EXHIBIT 1
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MEMORANDUM
(Incorporating all changes made on or before 7th January, 2003)
AND
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
(As adopted by Special Resolution passed on 20th September, 1994 and amended by
Special Resolutions passed on 7th January, 2003 and 19th May, 2004)
OF
PCCW LIMITED
Incorporated the 24th day of April, 1979
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Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32)
-----------------------
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
OF
PCCW LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on May 19, 2004
-----------------------
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held in
the Conference Room, 00xx Xxxxx, XXXX Xxxxx, XxxXxx Xxxxx, 979 King's Road,
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 11:55 a.m., the following
resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:
"THAT the share premium account of the Company be and the same is hereby
cancelled."
(SD.) SO CHAK XXXXX, XXXX
---------------------------
So Chak Xxxxx, Xxxx
Chairman of the Meeting
Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32)
-----------------------
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
OF
PCCW LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on May 19, 2004
-----------------------
At an Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held in the
Conference Room, 00xx Xxxxx, XXXX Xxxxx, XxxXxx Xxxxx, 979 King's Road, Quarry
Bay, Hong Kong on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 11:00 a.m., the following
resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:
"THAT the articles of association of the Company be and are hereby amended in
the following manner:
(A) By deleting the existing definition of "associate" set out in Article 2
and replacing it with the following:
""associate" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules;"
(B) By replacing the reference in Article 78(b) to "the Securities (Clearing
Houses) Ordinance of Hong Kong" with "the Securities and Futures Ordinance
(Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong)".
(C) By adding the following new Article 82A after the existing Article 82:
"82A.Where any shareholder is, under the Listing Rules, required to
abstain from voting on any particular resolution or restricted to
voting only for or only against any particular resolution, any votes
cast by or on behalf of such shareholder in contravention of such
requirement or restriction shall not be counted."
(D) By adding the following as a new sub-paragraph (e) to Article 93:
"(e) An alternate Director shall not be, nor be deemed to be, the agent of
the Director appointing him and the latter shall not be vicariously
liable for any tort committed by the former."
(E) (1) By deleting existing Articles 100(g) and 100(h) in their entirety and
substituting therefor the following new Articles 100(g) and 100(h):
"(g) A Director who, to his knowledge, is interested or has an
associate who is interested, in any way, whether directly or
indirectly, in a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or
arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of his
interest or the interest of his associate at the meeting of the
Board at which the question of entering into the contract or
arrangement is first taken into consideration if he knows his
interest or the interest of his associate then exists; or in any
other case at the first meeting of the Board after he knows that
he or his associate is or has become so interested. For this
purpose, a general notice to the Board by a Director to the
effect that:-
(i) he or any of his associates is a member of a specified
company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any
contract or arrangement which may after the date of the
notice be made with that company or firm; or
(ii) he or any of his associates is to be regarded as interested
in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of
the notice be made with a specified person who is connected
with him or them,
shall be deemed to be a sufficient declaration of interest in
relation to any such contract or arrangement; provided that no
such notice shall be effective unless either it is given at a
meeting of the Board or the Director takes reasonable steps to
secure that it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting
after it is given.
(h) Save as otherwise provided by the Articles, a Director shall not
vote (nor be counted in the quorum) on any resolution of the
Board in respect of any contract, arrangement or proposal in
which he or any of his associates is materially interested, but
this prohibition shall not apply to any of the following matters
namely:-
(i) any contract or arrangement for the giving to such Director
or any of his associates of any security or indemnity in
respect of money lent by him or them or obligations
incurred or undertaken by him or them for the benefit of
the Company and any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any contract or arrangement for the giving by the Company
of any security or indemnity to a third party in respect of
a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries for which the Director or any of his
associates has himself or themselves assumed responsibility
in whole or in part and whether alone or jointly under a
guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
(iii) any contract or arrangement by a Director or any of his
associates to subscribe for shares, debentures or other
securities of the Company issued or to be issued pursuant
to any offer or invitation to members or debenture holders
of the Company or any class thereof, and which does not
provide in respect of any Directors or any of his
associates as such any privilege or advantage not accorded
to any other members or debenture holders of the Company or
any class thereof or to the public or any sections thereof;
(iv) any contract or arrangement concerning an offer of the
shares or debentures or other securities of or by the
Company or any other company which the Company may promote
or be interested in for subscription or purchase where the
Director or any of his associates is or is to be interested
as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of
the offer;
(v) any contract or arrangement in which the Director or any of
his associates is interested in the same manner as other
holders of shares or debentures or other securities of the
Company by virtue only of his or their interest in shares
or debentures or other securities of the Company;
(vi) any contract, arrangement or proposal concerning any
company in which the Director or any of his associates is
interested only, whether directly or indirectly, as an
officer or executive or shareholder or in which the
Director or any of his associates is beneficially
interested in shares of that company, provided that he,
together with any of his associates, is not beneficially
interested in 5 per cent. or more of the equity share
capital of such company (whether his interest is derived
through any third company) or of the voting rights
available to members of such company;
(vii) any proposal or arrangement concerning the benefit of
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries including the
adoption, modification or operation of a pension fund or
retirement, death or disability benefits scheme which
relates to directors (and their associates) and employees
of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries and does not
provide in respect of any Director or any of his associates
who may be employees of the Company as such any privilege
or advantage not accorded to the employees to which such
scheme or fund relates;
(viii) any proposal or arrangement concerning the adoption,
modification or operation of any share scheme involving the
issue or grant of options over shares or other securities
by the Company to, or for the benefit of the employees of
the Company or of any of its
subsidiaries, under which the Director or any of his
associates who may be employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries may benefit."; and
(2) by inserting, in brackets, the words "including, for these purposes,
the interest of any of his associates" after the word "interest" in
the second line of Article 100(k).
(F) By deleting the existing Article 102 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 102:
"102. No person, other than a retiring Director, shall, unless recommended
by the Directors for election, be eligible for election to the office
of Director at any general meeting, unless notice in writing of the
intention to propose that person for election as a Director and
notice in writing by that person of his willingness to be elected
shall have been given to the Company in each case, during the period
(being a period of at least seven days) commencing on the day after
despatch of the notice of general meeting at which elections to the
office of Director are to be considered and ending on the day that
falls seven days before the date of the general meeting (both days
inclusive)."
(G) By replacing the word "special" with the word "ordinary" in the first
sentence of Article 104 and adding the following as a final sentence to
the said Article 104:
"Special notice, in accordance with the Companies Ordinance, shall be
required in relation to any meeting at which such an ordinary resolution
is to be considered."
(H) By replacing the reference in Article 176(a) to "paragraph (c) of the
proviso to Section 165 of the Ordinance" with "sub-section (2) of Section
165 of the Ordinance"."
(SD.) SO CHAK XXXXX, XXXX
---------------------------
So Chak Xxxxx, Xxxx
Chairman of the Meeting
Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32)
-----------------------
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
OF
PCCW LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on January 7, 2003
-----------------------
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held in
the Conference Room, 00xx Xxxxx, XXXX Xxxxx, XxxXxx Xxxxx, 979 King's Road,
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 9:30 a.m., the following
resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:
"THAT the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby amended in
the following manner:
(A) By adding the following new definition immediately before the definition
of "these Articles" in Article 2:
"Annual Report" shall include a consolidated profit and loss
account for the period, in the case of the first
account, since the incorporation of the Company
and, in any other case, since the preceding
account, together with a consolidated balance
sheet as at the date to which the consolidated
profit and loss account is made up and a
Directors' report with respect to the
consolidated profit or loss of the Company for
the period covered by the profit and loss account
and the state of the Company's affairs as at the
end of such period, and an Auditors' report on
such accounts prepared pursuant to Article 158;
(B) By adding the following new definition immediately after the definition of
"the Companies Ordinance" in Article 2:
"Corporate shall mean any information issued or to be issued
Communication" by the Company to its members for their
information or action and shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in the Listing Rules and shall
include but not be limited to:
(1) the Annual Report;
(2) the interim report;
(3) the summary financial report;
(4) notice of meetings;
(5) listing documents; and
(6) any circulars or other documents required by
the Listing Rules to be sent to the Company's
members.
(C) By adding the following new definitions immediately after the definition
of "dollars" in Article 2:
"electronic shall mean any Corporate Communication sent by
communication" electronic means;
"electronic means" shall mean the transmission of any Corporate
Communication from the Company
in any form through any medium (including but not
limited to electronic mail or publication on the
Company's website, or publication on the
Company's computer network or publication on the
website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited or the website of any stock exchange on
which any securities of the company are listed
and/or permitted to be dealt in);
"Electronic shall mean an electronic symbol or process
Signature" attached to or logically associated with an
electronic communication and executed or adopted
by a person with the intent to sign the
electronic communication;
"Listing Rules" shall mean the Rules Governing the Listing of
Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited as amended from time to time;
(D) By adding the following new definition immediately after the definition of
"shareholders" in Article 2:
"summary financial shall have the meaning as set out under section
report" 2(1) of the Companies Ordinance;
(E) By adding the following wording at the end of the definition of "writing
or printing" in Article 2:
and, only where used in connection with a notice served by the Company by
electronic means on members or other persons entitled to receive notices
hereunder, shall also include a record maintained through an electronic
medium which is accessible in visible form so as to be useable for
subsequent reference;
(F) By deleting the words "HK$2 (or such higher amount as shall for the time
being be approved by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited) for every
certificate after the first or such lesser sum as the Board shall from
time to time determine," in Article 15 and substituting therefor with the
following wording:
such amount prescribed by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited or such
lesser sum as the Board shall from time to time determine for every share
certificate after the first,
(G) By deleting the words "HK$2 (or such higher amount as shall for the time
being be approved by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited)" in Article
19 and substituting therefor with the following wording:
such amount as shall for the time being be prescribed by The Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
(H) By adding the following wording into Article 27 after the words "and once
at least in both an English language newspaper in English and a Chinese
language newspaper in Chinese":
and/or, subject to the Listing Rules, in the manner in which notices may
be served by the Company as herein provided.
(I) By deleting the words "HK$2 (or such higher amount as shall for the time
being be approved by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited) or such
lesser sum as the Board may from time to time require" in Article 39 and
substituting therefor with the following wording:
such amount as shall for the time being be prescribed by The Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited or such lesser sum as the Board shall from
time to time require
(J) By deleting both occurrences of the words "without charge" from Article
42.
