)
Money Lenders Ordinance (this “Ordinance”)
貸款協議的摘記或備忘錄所須包括或附有的本條例條文撮要的格式
Form of the summary of the provisions of this Ordinance that must be included or attached to a memorandum or note of a facility agreement
以下所列的《放債人條例》條文撮要，對保障訂立貸款協議的各方均至為重要，應小心閱讀。該撮要並非法例的一部分，如有疑問，應參閱《放債人條例》有關條文。
The following summary of the provisions of the Money Lenders Ordinance is essential for the protection of all parties entering into a facility agreement and should be read carefully. This summary is not part of the law. If in doubt, you should refer to the relevant provisions of the Money Lenders Ordinance.
https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap163
《放債人條例》第III部撮要：放債人進行的交易
Summary of Part III of the Money Lenders Ordinance: Money Lenders’ Transactions
本條例第18條-列出關於放債人作出貸款的規定。
Section 18 of this Ordinance – Provisions regarding loans made by money lenders
每份貸款協議須以書面訂立，並由借款人於該協議作出後的7天內簽署。在簽訂協議時，須將已簽署的一份協議摘記，連同本撮要一份給予借款人。該摘記須載有該宗貸款的詳盡細則，包括還款條款、保證形式及利率。不符合上述規定的協議不得予以強制執行，除非法庭信納不強制執行該協議並不公平。
Every facility agreement must be made in writing and signed by the borrower within 7 days after the agreement is made. At the time of signing the agreement, a signed memorandum of the agreement, along with this summary, must be given to the borrower. The memorandum must contain detailed particulars of the loan, including the repayment terms, the form(s) of security and interest rate. Any agreement that does not comply with the aforementioned provisions will not be enforceable, unless the court is satisfied that non-enforcement of that agreement would be inequitable.
本條例第19條-放債人向借款人提供資料的責任
Section 19 of this Ordinance – Duty of money lender to give information to borrower
本條例第19條訂定，如借款人提出書面要求及就有關開支而支付訂明費用，則放債人須將該借款人在貸款協議下當時的債務情況(包括已還款項、到期或即將到期的款項及利率)的結算書正本及副本一份給予借款人。借款人須在該結算書的副本上簽註文字，表示已經收到該結算書的正本，並將經如此簽註的該結算書副本交回該放債人。放債人則須在與該結算書有關的協議持續期間保留該份已交回的結算書副本。如放債人不照辦，即屬犯罪。如借款人提出書面要求，放債人亦須供給與該宗貸款有關或與保證有關的任何文件的副本。但上述要求，不得在一個月內提出超過一次。放債人如無充分理由而沒有遵照本段所述的要求辦理，則不得收取在該等要求沒有照辦期間的利息。
Section 19 stipulates that the money lender shall, on demand in writing being made by the borrower and on tender by the borrower of the prescribed fee for expenses, supply to the borrower an original and a copy of a statement detailing the current debt situation under the facility agreement (including amounts repaid, amounts due or about to become due, and interest rate). The borrower must acknowledge receipt of the original statement by signing a copy and returning the signed copy to the money lender. The money lender must retain the returned copy during the continuance of the agreement to which that statement relates. Failure to comply constitutes an offence. If the borrower makes a demand in writing, the money lender must also provide copies of any documents relating to the loan or security provided for the loan. However, such demand cannot be made more than once a month. If the money lender fails to comply without reasonable excuse, it cannot claim interest for the period during which the demand was not fulfilled.
本條例第20條-放債人向保證人提供資料的責任
Section 20 of this Ordinance – Duty of money lender to give information to surety
本條例第20條訂定，除非保證人亦是借款人，否則須在協議作出後的7天內，給予保證人一份已簽署的協議摘記、一份保證文書(如有的話)及詳列須支付款項總額的結算書。如保證人在任何時間提出書面要求(不得在一個月內超過一次)，放債人須給予他一份已簽署並詳列已支付款項總額及尚欠款項總額的結算書。放債人如無充分理由而沒有遵照辦理，則不得在該項要求沒有照辦期內強制執行該項保證。
Section 20 stipulates that unless the surety is also the borrower, the money lender must provide the surety with a signed memorandum of the agreement, a copy of the security instrument (if any), and a statement detailing the total sum payable within 7 days after the agreement is made. If the surety makes a written demand at any time (not more than once a month), the money lender must provide a signed statement detailing the total amount paid and the total amount outstanding. Failure to comply without reasonable excuse means the money lender cannot enforce the security during the period of non-compliance.