(K) By deleting the words "adopting of the accounts and balance sheet and the
reports of the Directors and Auditors and other documents required to be
annexed to the balance sheet" in Article 68 and substituting therefor with
the words "adopting of the Annual Report and other documents required to
be annexed to the Annual Report" in Article 68.
(L) By deleting the existing Article 71 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 71:
The Chairman of the Board shall take the chair at every general meeting,
or if at any general meeting such Chairman shall not be present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding such meeting or is
unwilling to act or is absent from Hong Kong or has given notice to the
Company of his intention not to attend the meeting, a Deputy Chairman of
the Board shall take the chair at such general meeting, or if there be no
such Chairman or Deputy Chairman present at the meeting, any Director
present shall take the chair
at the relevant general meeting, and if no Director be present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or if
all Directors present decline to take the chair, then the members present
and entitled to vote shall choose one of their own number to be Chairman
of that meeting.
(M) By adding the following new Articles 101A, 101B and 101C after the
existing Article 101:
101A. At each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the
time being (or, if their number is not a multiple of three, then
the number nearest to but not greater than one-third) shall retire
from office. Any Director retiring at a meeting pursuant to this
Article 101A shall retain office until the close or adjournment of
the meeting.
101B. Any Director who wishes to retire and not to offer himself for
re-election shall be included for the purposes of determining the
number of the Directors to retire at any annual general meeting
pursuant to the preceding Article 101A. Any further Directors so to
retire shall be those of the other Directors subject to retirement
by rotation who have been longest in office since their last
election or appointment and so that as between persons who became
or were last elected Directors on the same day those to retire
shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined
by lot. A retiring Director shall be eligible for election.
101C. The Company at the annual general meeting at which a Director
retires in accordance with these Articles may fill up the vacated
office by electing a person thereto, and in default of such
election by the Company, the retiring Director shall be deemed to
have been re-elected and shall, if willing, continue in office
until the next annual general meeting and so on from year to year
until his place is filled, unless:
(a) it is expressly resolved at such meeting not to fill up such
vacated office; or
(b) a resolution for the re-election of such Director shall have
been put to the meeting and lost; or
(c) such Director has given notice in writing to the Company that
he is unwilling to be re-elected.
(N) By deleting the existing Article 120 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 120:
The Board may elect a Chairman and one or more Deputy Chairman for their
meetings and determine the period of which the Chairman and any of the
Deputy Chairmen are to hold office; but if at any meeting the Chairman is
not present, or is unwilling so to act within five minutes after the time
appointed for holding the same, the Deputy Chairman or any one of them (if
more than one Deputy Chairman has been appointed), shall be the Chairman
of that meeting; or if no such Chairman is elected and/or no Deputy
Chairman is present or is willing so to act within five minutes after the
time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present may choose one
of their number to be Chairman for that meeting.
(O) By deleting the existing Article 122 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 122:
A Director may and, on request of a Director, the Secretary shall, at any
time summon a meeting of the Board. Notice thereof shall be given to each
Director either in writing or by telephone or by facsimile at the
facsimile number from time to time notified to the Company by such
Director or by telex or telegram at the address from time to time notified
to the Company by such Director or by electronic mail at the electronic
mail address from time to time notified to the Company by such Director or
in such other manner as the Board may from time to time determine.
Provided however that notice need not be given to any Director for the
time being absent from Hong Kong. A Director may waive notice of any
meeting and any such waiver may be prospective or retrospective.
(P) By including the following wording at the end of Article 123:
Questions arising at any meeting of a committee of the Board shall be
decided by a majority of votes and in case of an equality of votes the
chairman of such meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
(Q) By deleting the existing Article 127 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article
127:
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, two Directors shall form a
quorum for any meeting of a committee of the Board. A committee may elect
a chairman of its meetings. If no such chairman is elected, or if at any
meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes after the time
appointed for holding the same, the members present may choose one of
their number to be chairman of the meeting. A committee may meet and
adjourn as its members think proper.
(R) By deleting the existing Articles 161(a) and 161(b) in their entirety and
substituting therefor with the following new Articles 161(a) and 161(b):
161 (a) The Board shall from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of the Ordinance cause to be prepared and to be
laid before the members of the Company at every annual general
meeting, the Annual Report and/or the summary financial report
which complies with Section 141CF(1) of the Companies
Ordinance and such other reports and accounts as may be
required by law.
(b) Every Annual Report shall be signed pursuant to the provisions
of the Ordinance and copies of those documents (including but
not limited to the Annual Report and/or the summary financial
report) which are to be laid before the members of the Company
at an annual general meeting shall not less than 21 days
before the date of the annual general meeting be made
available in printed form and/or using electronic means
whether in the English language only, in the Chinese language
only or in both the English language and the Chinese language
and at the same time as the notice of an annual general
meeting to every member of the Company, every holder of
debentures of the Company, every person registered under
Article 45 and every other person entitled to receive notices
of general meetings of the Company in compliance with the
Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or regulations,
provided that the Company shall not be required to make
available those documents to any person of whose address the
Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders
of any shares or debentures whether in printed form or by
electronic means. In the case of those documents being made
available in printed form, such documents will be sent by post
to the registered addresses of those entitled to receive them
as set out above.
(S) By adding the following new Article 161(c) in its entirety after the new
Article 161(b):
Where a member, in accordance with the Listing Rules and any applicable
law, rules or regulations has consented to treat the publication of the
Annual Report or the summary financial report as set out in Article 161(a)
using electronic means or has consented to receiving the summary financial
report instead of the Annual Report, as discharging the Company's
obligation under the Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or
regulations to send a copy of such relevant financial documents, then
publication by the Company, in accordance with the Listing Rules and any
applicable law, rules or regulations, using electronic means of such
relevant financial documents and/or receipt by such member of the summary
financial report at least 21 days before the date of the relevant general
meeting, shall, in relation to each such member, be deemed to discharge
the Company's obligations under Article 161(a) provided that any person
who is otherwise entitled to such financial documents of the Company may,
if he so requires, by notice in writing served on the Company, demand that
the Company sends to him, a complete printed copy of the Annual Report or
the summary financial report not previously requested by him.
(T) By deleting the existing Article 165 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 165:
Any notice or document or any Corporate Communication to be given or
issued under these Articles shall be in writing, and may be served by the
Company and/or by the Board on any member either personally or by sending
it through the post in a prepaid letter, envelope or wrapper addressed to
such member at his registered address as appearing in the register or (in
the case of notice) by advertisement published in both an English language
newspaper in English and a Chinese language newspaper in Chinese or by any
electronic means in compliance with these Articles and the Listing Rules
and any applicable law, rules or regulations provided that the Company has
obtained the member's prior express positive confirmation in writing to
receive or otherwise have made available to him notices and documents to
be given or issued to him by the Company by such electronic means. In the
case of joint holders of a share, all notices shall be given to that
holder for the time being whose name stands first in the register and
notice so given shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.
(U) By deleting the first and second sentence of Article 166 and substituting
therefor with the following wording:
A member shall be entitled to have notice served on him at any address
within Hong Kong or by any electronic means in compliance with these
Articles, legislation and the Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules
or regulations. Any member whose registered address is outside Hong Kong
may notify the Company in writing of an address in Hong Kong which for the
purpose of service of notice shall be deemed to be his registered address.
(V) By adding the following wording at the end of Article 167:
Any notice or document or Corporate Communication sent by electronic mail
shall be deemed to have been served at the time when such notice or
document or Corporate Communication is transmitted provided no
notification is received by the Company that such notice or document has
not reached its recipient. Any notice or document or Corporate
Communication which the Company has made available to any member by
publication on its own website or computer network or the website of The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited shall be deemed to have been served on
the day on which such publication is made.
(W) By deleting the existing Article 168 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 168:
A notice or document or Corporate Communication may be given by the
Company to the person or persons entitled to a share in consequence of the
death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of a member in the manner set out in
Article 165 in which the same might have been given if the death, mental
disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred.
(X) By deleting the words "Any notice or document delivered or sent by post or
left at the registered address of any member in pursuance of these
presents" at the beginning of Article 170 and substituting therefor with
the following:
Any notice or document or Corporate Communication delivered or sent by
post or left at the registered address of any member or made available by
electronic means in compliance with these Articles, legislation and the
Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or regulations.
(Y) By deleting the existing Article 171 in its entirety and substituting
therefor with the following new Article 171:
171 (a) The signature to any notice to be given by the Company may be
written or printed by means of facsimile or where relevant, by
Electronic Signature.
(b) Subject to the Listing Rules and any applicable laws, rules
and regulations, any notice or document, including but not
limited to the documents referred to in Article 161 and any
Corporate Communication, may be given in the English language
only, in the Chinese language only or in both the English
language and the Chinese language provided that the Company
has obtained the relevant member's prior express positive
confirmation in writing to receive or otherwise have made
available to him such notices or documents in either the
English language only or the Chinese language only or in both
the English language and the Chinese language and provided
further that such member may, if he so requires, by notice in
writing served on the Company, demand at any time that the
Company sends or makes available to him any notice or document
or Corporate Communication in the language not previously
provided to him."
(SD.) XXXX TIN FAN
---------------------------
Xxxx Tin Fan
Chairman of the Meeting
Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32)
-----------------------
ORDINARY RESOLUTION
OF
PCCW LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on January 7, 2003
-----------------------
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held in
the Conference Room, 00xx Xxxxx, XXXX Xxxxx, XxxXxx Xxxxx, 979 King's Road,
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 9:30 a.m., the following
resolution was duly passed as an Ordinary Resolution:
"THAT subject to and conditional upon the Listing Committee of The Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited granting the listing of, and permission to deal
in, the shares of the Company in their consolidated form, every five issued and
unissued shares of HK$0.05 each in the capital of the Company as at the date on
which this resolution is passed be and is hereby consolidated into one share of
HK$0.25 in the capital of the Company with effect from January 8, 2003 and that
the board of directors of the Company be authorised to do all things and
execute all documents in connection with or incidental to such consolidation."
(SD.) XXXX TIN FAN
---------------------------
Xxxx Tin Fan
Chairman of the Meeting
No. 69030
[CR LOGO]
COMPANIES ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 32)
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
ON CHANGE OF NAME
----------------------- * * * -----------------------
I hereby certify that
Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited
having by special resolution changed its name, is now incorporated under the
name of
PCCW Limited
Issued by the undersigned on 9 August 2002.
(SD.) XXXX X. XXXXXX
---------------------------
for Registrar of Companies
Hong Kong
Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (Chapter 32)
-----------------------
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
OF
PACIFIC CENTURY CYBERWORKS LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on July 31, 2002
-----------------------
I, being a Director of the above Company, hereby certify that at an
Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held in the
Conference Room, 00xx Xxxxx, XXXX Xxxxx, XxxXxx Xxxxx, 979 King's Road, Quarry
Bay, Hong Kong on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 at 10:30 a.m., the following was
duly passed as a Special Resolution:-
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
"THAT subject to the approval of the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong, the
name of the Company be changed to "PCCW Limited" with effect from the date of
issue of the relevant certificate of incorporation on change of name."
(SD.) XXXX TIN FAN
---------------------------
Xxxx Tin Fan
Director
No. 69030
[CR LOGO]
COMPANIES ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 32)
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
ON CHANGE OF NAME
----------------------- * * * -----------------------
I hereby certify that
Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited
having by special resolution changed its name, is now incorporated under the
name of
Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited
Issued by the undersigned on 13 December 2000.
(SD.) XXXX X. XXXXXX
---------------------------
for Registrar of Companies
Hong Kong
Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (Chapter 32)
-----------------------
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
-----------------------
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
OF
PACIFIC CENTURY CYBERWORKS LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on 5 December 2000
-----------------------
At the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held in
the Conference Room, 14th Floor, Hongkong Telecom Tower, TaiKoo Place, 979
King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong on Tuesday, 5 December 2000 at 11:00 a.m.,
the following was duly passed as a Special Resolution:-
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
"THAT, subject to the approval of the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong, the
name of the Company be changed to "Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited" with
effect from the date of issue of the relevant certificate of incorporation on
change of name."
(SD.) LI TZAR KAI, XXXXXXX
---------------------------
Li Tzar Kai, Xxxxxxx
Chairman
Company No. 69030
PACIFIC CENTURY CYBERWORKS LIMITED
(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability)
ORDINARY RESOLUTION
Passed on the 22nd day of June 2000
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held at
Chater Rooms III & IV, Basement I, The Xxxx-Xxxxxxx, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxx on Thursday, 22 June 2000 at 12:00 noon, the following resolution was
duly passed as Ordinary Resolution:
"THAT
(a) the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Cable &
Wireless HKT Limited ("HKT") to be effected by means of a scheme of
arrangement under Section 166 of the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 32
of the Laws of Hong Kong) on and subject to the terms set out in the
scheme of arrangement (the "Scheme") in the form of the print which
has been produced to this Meeting and signed by the Chairman for the
purposes of identification, with any modification thereof or addition
thereto or condition as may be approved by the High Court of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
(the "Court"), and all actions of the Company necessary to give
effect thereto, be and they are hereby approved; and
(b) conditional upon the Scheme becoming effective in accordance with its
terms by delivery to and registration by, the Registrar of Companies
in Hong Kong, of an office copy of the Order of the Court sanctioning
the Scheme together with the minute containing the particulars
required by Section 61 of the Companies Ordinance, the allotment and
issue by the Company of not more than 13,410,000,000 ordinary shares
of HK$0.05 in the capital of the Company to those persons so entitled
pursuant to the Scheme be and it is hereby approved;
AND THAT the Directors of the Company be and they are hereby authorised to
implement the matters referred to in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b)
of this resolution and to do all such acts and things as may be necessary
or desirable for and on behalf of the Company to give effect thereto."
(SD.) XXXX TIN FAN
---------------------------
Xxxx Tin Fan
Chairman of the Meeting
No. 69030
[CR LOGO]
COMPANIES ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 32)
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
ON CHANGE OF NAME
I hereby certify that
TRICOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
having by special resolution changed its name, is now incorporated under the
name of
Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited
Issued by the undersigned on 13 August 1999.
(SD.) XXXX X. XXXXXX
---------------------------
for Registrar of Companies
Hong Kong
Company No. 69030
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32)
SPECIAL RESOLUTION
OF
TRICOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
-----------------------
Passed on 29th day of July 1999
-----------------------
I, being the Secretary of the abovenamed Company, hereby certified that at an
Extraordinary General Meeting of the abovenamed Company held on 29th July,
1999, the following resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:
"THAT
the name of the Company be changed to:
Pacific Century CyberWorks Limited
(SD.) XXX XXX XXX, XXXXX
---------------------------
SECRETARY
Dated: 6th August, 1999
Company No. 69030
TRICOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability)
ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
Passed on 29th day of July 1999
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held at
Coral Room II, 3rd Floor, Furama Hotel Hong Kong, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxx on Thursday, the 29th day of July, 1999 at 10:00 a.m., the following
resolutions were duly passed as Ordinary Resolutions:-
1 "THAT:
(a) the Placing (as defined and described in the listing document (the
"Listing Document") dated 7th July, 1999 and despatched to
shareholders of the Company, a copy of which has been produced to
this meeting marked "A" and signed by the chairman of the meeting for
the purpose of identification) pursuant to the Placing Underwriting
Agreement and the Placing Underwriting Supplemental Agreement (both
as defined and described in the Listing Document), copies of which
have been produced to this meeting marked "B" and "C" respectively
and signed by the chairman of the meeting for the purposes of
identification, be and is hereby approved;
(b) the Acquisition (as defined and described in the Listing Document)
pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement and the Acquisition
Supplemental Agreement (both also as defined and described in the
Listing Document), copies of which have been produced to this meeting
marked "D" and "E" respectively and signed by the chairman of the
meeting for the purpose of identification, be and is hereby approved;
(c) the three two-year rental guarantees given by Pacific Century
Regional Developments Limited ("PCRD"), being a company incorporated
in Singapore with limited liability, relating to Tower A, Tower B and
the 6-storey commercial podium of the Pacific Century Place under the
Acquisition detailed in the Acquisition Agreement as amended by the
Acquisition Supplemental Agreement, which in aggregate amount to not
less than US$24,538,370 per annum and if fulfilled by PCRD, will
constitute a connected transaction for the Company under the Rules
Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules") and will require approval by the
Company's shareholders, be and is hereby approved; and
(d) the directors of the Company from time to time (the "Directors") be
and are hereby authorised to take all steps necessary or expedient in
their opinion to implement and/or give effect to the Placing, the
terms of the Placing Underwriting Agreement and the Placing
Underwriting Supplemental Agreement and to the Acquisition, the terms
of the Acquisition Agreement and the Acquisition Supplemental
Agreement, including (without limitation) the allotment and issue of
the Placing Shares (also as defined in the Listing Document) and the
Consideration Shares (also as defined in the Listing Document), the
issue of the Convertible Bonds (as defined in the Listing Document)
and the allotment and issue of Consolidated Shares (as defined in the
Listing Document) pursuant to the exercise of the subscription right
attaching to the Convertible Bonds, credited as fully paid, to (i)
PCRD (as defined in Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice
convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this Resolution
is proposed) and (ii) Pacific Century Group Holdings Limited ("PCG"),
being a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands with
limited liability and the controlling shareholder of PCRD (or their
respective nominees) in accordance with the terms and provisions of
the Acquisition Agreement and the Acquisition Supplemental Agreement.
2. "THAT subject to the passing of Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the
notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed, the authorised share capital of the Company be and
is hereby increased from HK$30,000,000 to HK$1,600,000,000 by the creation
of 157,000,000,000 new shares of HK$0.0l each."
3. "THAT subject to the passing of Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the
notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed, the waiver pursuant to Note 1 of the Notes on
dispensations from Rule 26 of the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers
waiving any obligation on the part of PCRD and PCG (both as defined in
Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice convening the
Extraordinary General Meeting at which this Resolution is proposed) and
parties acting in concert with either of them to make a mandatory general
offer for all the shares in the capital of the Company which would
otherwise arise as a result of the allotment and issue of the
Consideration Shares (as defined in Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in
the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed) to PCRD and PCG (both as defined in the Ordinary
Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General
Meeting at which this Resolution is proposed), pursuant to the Acquisition
referred to in Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice convening
the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this Resolution is proposed, be
and is hereby approved.
4. "THAT subject to the passing of Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the
notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed, the Disposals (as defined and described in the
Listing Document referred to in Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the
notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed) pursuant to the Asset Disposal Agreement, the
Asset Disposal Supplemental Agreement, the Indebtedness Disposal Agreement
and the Indebtedness Disposal Supplemental Agreement (each as defined and
described in the Listing Document), copies of which have been produced to
this meeting marked "F", "G", "H" and "I" respectively, and the Special
Deal Consent (as defined in the Listing Document), be and are hereby
approved."
5. "THAT subject to the passing of Ordinary Resolutions no. 1 to no. 4 set
out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which
this Resolution is proposed,
(a) the Company's issued and unissued shares of HK$0.01 each be
consolidated on the basis of every five issued shares being
consolidated into one Consolidated Share (as defined in the Listing
Document referred to in Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the
notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed) and every five unissued share being
consolidated into one Consolidated Share (as defined in Ordinary
Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice convening the Extraordinary
General Meeting at which this Resolution is proposed);
(b) all of the Consolidated Shares (as defined in the Ordinary Resolution
no. 1 set out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General
Meeting at which this Resolution is proposed) shall rank pari passu
in all respects and have the rights and privileges and be subject to
the restrictions contained in the articles of association of the
Company;
(c) any fractional entitlements to Consolidated Shares shall be
aggregated and sold for the benefit of the Company by a person
appointed by the Directors; and
(d) the Directors be authorised generally to do all things necessary or
expedient in their opinion to effect and implement any of the
foregoing.