本條例第21條-借款人提早還款
Section 21 of this Ordinance – Early repayment by borrower
本條例第21條訂定，借款人以書面通知後，可隨時將貸款及計算至還款日期為止的利息償還，放債人不得因借款人提早還款而徵收較高利率。
Section 21 stipulates that borrowers may repay the loan and interest calculated up to the repayment date at any time by giving written notice. The money lender cannot charge a higher interest rate due to early repayment.
本條例第22條-非法協議
Section 22 of this Ordinance – Illegal agreements
本條例第22條述明，任何貸款協議如訂定須支付複利或訂定不准以分期方式償還貸款，均屬非法。此外，任何貸款協議如訂定到期而未支付的款項須收取較高利率，亦屬非法，但該協議可訂定，未償還的本金部分及利息須收取單利，但利率不得超過在沒有拖欠的情況下須支付的利率；但如法庭信納，該協議如因不符合本條規定而成為非法並不公平，則可宣布該份非法協議全部或部分合法。
Section 22 states that any facility agreement requiring the payment of compound interest or prohibiting the repayment of the loan by installments is illegal. Additionally, any facility agreement stipulating a higher interest rate for overdue amounts is also illegal. However, the agreement may stipulate that unpaid principal and interest shall bear simple interest, but the rate must not exceed the rate payable in the absence of default. If the court is satisfied that it would be inequitable for the agreement to be illegal due to non-compliance with this section, it may declare the agreement wholly or partially legal.
本條例第23條-除非放債人領有牌照否則不得追討貸款等
Section 23 of this Ordinance – Loan etc. not recoverable unless money lender licensed
本條例第23條述明，如放債人在訂立貸款協議時或接受貸款保證時並未領有牌照，則與該放債人訂立的貸款協議及給予他的保證不得強制執行；但如法庭信納，該協議或保證如因本條規定而不能強制執行並不公平，則可宣布該協議或保證的全部或部分可予強制執行。
Section 23 states that if the money lender does not hold a license at the time of making the facility agreement or accepting the security of the loan, the facility agreement and the security are unenforceable. However, if the court is satisfied that it would be inequitable for the agreement or security to be unenforceable due to this provision, it may declare the agreement or security wholly or partially enforceable.
《放債人條例》第IV部撮要：過高利率
Summary of Part IV of the Money Lenders Ordinance: Excessive Interest Rates
本條例第24條-過高利率的禁止
Section 24 of this Ordinance – Prohibition of excessive interest rates
本條例第24條厘定任何貸款的最高實際利率（“實際利率”須按照本條例附表2計算）。任何貸款協議如訂定更高的實際利率，則不得強制執行，而放債人亦可被檢控。此最高利率可由立法會予以變更，但已存在的協議則不受影響。對於向繳足款股本不少於HK$1,000,000的公司作出的貸款或作出如此貸款的人，本條並不適用。
Section 24 sets the maximum effective interest rate for any loan (“effective interest rate” must be calculated according to Schedule 2 of this Ordinance). Any facility agreement stipulating a higher effective interest rate is unenforceable, and the money lender may be prosecuted. This maximum rate can be changed by the Legislative Council, but existing agreements are not affected. This section does not apply to loans made to companies with a paid-up share capital of not less than HK$1,000,000 or to persons making such loans.
本條例第25條-重新商議某些交易
Section 25 of this Ordinance – Reopening of certain transactions
本條例第25條訂定，在強制執行貸款協議或強制執行貸款保證的法庭法律程式中，或在借款人本人或保證人本人向法庭申請濟助時，法庭可查察該協議的條款，以視該等條款是否極之不公平或利率過高（實際利率如超逾本條指明的利率，即可單憑該理由而推定該利率過高），而法庭在顧及所有情況後，可將該協議的條款更改，使其對協議各方均公平。對於向繳足款股本不少於HK$1,000,000的公司作出的貸款或作出如此貸款的人，本條並不適用。
Section 25 stipulates that in legal proceedings to enforce a facility agreement or security, or upon application by the borrower or surety for relief, the court may examine the terms of the agreement to determine if they are extremely unfair or if the interest rate is excessively high (an effective interest rate exceeding the rate specified in this section is presumed to be excessively high). The court, considering all circumstances, may modify the terms of the agreement to make them fair to all parties. This section does not apply to loans made to companies with a paid-up share capital of not less than HK$1,000,000 or to persons making such loans.