6. "THAT
(a) subject to:
(i) the passing of Ordinary Resolutions no. 1 to no. 5 set out in
the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which
this Resolution is proposed; and
(ii) paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Resolution, the Directors be and
are hereby granted an unconditional general mandate to allot,
issue and deal with additional shares in the capital of the
Company and to allot, issue or grant securities convertible into
such shares, or options, warrants or similar rights to subscribe
for any shares in the Company or such convertible securities and
to make or grant offers, agreements and options in respect
thereof;
(b) such mandate shall not extend beyond the Relevant Period save that
the Directors may during the Relevant Period make or grant offers,
agreements and options which might require the exercise of such power
after the end of the Relevant Period;
(c) "THAT the aggregate nominal amount of share capital allotted or
agreed conditionally or unconditionally to be allotted (whether
pursuant to an option or otherwise) by the Directors pursuant to
paragraph (a) above, otherwise than pursuant to:
(i) a rights issue;
(ii) the exercise of rights of subscription or conversion under the
terms of any warrants issued by the Company or any securities
which are convertible into shares of the Company;
(iii) the exercise of the subscription rights under any option scheme
or similar arrangement for the time being adopted for the grant
or issue to officers and/or employees of the Company and/or any
of its subsidiaries of shares or rights to acquire shares of the
Company; or
(iv) any scrip dividend or similar arrangement providing for the
allotment of shares in lieu of the whole or part of a dividend
on shares of the Company in accordance with the articles of
association of the Company, shall not exceed 20% of the
aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in
issue immediately following the issue and allotment of the
Placing Shares and the Consideration Shares (each as defined in
Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice convening the
Extraordinary General Meeting at which this Resolution is
proposed);
(d) for the purpose of this Resolution:
"Relevant Period" means the period from the passing of this
Resolution up to:
(i) the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the
Company;
(ii) the expiration of the period within which the next Annual
General Meeting of the Company is required by any applicable law
or the articles of association of the Company to be held; and
(iii) the revocation or variation of the authority given under this
Resolution by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the
Company in general meeting,
whichever is the earliest; and
"rights issue" means an offer of shares open for a period fixed by
the Directors to holders of shares on the register on a fixed record
date in proportion to their then holdings of such shares (subject to
such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem
necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements or
having regard to any restrictions or obligations under the laws of,
or the requirements of any recognised regulatory body or any stock
exchange in, any territory outside Hong Kong); and
(e) the general mandate granted to the Directors to exercise the powers
of the Company to allot, issue and otherwise deal with additional
shares and other securities of the Company pursuant to the ordinary
resolution passed by the shareholders of the Company at the Annual
General Meeting held on 25th June, 1999 be and is hereby revoked".
7. "THAT
(a) subject to:
(i) the passing of Ordinary Resolutions no. 1 to no. 6 set out in
the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which
this Resolution is proposed; and
(ii) paragraph (b) of this Resolution,
the Directors be and are hereby granted an unconditional general
mandate to repurchase on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
("Stock Exchange"), or any other stock exchange on which the
securities of the Company may be listed and recognised by the
Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and the Stock Exchange
for this purpose, securities in the Company and that the exercise by
the Directors of all powers of the Company to repurchase such
securities, subject to and in accordance with all applicable laws and
the requirements of the Listing Rules or of any
other stock exchange as amended from time to time, be and is hereby
generally and unconditionally approved;
(b) the aggregate nominal amount of shares of the Company which may be
repurchased by the Company pursuant to the approval in paragraph (a)
above during the Relevant Period shall not exceed 10% of the
aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in issue
immediately following the issue and allotment of the Consideration
Shares and the Placing Shares (each as defined in Ordinary Resolution
no. 1 set out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General
Meeting at which this Resolution is proposed);
(c) for the purpose of this Resolution:
"Relevant Period" means the period from the passing of this
Resolution up to:
(i) the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the
Company;
(ii) the expiration of the period within which the next Annual
General Meeting of the Company is required by any applicable law
or the articles of association of the Company to be held; and
(iii) the revocation or variation of the authority given under this
Resolution by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the
Company in general meeting,
whichever is the earliest; and
(d) the general mandate granted to the Directors to exercise the powers
of the Company to repurchase securities of the Company pursuant to
the ordinary resolution passed by the shareholders at the Annual
General Meeting held on 25th June, 1999 be and is hereby revoked".
8. "THAT subject to the passing of Ordinary Resolution no. 7 set out in the
notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this
Resolution is proposed, the aggregate nominal amount of share capital of
the Company that may be allotted or agreed conditionally or
unconditionally to be allotted by the Directors pursuant to and in
accordance with the mandate granted under Ordinary Resolution no. 6 set
out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which
this Resolution is proposed be and is hereby increased and extended by the
addition of the aggregate nominal amount of the shares in the capital of
the Company which may be repurchased by the Company pursuant to and in
accordance with the mandate granted under Ordinary Resolution no. 7 set
out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which
this Resolution is proposed, provided that such amount shall not exceed
10% of the aggregate nominal amount of the share capital of the Company in
issue immediately following the issue and allotment of the Consideration
Shares and the Placing Shares (each as defined in the Ordinary Resolution
no. 1 set out in the notice convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at
which this Resolution is proposed).
9. "THAT subject to:-
(a) the passing of Ordinary Resolution no. 1 set out in the notice
convening the Extraordinary General Meeting at which this Resolution
is proposed and;
(b) the approval of the Stock Exchange,
the employee share option scheme of the Company adopted on 20th September,
1994 and amended on 22nd December, 1995 be and is hereby amended as
follows:-
- by deleting the words "the period commencing twelve months of the
Commencement Date" in the definition of "Option Period" in the
employee share option scheme and replacing them with "the period
commencing on the Commencement Date";
- by deleting the entire existing sub-paragraph (i) from paragraph 6(C)
thereof and re-numbering the existing sub-paragraph 6(C)(ii) as
6(C)(i);
- by re-numbering the existing paragraph 6(C)(iii) as paragraph
6(C)(ii);
- by re-numbering the existing paragraph 6(C)(iv) as paragraph
6(C)(iii);
- by amending every reference to paragraph 6(C)(ii) to paragraph
6(C)(i), amending every reference to paragraph 6(C)(iii) to 6(C)(ii)
and amending every reference to paragraph 6(C)(iv) to 6(C)(iii).
(SD.) MA WAI MAN, XXXXXXXXX
---------------------------
CHAIRMAN
TRICOM HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability)
ORDINARY RESOLUTION
-----------------------
Passed on the 29th June, 1998
-----------------------
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held at
Coral Room II, 3rd Floor, Furama Hotel, One Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong,
on Monday, 29th June, 1998 at 9:45 a.m., the following resolution was duly
passed as an Ordinary Resolution:-
"THAT subject to and conditional upon the Listing Committee of The Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited granting the listing of, and permission to deal
in, the shares of the Company in their subdivided form, every share of HK$0.10
each in the issued and unissued share capital of the Company be and is hereby
subdivided into ten shares of HK$0.01 each with effect from 30th June, 1998."
(SD.) SUM MUN KID XXXXXXXXX
---------------------------
Chairman of the Meeting
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMORANDUM
(Incorporating all changes made on or before 7th January, 2003)
AND
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
(As adopted by Special Resolution passed on 20th September, 1994 and amended
by Special Resolutions passed on 7th January, 2003 and 19th May, 2004)
OF
PCCW LIMITED
------------------------------------
Incorporated the 24th day of April, 1979
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (Chapter 32)
------------------------------------
Company Limited by Shares
------------------------------------
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
(Incorporating all changes made on or before 7th January, 2003)
OF
PCCW LIMITED
First: - The name of the Company is "PCCW LIMITED" (as amended by Special
Resolutions dated 4th September, 1982, 1st April, 1989, 30th December, 1991,
29th July, 1999, 5th December, 2000 and 31st July, 2002).
Second: - The Registered Office of the Company will be situate in the
Colony of Hong Kong.
Third: - The objects for which the Company is established are:-
(a) To carry on the business of a holding company in all its branches and
to co-ordinate the policy and administration of any subsidiary
company or companies or of any group of companies of which the
Company or any subsidiary company is a member or which are in any
manner controlled by the Company.
(b) To manufacture, buy, sell, repair, alter and otherwise deal in all
kinds of telephones, dialphones, cordless phones, all kinds of
telecommunication equipment, and all other electrical, electronic and
other contrivances for transmitting messages by any means; and
computers microprocessors, audio and video tapes recordings and
tapes, radios, movie cameras, magnetic tapes and any other electronic
equipment, hardwares and accessories of all kinds and to develop,
purchase, lease, sell or otherwise deal in systems, programmes and
equipment of any kind for use in connection with data processing,
information, storage retrieval, analysis and computer services. To
carry on the business of an Investment and Holding Company and to
undertake and to transact all kinds of investment and agency
business. (As amended by Special Resolution dated 12th July, 1985)
(c) To take, or acquire by subscription, purchase or otherwise, and
accept, take, hold and sell shares, stocks, debentures or debenture
stocks or any interest whatsoever in any company, or undertaking
irrespective of whether the objects of which shall be similar to
those of this Company or not.
(d) To hold in trust as trustees or nominees of any person or persons,
company, corporation, or any charitable or other institution in any
part of the world and whether incorporated or not and to manage, deal
with and turn to account, any real and personal property of any kind,
and in particular, shares, stocks, debentures, debenture stock,
notes, securities, options, policies, book debts, claims and
choses-in-action, lands, buildings, hereditaments, business concerns
and undertakings, mortgages, charges, annuities, patents, licences,
and any interest in any real or personal property, and any claims
against such property or against any person, firm or corporation.
(e) To carry on business as capitalists, financiers, concessionaires, and
general merchants, and to undertake and carry on and execute all
kinds of financial and commercial trading and other operations, and
to advance, deposit, or lend money, securities, and property to and
with such persons and on such terms as may seem expedient, to
discount, buy, sell and deal in currencies, bills, notes, warrants,
coupons, and other negotiable or transferable securities or
documents.
(f) To lend money to such persons or companies and on such terms as may
seem expedient, and in particular to customers and others having
dealings with the Company, and to guarantee the performance of
contracts by any such persons or companies, and/or to advance and
lend money on
1
the security of land, buildings, hereditaments and premises of any
tenure or description, shares, securities, merchandise and other
property upon such terms as may be arranged, and in particular so
that any loan including interest thereon may by made repayable by
monthly or quarterly instalments or otherwise.
(g) To give guarantees or indemnities (except fire and marine insurance
indemnities) or provide security for any purpose whatsoever, with or
without the Company's receiving any consideration or advantage
therefor, and whether jointly or jointly and severally with any other
person, firm or company, and in particular (without prejudice to the
generality of the foregoing) to guarantee, give indemnities for,
support or secure, with or without consideration, whether by personal
obligation or by mortgaging or charging all or any part of the
undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled
capital of the Company or by both such methods or in any other
manner, the performance of any contract, obligations or commitments
of, and the repayment or payment of the principal amounts of and any
premiums, interest, dividends and other moneys payable on or in
respect of any securities or liabilities of any person, firm or
company including (without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing) any company which is for the time being a subsidiary or a
holding company of the Company or another subsidiary of a holding
company of the Company or otherwise associated with the Company.
(h) To receive valuables or money on deposit with or without allowance of
interest thereon.
(i) To act as agents for the investment, loan, payment, transmission, and
collection of money, and for the purchase, sale, improvement,
development and management of property including business concerns
and undertakings, and generally to transact and undertake all kinds
of agency business, whether in respect of commercial, or financial
matters, and to guarantee and become liable for the payment of money
or for the performance of any obligations, and to transact all kinds
of agency business, either gratuitously or otherwise.
(j) To undertake and execute any trusts, the undertaking whereof may seem
desirable, and also to undertake the office of executor,
administrator, treasurer or registrar, and to keep for any company,
government, authority or body, any register relating to any stocks,
funds, shares or securities, or to undertake any duties in relation
to the registration of transfers, the issue of certificates or
otherwise.
(k) To borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such manner as
the Company may think fit and to secure the same or the repayment or
performance of any debt, liability, contract, guarantee or other
engagement incurred or to be entered into by the Company in any
way/and in particular by the issue of debentures perpetual or
otherwise, charged upon all or any of the Company's property (both
present and future), including its uncalled capital; and to purchase,
redeem, or pay off any such securities.
(l) To stand surety for or to guarantee, support or secure the
performance of all or any of the obligations of any person, firm or
company whether jointly with any other person, firm or company and/or
severally and whether by personal covenant or by mortgage, charge or
lien upon the whole or any part of the undertaking, property and
assets of the Company, both present and future, including its
uncalled capital or by both such methods; and in particular but
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to guarantee,
support or secure whether jointly with any other person, firm or
company and/on severally and whether by personal covenant or by any
such mortgage, charge or lien or by both such methods the performance
of all or any of the obligations (including the repayment or payment
of the principal and premium of and interest on any securities) of
any company which is for the time being the Company's holding company
(as such term is defined and used in the Companies Ordinance) or
another subsidiary (as defined by the said Ordinance) of any such
holding company.
(m) To carry on in any part of the world all or any of the businesses of
importers, exporters, general traders, commission agents, indent
agents, forwarding agents, gem merchants, jewellers, goldsmiths,
silversmiths, watch and clock makers, electro-platers, dressing-bag
makers, carriers, tourist agents and contractors, warehousemen,
tobacco and cigar merchants, agents for theatrical and opera box
office, advertising contractors and agents, and holders of
exhibition, and to buy, sell, import, export, manufacture,
manipulate, turn to account and prepare for market, and deal in
goods, wares, materials provisions, produce, merchandise,
commodities, substances, articles and chattels of all kinds, both
wholesale and retail, and to transact every kind of agency business
and to undertake the business of manufacturers' representatives.
2
(n) To carry on the business of hotel, restaurant, cafe, tavern,
beerhouse, refreshment room, billiard room, pin-ball room, automatic
machine games centres, boarding house and lodging house keepers,
shop-keepers, shop-owners, house-owners, publicans, licensed
victualler, wine, beer and spirit merchants, brewers, maltsters,
distillers, importers and manufacturers of and dealers in aerated,
mineral and artificial waters and other drinks, tourism, money
changer, caterers for public amusements generally, proprietors of
motor and other vehicles, garage proprietors, bakers and
manufacturers of and dealers in bread, pastry, flour, biscuits and
farinaceous compounds and materials of every description,
confectioners, butchers, milk sellers, butter sellers, grocers,
poulterers and green-grocers, hair-dressers, perfumers, chemists,
dressing rooms, grounds and places of amusement, recreation, sport,
entertainment and instruction of all kinds, tobacco and cigar
merchants, agents for railway, shipping and airlines companies
entrepreneurs and general agents, and rental collectors and agent for
land and establishment and other business which may now and at any
future times be conveniently carried on in connection therewith.
(o) To carry on all or any of the businesses of ship-owners, shipbrokers,
insurance brokers, shipping agents, managers of shipping property,
freight contractors, carriers by lands, water and air, barge owners,
lightermen, forwarding agents, ice merchants, refrigerating
storekeepers, warehousemen, wharfingers, godownkeepers, commission
agents and general traders.
(p) To acquire by purchase, lease, exchange, or otherwise, land,
buildings, hereditaments and premise of any tenure or description and
any estate or interest therein, and any rights over or connected with
such land, buildings, hereditaments and premises, and to develop and
turn the same to account as may seem expedient.
(q) To develop and turn to account any land acquired by the Company or in
which it is interested, and in particular by laying out and preparing
the same for building purposes, erecting, constructing altering,
pulling down, demolishing, decorating, maintaining, keeping in
repair, fitting up and improving any buildings and by paving,
draining, letting on building lease or building agreement, and by
advancing money to and entering into contracts and agreements of all
kinds with developers, and investment companies, land mortgage
companies, building estate companies, bankers, financiers, builders,
owners, tenants and others.
(r) To manage, maintain, improve and develop all or any part of the
property, land, building or buildings of the Company and to operate
or use in conjunction or co-ownership with others, lease, mortgage,
underlet, exchange, surrender, sell, turn to account or otherwise
deal with and dispose of the same or any part or parts thereof or
interest thereon, for such consideration and on such terms and
conditions as the Company may think fit, and, in particular, for
shares, debentures or securities of any company purchasing or
acquiring any interest in the same.
(s) For any of the purposes herein to apply to any Court of Tribunal or
other appropriate authority for an order to exclude any building,
hereditament or premises from the further applications of the
Landlord and Tenant Ordinance or any legislation in substitution
therefor or in amendment thereto.
(t) To manage land, buildings, and other property whether belonging to
the Company or not, and to collect rents and income and to supply
tenants and occupiers and others with such conveniences and
advantages as may seem expedient and generally to undertake the
business of and act as land and estate agents.
(u) To carry on the business of builders and building contractors,
marine, civil engineering, piling and foundation contractors and
dealers in and suppliers of building materials of all descriptions
and kinds.
(v) To build, establish, maintain, operate, own and carry on the business
of factories of all kinds.
(w) To establish, construct, improve, maintain, develop, manage, work,
control, carry out, and superintend bonded warehouses, warehouses,
godowns, stores, shops, offices, flats, houses, buildings, and other
works and conveniences of all kinds which may seem calculated
directly or indirectly to advance the Company's interests or
conducive to the objects of the Company, and to contribute or
otherwise assist or take part in the construction, maintenance,
development, management, carrying out, working, control and
superintendence thereof.
(x) To finance and take part in the flotation and registration of any
company or corporation and the
3
placing of its capital or securities or other issues and in
particular but so as not to limit the generality of the foregoing to
promote or join in the promotion of any subsidiary or other company
having objects wholly or in part similar to those of this Company, or
whose objects shall include the acquisition and the taking over of
all or any of the assets and liabilities of or shall be in any manner
calculated to advance directly or indirectly the objects or interests
of the Company and to subscribe for, acquire and hold shares, stocks
or securities of, and guarantee the payment of any securities issued
by any such company.
(y) To act as directors, general managers, managers, or secretaries of
any firm, company or corporation.
(z) To manage, supervise or control the business, property or operation
of any person, firm, company, institution, organisation or body of
persons and for any such purpose to appoint and remunerate lawyers,
accountants, or other advisers or agents.
(aa) To sell, mortgage, charge, lease or let, accept surrender of, divide,
or make partition of, exchange, surrender to any government or
authorities supreme, municipal, local or otherwise, or to any other
person or persons, or to grant rights of way over all or any of the
lands, hereditaments and premises of the Company or any part or part
thereof respectively.
(bb) To purchase or otherwise acquire any interests in any patents,
brevets d' invention, licences, concessions, and the like conferring
and exclusive or non-exclusive or limited right to use, or any secret
or other information as to any invention which may seem capable of
being used for any of the purposes of the Company and to use,
exercise, develop, grant licences in respect of, or otherwise to turn
to account any such patents, brevets d'invention, licences,
concessions, and the like and information aforesaid.
(cc) To carry on any other businesses whatsoever, and in particular but so
as not to limit the generality of the foregoing such other business
or businesses as may seem to the Company capable of being
conveniently carried on in connection with the business of the
Company, or calculated directly or indirectly to enhance the value of
or render profitable any of the Company's properties or rights.
(dd) To acquire, and undertake the whole or any part of the business,
property, and liabilities of any person, firm or company carrying on
any business which the Company is authorised to carry on, or
possessed of property suitable for the purposes of this Company.
(ee) To enter into partnership or into any arrangement for sharing
profits, union of interests, cooperation, joint venture, reciprocal
concession, or otherwise, with any person or company carrying on or
engaged in, or any business or transaction capable of being conducted
so as directly or indirectly to benefit this Company. And to lend
money to, guarantee the contracts of, or otherwise assist, any such
person or company, and to take or otherwise acquire shares and
securities of any such company and to sell, hold, re-issue, with or
without guarantee, or otherwise deal with the same.
(ff) To enter into any arrangements with any governments or authorities,
supreme, municipal, local or otherwise that may seem conducive to the
Company's objects, or any of them, and to obtain from any such
government or authority, any rights, privileges, and concessions
which the Company may think it desirable to obtain, and to carry out,
exercise, and comply with any such arrangements, rights, privileges
and concessions.
(gg) To establish and support or aid in the establishment and support of
associations, institutions, funds, trusts, and conveniences
calculated to benefit employees or ex-employees dependants or
connections of such persons, and to grant pensions and allowances,
and to make payments towards insurance, and to subscribe or guarantee
money for charitable or benevolent objects, or for any exhibition, or
for any public, general or useful objects.
(hh) To promote any company or companies for the purpose of acquiring all
or any of the property, rights and liabilities of this Company, or
for any other purpose which may seem directly or indirectly
calculated to benefit this Company.
(ii) To purchase, sell, exchange, surrender, lease, mortgage, charge,
convert, or otherwise deal in property and rights of all kinds, and
in particular mortgages, produce, stock-in-trade, plant, machinery,
concessions, options, contracts, trade marks, patents, inventions,
annuities, licences, copyrights, book debts, claims, privileges and
choses in action of all kinds.
4
(jj) To remunerate any person or company for services rendered, or to be
rendered, in placing or assisting to place or guaranteeing the
placing of any of the shares in the Company's capital, or any
debentures, debenture stock, or other securities of the Company or in
or about the formation or promotion of the Company or the conduct of
its business.
(kk) To draw, make, accept, indorse, discount, execute, and issue
promissory notes, bills of exchange, bills of lading, warrants,
debentures, and other negotiable or transferable instruments.
(ll) To sell or dispose of the undertaking of the Company or any part
thereof for such consideration as the Company may think fit to
accept, and in particular for shares, debentures or securities of any
other company having object altogether or in part similar to those of
this Company.
(mm) To pay for all or any part of the property, rights or interest of any
kind purchased or acquired by the Company either in shares or in cash
or partly in shares or partly in cash, or in any other manner.
(nn) To issue and allot fully or partly paid shares in the capital of the
Company in payment or part payment of any real or personal property
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any services
rendered to the Company.
(oo) To obtain all powers and authorities necessary for enabling the
Company to carry any of its objects into effect, or for effecting any
modification of the Company's constitution, or for any other purpose
which may seem expedient, and to oppose any proceedings, or
applications which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to
prejudice the Company's interests.
(pp) To procure the Company to be registered or recognized in any country
or place outside Hong Kong.
(qq) To establish branches, agencies and/or local boards in any place in
Hong Kong and elsewhere abroad as the Company may from time to time
think fit and the same to regulate, direct and discontinue, dispose
of, or otherwise deal with as may seem expedient.
(rr) To pay all costs, charges and expenses incurred or sustained in or
about the promotion and establishment of the Company or which the
Company shall consider to be preliminary, including therein the cost
of advertising, commission for underwriting, brokerage, printing and
stationery and expenses attendant upon the formation of agencies or
local boards.
(ss) To amalgamate with any other company having objects altogether or in
part similar to those of this Company.
(tt) To distribute in specie or otherwise as may be resolved any property
or assets of the Company among its members and particularly the
shares, debentures or other securities of any other company formed to
take over the whole or any part of the assets or liabilities of this
Company.
(uu) To sell, improve, manage, develop, exchange, lease, mortgage,
enfranchise, dispose of, turn to account, or otherwise deal with, all
or any part of the property and rights of the Company.
(vv) To promote freedom of contract, and to resist, insure against,
counteract and discourage interference therewith, and to subscribe to
any association or fund for any such purposes.
(ww) To do all or any of the above things in any part of the world, and as
principals, agents, contractors, trustees, or otherwise, and by or
through trustees, agents or otherwise, and either alone or in
conjunction with other or others.
(xx) To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the
attainment of the above objects or any of them.
And it is hereby declared that the word "company" in this clause,
except where used in reference to this Company, shall be deemed to
include any partnership or other body of persons, whether
incorporated or not incorporated, and wheresoever domiciled, and the
intention is that the objects specified in each paragraph of this
clause shall be regarded as independent objects and shall except
where otherwise expressed in such paragraph, be in nowise limited or
restricted by reference to or inference from the terms of any other
paragraph or name of the Company.
5
Fourth: - The liability of the members of the Company is limited.
Fifth: - The capital of the Company is 14,250,000 Hong Kong Currency,
divided into 14,250,000 shares of $1.00 each. (As amended by ordinary
resolutions dated 2nd May, 1985, 5th December, 0000, 00xx Xxxxx, 0000, 00xx
May, 1987 and 9th May, 1988)
Notes
(1) The authorised share capital of the Company was increased to
HK$17,000,000 divided into 17,000,000 ordinary shares of HK$1.00 each
pursuant to an ordinary resolution passed on 30th December, 1991.
(2) The authorised share capital of the Company was increased to
HK$22,000,000 divided into 22,000,000 ordinary shares of HK1.00 each
pursuant to an ordinary resolution passed on 8th October, 1992.
(3) Pursuant to the ordinary resolutions passed on 20th September, 1994:
(a) every ordinary share of HK$1.00 each in the issued and unissued
share capital of the Company was subdivided into ten ordinary
shares of HK$0.10 each; and
(b) the authorised share capital of the Company was increased to
HK$30,000,000 divided into 300,000,000 ordinary shares of
HK$0.10 each.
(4) Pursuant to an ordinary resolution passed on 29th June, 1998, every
ordinary share of HK$0.10 each in the issued and unissued share
capital of the Company was subdivided into ten ordinary shares of
HK$0.01 each effective 30th June, 1998.
(5) Pursuant to the ordinary resolutions passed on 29th July, 1999:
(a) the authorised share capital of the Company was increased to
HK$1,600,000,000 divided into 160,000,000,000 ordinary shares of
HK$0.01 each; and
(b) every five ordinary shares of HK$0.01 each in the issued and
unissued share capital of the Company were consolidated into one
ordinary share of HK$0.05 each effective 3rd August, 1999.
(6) Pursuant to an ordinary resolution passed on 7th January, 2003, every
five ordinary shares of HK$0.05 each in the issued and unissued share
capital of the Company were consolidated into one ordinary share of
HK$0.25 effective 8th January, 2003 such that the authorised share
capital of the Company on 8th January, 2003 was HK$1,600,000,000
divided into 6,400,000,000 ordinary shares of HK$0.25 each.
Sixth: - The capital of the Company may be increased, and any of the
original shares and any new shares, from time to time to be created, may, from
time to time, be divided into such classes with such preferential, deferred, or
special rights, privileges or conditions and other special incidents as may be
prescribed or in accordance with the Articles of Association and Regulations of
the Company for the time being or otherwise.
Dividends may be paid in cash or by the distributions of specific assets
or otherwise as provided by the Articles of Association of the Company
and/or Regulations of the Company for the time being or otherwise.
6
We, the several persons, whose names, addresses and descriptions are
hereto subscribed, are desirous of being formed into a Company in pursuance of
this Memorandum of Association, and we respectively agree to take the number of
shares in the capital of the Company set opposite to our respective names:-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name, Addresses and Descriptions of Subscribers Number of Shares
taken by each Subscriber
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(SD.) Chong Yet Sing One
00, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxx 0X,
Xxxx Xxxx.
Merchant
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(SD.) Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxx One
00, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxx 0X,
Xxxx Xxxx.
Merchant
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Number of Shares Taken..... Two
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated the 7th day of April, 1979.
WITNESS to the above signatures:
(SD.) XXXXX XX
Secretary
904 China Underwriters Life Building,
00-00 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxx.
7
THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 32)
-------------------------------
Company Limited by Shares
-------------------------------
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
(As adopted by Special Resolution passed on 20th September, 1994 and amended
by Special Resolutions passed on 7th January, 2003 and 19th May, 2004)
OF
PCCW LIMITED
TABLE A
1. The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule to the Other
Companies Ordinance shall not apply the Company. regulations
excluded.
INTERPRETATION
2. The marginal notes to these Articles shall not be deemed to be part of Interpretation.
these Articles and shall not affect their interpretation and in the
interpretation of these Articles, unless there be something in the
subject or context inconsistent therewith:-
"Annual Report" shall include a consolidated profit and loss account Annual Report.
for the period, in the case of the first account, since the
incorporation of the Company and, in any other case, since the
preceding account, together with a consolidated balance sheet as at
the date to which the consolidated profit and loss account is made up
and a Directors' report with respect to the consolidated profit or
loss of the Company for the period covered by the profit and loss
account and the state of the Company's affairs as at the end of such
period, and an Auditors' report on such accounts prepared pursuant to
Article 158;
"these Articles" or "these presents" shall mean these Articles of these Articles.
Association in their present form and all supplementary, amended or these presents.
substituted articles for the time being in force;
"associate" has the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules; associate.
"Auditors" shall mean the persons for the time being performing the Auditors.
duties of that office;
"the Board" or "the Directors" shall mean the Directors from time to the Board.
time of the Company or (as the context may require) the majority of the
Directors present and voting at a meeting of the Directors; Director.
"call" shall include any instalment of a call; call
"capital" shall mean the share capital from time to time of the capital
Company;
"the Chairman" shall mean the Chairman presiding at any meeting of the Chairman.
members or of the Board;
"the Company" or "this Company" shall mean the abovenamed Company; the Company.
"the Companies Ordinance" or "the Ordinance" shall mean the Companies the Companies
Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the laws of Hong Kong) and any amendments Ordinance.
thereto or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force and the Ordinance.
includes every other ordinance incorporated therewith or substituted
therefor and in the case of any such substitution the references in
these Articles to the provisions of the Ordinance shall be read as
references to
8
the provisions substituted therefor in the new Ordinance;
"Corporate Communication" shall mean any information issued or to be Corporate
issued by the Company to its members for their information or action Communication.
and shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Listing Rules and
shall include but not be limited to:
(1) the Annual Report;
(2) the interim report;
(3) the summary financial report;
(4) notice of meetings;
(5) listing documents; and
(6) any circulars or other documents required by the Listing Rules to
be sent to the Company's members.
"dividend" shall include scrip dividends, distributions in specie or dividend
in kind, capital distributions and capitalisation issues, if not
inconsistent with the subject or context;
"dollars" shall mean dollars in the lawful currency of Hong Kong; dollars.
"electronic communication" shall mean any Corporate Communication sent electronic
by electronic means; communication.
"electronic means" shall mean the transmission of any Corporate electronic
Communication from the Company in any form through any medium means.
(including but not limited to electronic mail or publication on the
Company's website, or publication on the Company's computer network or
publication on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
or the website of any stock exchange on which any securities of the
company are listed and/or permitted to be dealt in);
"Electronic Signature" shall mean an electronic symbol or process Electronic
attached to or logically associated with an electronic communication Signature.
and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the
electronic communication;
"Listing Rules" shall mean the Rules Governing the Listing of Listing
Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited as amended from Rules.
time to time;
"month" shall mean a calendar month; month.
"newspaper" shall mean a newspaper published daily and circulating newspaper.
generally in Hong Kong and specified in the list of newspapers issued
and published in the Gazette for the purposes of Section 71A of the
Companies Ordinance by the Secretary for administrative service and
information;
"the register" shall mean the register of members and includes any the register.
branch register to be kept pursuant to the provisions of the Companies
Ordinance;
"seal" shall mean the common seal from time to time of the Company and seal.
includes, unless the context otherwise requires, any official seal
that the Company may have as permitted by these Articles and the
Ordinance;
"Secretary" shall mean the person for the time being performing the Secretary.
duties of that office;
"share" shall mean share in the capital of the Company and includes share.
stock except where a distinction between stock and shares is expressed
or implied;
"shareholders" or "members" shall mean the duly registered holders shareholders.
from time to time of the shares in the capital of the Company; members.
"summary financial report" shall have the meaning as set out under summary
section 2(1) of the Companies Ordinance; financial
report.
9
"writing" or "printing" shall include writing, printing, lithography, writing.
photography, typewriting and every other mode of representing words of printing.
figures in a legible and non-transitory form and, only where used in
connection with a notice served by the Company by electronic means on
members or other persons entitled to receive notices hereunder, shall
also include a record maintained through an electronic medium which is
accessible in visible form so as to be useable for subsequent
reference;
words denoting the singular shall include the plural and words singular and
denoting the plural shall include the singular; plural.
words importing any gender shall include every gender; and gender.
words importing person shall include partnerships, firms, companies person.
and corporations. companies.
Subject as aforesaid, any words or expressions defined in the Ordinance to
Ordinance (except any statutory modification thereof not in force when bear same
these Articles become binding on the Company) shall, if not meaning in
inconsistent with the subject and/or context, bear the same meaning in Articles.
these Articles, save that "company" shall where the context permits
include any company incorporated in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
References to any Articles by number are to the particular Article of
these Articles.
3. (a) Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on Issue of shares.
the holders of existing shares, any share may be issued with such
preferred, deferred, or other special rights or privileges, or such
restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of share
capital, or otherwise, as the Company may from time to time by
ordinary resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such
determination, as the Board may determine), and any preference share
may, with the sanction of a special resolution, be issued on the terms
that it is, or at the option of the Company is liable, to be redeemed.
(b) The Board may issue warrants to subscribe for any class of shares Warrants.
or securities of the Company on such terms as it may from time to
time determine. Where share warrants are issued to bearer, no new
warrant shall be issued to replace one that has been lost unless
the Board is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original
has been destroyed.
4. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of How rights of
shares, the rights attached to any class (unless otherwise provided by shares may be
the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may be varied with the modified.
consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths in nominal value of
the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction of a special
resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the
shares of the class. To every such separate general meeting the
provisions of these regulations relating to general meetings shall
mutatis mutandis apply, but so that the necessary quorum shall be 2
persons at least holding or representing by proxy or by authorised
representative one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the
class, that every holder of shares of the class shall be entitled on a
poll to one vote for every such share held by him, that any holder of
shares of the class present in person or by proxy or by authorised
representative may demand a poll and that at any adjourned meeting of
such holders one holder present in person or by proxy or by authorised
representative (whatever the number of shares held by him) shall be a
quorum.
SHARES AND INCREASE OF CAPITAL
5. The Company may exercise any powers conferred or permitted by the Company to
Ordinance or any other ordinance from time to time to acquire its own finance
shares or to give directly or indirectly, by means of a loan, purchase of
guarantee, the provision of security or otherwise, financial own shares.
assistance for the purpose of or in connection with a purchase made or
to be made by any person of any shares in the Company and should the
Company acquire its own shares neither the Company nor the Board shall
be required to select the shares to be acquired rateably or in any
other particular manner as between the holders of shares of the same
class or as between them and the holders of shares of any other class
or in accordance with the rights as to dividends or capital conferred
by any class of shares provided always that any such acquisition or
financial assistance shall only be made or given in accordance with
any relevant rules or regulations issued by The Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong Limited or the Securities and Futures Commission from time to
time.
10
6. The Company in general meeting may from time to time, whether all the Power to
shares for the time being authorised shall have been issued or all the increase
shares for the time being issued shall have been fully paid up or not, capital.
by ordinary resolution increase its share capital by the creation of
new shares, such new capital to be of such amount and to be divided
into shares of such respective amounts as the resolution shall
prescribe.
7. Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the Conditions
holders of existing shares, any new shares shall be issued upon such on which new
terms and conditions and with such preferred, deferred, or other shares to be
special rights or privileges, or such restrictions, whether in regard issued.
to dividend, voting, return of share capital, or otherwise, as the
Company in the general meeting resolving upon the creation thereof
shall determine or, in the absence of any such determination, as the
Board may determine.
8. The Company may by ordinary resolution, before the issue of any new When to be
shares, determine that the same, or any of them, shall be offered in offered to
the first instance, and either at par or at a premium, to all the existing
existing holders of any class of shares in proportions as nearly as members.
may be to the number of shares of such class held by them
respectively, or make any other provisions as to the issue and
allotment of the new shares, but in default of any such determination,
or so far as the same shall not extend, the new shares may be dealt
with as if they formed part of the shares in the capital of the
Company existing prior to the issue of the new shares.
9. Except so far as otherwise provided by the conditions of issue, or by New shares
these Articles, any capital raised by the creation of new shares shall treated as
be treated as if it formed part of the original capital of the forming part
Company, and such shares shall be subject to the provisions contained of original
in these Articles with reference to the payment of calls and capital.
instalments, transfer and transmission, forfeiture, lien,
cancellation, surrender, voting and otherwise.
10. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Ordinance (and in Shares at the
particular Section 57B thereof) and of these Articles relating to new disposal of
shares, all unissued shares in the Company shall be at the disposal of the Board.
the Board, which may offer, allot (with or without conferring a right
of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to
such persons, at such times, for such consideration and generally on
such terms as the Board shall in its absolute discretion think fit,
but so that no shares shall be issued at a discount, except in
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Ordinance.
11. The Company may at any time pay a commission not exceeding ten per Company may
cent. to any person for subscribing or agreeing to subscribe (whether pay commission.
absolutely or conditionally) for any shares in the Company, or
procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions (whether absolute or
conditional) for any shares in the Company, but so that if the
commission shall be paid or payable out of capital the conditions and
requirements of the Ordinance shall be observed and complied with, and
the commission shall not exceed ten per cent., in each case, of the
price at which the shares are issued.
12. If any shares in the Company are issued for the purpose of raising Power to
money to defray the expenses of the construction of any works or charge
buildings, or the provision of any plant which cannot be made interest to
profitable for a lengthened period, the Company may pay interest on so capital.
much of such share capital as is for the time being paid up for the
period and subject to the conditions and restrictions mentioned in the
Ordinance, may charge the sum so paid by way of interest to capital as
part of the cost of construction of the works or buildings, or the
provision of plant.
13. Except as otherwise expressly provided by these Articles or as Company not to
required by law or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, no recognise
person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon trusts in
any trust, and the Company shall not be bound by or be compelled in respect of
any way to recognise (even when having notice thereof) any equitable, shares.
contingent, future or partial interest in any share or any interest in
any fractional part of a share or any other rights in respect of any
share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the
registered holder.
REGISTER OF MEMBERS AND SHARE CERTIFICATES
14. (a) The Board shall cause to be kept a register of members, and there Share
shall be entered therein the particulars required under the Companies register.
Ordinance.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Ordinance, if the Branch register.
Board considers it necessary or appropriate, the Company may
establish and maintain a branch register of members at such
location outside Hong Kong as the Board thinks fit.
11
15. Every person whose name is entered as a member in the register shall Share
be entitled without payment to receive within two months after certificates.
allotment or lodgment of a transfer (or within such other period as
the conditions of issue shall provide) one certificate for all his
shares or, if he shall so request, in a case where the allotment or
transfer is of a number of shares in excess of the number for the time
being forming a stock exchange board lot, upon payment, in the case of
a transfer, of such amount prescribed by The Stock Exchange of Hong
Kong Limited or such lesser sum as the Board shall from time to time
determine for every share certificate after the first, such number of
certificates for shares in stock exchange board lots or multiples
thereof as he shall request and one for the balance (if any) of the
shares in question, provided that in respect of a share or shares held
jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue a
certificate or certificates to each such person, and the issue and
delivery of a certificate or certificates to one of several joint
holders shall be sufficient delivery to all such holders.
16. Every certificate for shares or warrants or debentures or representing Share
any other form of securities of the Company shall be issued under the certificates
seal of the Company, which for this purpose may be any official seal to be
as permitted by Section 73A of the Ordinance. sealed.
17. Every share certificate hereafter issued shall specify the number and Particulars
class of shares in respect of which it is issued and the amount paid to be
thereon, and may otherwise be in such form as the Board may from time specified in
to time prescribe. certificate.
18. (a) The Company shall not be bound to register more than four persons Joint holders.
as joint holders of any share.
(b) If any share shall stand in the names of two or more persons, the
person first named in the register shall be deemed the sole
holder thereof as regards service of notices and, subject to the
provisions of these Articles, all or other matters connected with
the Company, except the transfer of the share.
19. If a share certificate is defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be Replacement
replaced on payment of such fee, if any, not exceeding such amount as of share
shall for the time being be prescribed by The Stock Exchange of Hong certificates.
Kong Limited and on such terms and conditions, if any, as to
publication of notices, evidence and indemnity as the Board thinks fit
and in the case of wearing out or defacement, after delivery up of the
old certificate. In the case of destruction or loss, the person to
whom such replacement certificate is given shall also bear and pay to
the Company any exceptional costs and the reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incidental to the investigation by the Company of the
evidence of such destruction or loss and of such indemnity.
LIEN
20. The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not Company's lien.
being a fully paid up share) for all moneys, whether presently payable
or not, called or payable at a fixed time in respect of such share;
and the Company shall also have a first and paramount lien and charge
on all shares (other than fully paid up shares) standing registered in
the name of a member, whether singly or jointly with any other person
or persons, for all the debts and liabilities of such member or his
estate to the Company and whether the same shall have been incurred
before or after notice to the Company of any equitable or other
interest of any person other than such member, and whether the period
for the payment or discharge of the same shall have actually arrived
or not, and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or
liabilities of such member or his estate and any other person, whether
a member of the Company or not. The Company's lien (if any) on a share
shall extend to all dividends and bonuses declared in respect thereof. Lien extends
The Board may at any time either generally or in any particular case to dividends
waive any lien that has arisen, or declare any share to be exempt and bonuses.
wholly or partially from the provisions of this Article.
21. The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board thinks fit, any Sales of
shares on which the Company has a lien, but no sale be made unless shares
some sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable or subject to
the liability or engagement in respect of which such lien exists is lien.
liable to be presently fulfilled or discharged, nor until the
expiration of fourteen days after a notice in writing, stating and
demanding payment of the sum presently payable or specifying the
liability or engagement and demanding fulfilment or discharge thereof
and giving notice of intention to sell in default shall have been
given to the holder for the time being of the shares or the person
entitled by reason of his death or bankruptcy to the shares.
22. The net proceeds of such sale after the payment of the costs of such Application
sale shall be applied in or towards payment or satisfaction of the of proceeds
debt or liability or engagement in respect whereof the lien exists, so of such
far as the same is presently payable, and any residue shall (subject sale.
to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as
existed upon the shares prior to the sale) be paid to the person
entitled to the shares at the time of the sale. For giving effect to
any such sale, the Board may authorise some person to transfer the
12
shares sold to the purchaser and may enter the purchaser's name in the
register as holder of the shares, and the purchaser shall not be bound
to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title
to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the
proceedings relating to the sale.
CALLS ON SHARES
23. The Board may from time to time make such calls as it may think fit Calls.
upon the members in respect of all moneys unpaid on the shares held by
them respectively and not by the conditions of allotment thereof made
payable at fixed times. A call may be made payable either in one sum
or by instalments. The Board may make arrangements on the issue of
shares for a difference between the shareholders in the amount of
calls to be paid and in the times of payment. The provisions of these
Articles with respect to calls may in any share incentive scheme for
employees approved by the Company be varied with respect to any shares
issued pursuant to such scheme.
24. Fourteen days' notice at least of any call shall be given specifying Notice of call.
the time and place of payment and to whom such call shall be paid.
25. A copy of the notice referred to in Article 24 shall be sent to Copy of notice
members in the manner in which notices may be sent to members by the to be sent to
Company as herein provided. members.
26. Every member upon whom a call is made shall pay the amount of every Every member liable
call so made on him to the person and at the time or times and place to pay call at appointed
or places as the Board shall appoint. time and place.
27. Notice of the person appointed to receive payment of every call and of Notice of
the times and places appointed for payment may be given to the members call may be
by notice to be inserted once in The Hongkong Government Gazette and advertised.
once at least in both an English language newspaper in English and a
Chinese language newspaper in Chinese and/or, subject to the Listing
Rules, in the manner in which notices may be served by the Company as
herein provided.
28. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the When call deemed
resolution of the Board authorising such call was passed. to have been made.
29. The joint holders of a share shall be severally as well as jointly Liability of
liable for the payment of all calls and instalments due in respect of joint
such share or other moneys due in respect thereof. holders.
30. The Board may from time to time and at its absolute discretion extend Board may
the time fixed for any call, and may similarly extend such time as to extend time
all or any of the members, from whom residence outside Hong Kong or fixed for
other cause the Board may deem entitled to any such extension, but no call.
member shall be entitled to any such extension except as a matter of
grace and favour.
31. If the sum payable in respect of any call or instalment is not paid on Interest on
or before the day appointed for payment thereof, the person or persons unpaid calls.
from whom the sum is due shall pay interest for the same at such rate
not exceeding twenty per cent. per annum as the Board shall fix from
the day appointed for the payment thereof to the time of the actual
payment, but the Board may in its absolute discretion waive payment of
such interest wholly or in part.
32. No member shall be entitled to receive any dividend or bonus or to be Suspension of
present and vote (save as proxy for another member) at any general privileges
meeting either personally or by proxy, to be reckoned in a quorum, or while call
to exercise any other privilege as a member until all calls or unpaid.
instalments due by him to the Company, whether alone or jointly with
any other person, together with interest and expenses (if any) shall
have been paid.
33. On the trial or hearing of any action or other proceedings for the Evidence in
recovery of any money due for any call, it shall be sufficient to action for
prove that the name of the member sued is entered in the register as call.
the holder, or one of the holders, of the shares in respect of which
such debt accrued, that the resolution making the call is duly
recorded in the minute book, and that notice of such call was duly
given to the member sued, in pursuance of these Articles; and it shall
not be necessary to prove the appointment of the Directors who made
such call, nor any other matters whatsoever, but the proof of the
matters aforesaid shall be conclusive evidence of the debt.
34. Any sum which by the terms of allotment of a share is made payable Sums payable
upon allotment, or at any fixed date, whether on account of the on allotment
nominal value of the share and/or by way of premium, shall for all deemed a
purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and call.
payable on the date fixed for payment, and in case of
13
non-payment all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to
payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture and the like, shall apply
as if such sums had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and
notified.
35. The Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any member willing to Payment of
advance the same, and either in money or money's worth, all or any calls in
part of the money uncalled and unpaid or instalments payable upon any advance.
shares held by him and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced the
Company may pay interest at such rate (if any) not exceeding twenty
per cent. per annum as the Board may decide provided that not until a
call is made any payment in advance of a call shall not entitled the
member to receive any dividend or to exercise any other rights or
privileges as a member in respect of the shares or the due portion of
the shares upon which payment has been advanced by such member before
it is called up. The Board may at any time repay the amount so
advanced upon giving to such member not less than one month's notice
in writing of their intention in that behalf, unless before the
expiration of such notice the amount so advanced shall have been
called up on the shares in respect of which it was advanced.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
36. All transfers of shares may be effected by transfer in writing in the Form of
usual common form or in such other form as the Board may accept. All transfer.
instruments of transfer must be left at the registered office or at
such other place as the Board may appoint.
37. The instrument of transfer of any share shall be executed by or on Execution
behalf of the transferor and by or on behalf of the transferee, and of transfer.
the transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share until
the name of the transferee is entered in the register in respect
thereof. Nothing in these Articles shall preclude the Board from
recognising a renunciation of the allotment or provisional allotment
of any share by the allottee in favour of some other person.
38. The Board may, in its absolute discretion, and without assigning any Board may
reason, refuse to register a transfer of any share (not being a fully refuse to
paid up share) to a person of whom it does not approve or any share register
issued under any share incentive scheme for employees upon which a transfers.
restriction on transfer imposed thereby still subsists, and it may
also refuse to register any transfer of any share to more than four
joint holders or any transfer of any share (not being a fully paid up
share) on which the Company has a lien.
39. The Board may also decline to recognise any instrument of transfer Requirements
unless:- as to transfer.
(a) a fee of such amount as shall for the time being be prescribed by
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited or such lesser sum as the
Board shall from time to time require is paid to the Company for
registering any transfer or other document relating to or
affecting the title to the shares involved or for otherwise
making an entry in the register relating to such shares;
(b) the instrument of transfer is accompanied by the certificate of
the shares to which it relates, and such other evidence as the
Board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor
to make the transfer;
(c) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of
shares;
(d) the shares concerned are free of any lien in favour of the
Company; and
(e) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped.
40. No transfer shall be made to an infant or to a person of unsound mind No transfer to
or under other legal disability. an infant, etc.
41. If the Board shall refuse to register a transfer of any share, it Notice of
shall, within two months after the date on which the transfer was refusal.
lodged with the Company, send notice of such refusal, as required by
Section 69 of the Ordinance.
42. Upon every transfer of shares the certificate held by the transferor Certificate
shall be given up to be cancelled, and shall forthwith be cancelled on transfer.
accordingly, and a new certificate shall be issued to the transferee
in respect of the shares transferred to him, and if any of the shares
included in the certificate so given up shall be retained by the
transferor a new certificate in respect thereof shall be issued to
him. The Company shall also retain the transfer.
43. The registration of transfers may be suspended and the register closed When transfer
at such times and for such periods as books and
register may
be closed.
14
the Board may from time to time determine and either generally or in
respect of any class of shares, provided always that such registration
shall not be suspended or the register closed for more than thirty
days in any year or, with the approval of the Company in general
meeting, sixty days in any year.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
44. In the case of the death of a member, the survivor or survivors where Death of
the deceased was a joint holder, and the legal personal registered
representatives of the deceased where he was a sole holder, shall be holder or
the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his joint holder
interest in the shares; but nothing herein contained shall release the of shares.
estate of a deceased holder (whether sole or joint) from any liability
in respect of any share solely or jointly held by him.
45. Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or Registration
bankruptcy of a member may, upon such evidence as to his title being of personal
produced as may from time to time be required by the Board, and representatives
subject as hereinafter provided elect either to be registered himself and trustees
as holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him in bankruptcy.
registered as the transferee thereof.
46. If the person so becoming entitled shall elect to be registered Notices of
himself, he shall deliver or send to the Company a notice in writing election to
signed by him stating that he so elects. If he shall elect to have his be registered.
nominee registered, he shall testify his election by executing to his
nominee a transfer of such share. All the limitations, restrictions
and provisions of these presents relating to the right to transfer and
the registration of transfers of shares shall be applicable to any Registration
such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the death or bankruptcy of of nominee.
the member had not occurred and the notice or transfer were a transfer
executed by such member.
47. A person becoming entitled to a share by reason of the death or Retention of
bankruptcy of the holder shall be entitled to the same dividends and dividends,
other advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the etc., of
registered holder of the share. However, the Board may, if they think shares of
fit, withhold the payment of any dividend payable or other advantages deceased or
in respect of such share until such person shall become the registered bankrupt
holder of the share or shall have effectually transferred such share, member.
but, subject to the requirements of Article 79 being met, such a
person may vote at meetings.
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
48. If a member fails to pay any call or instalment of a call on the day If call or
appointed for payment thereof, the Board may, at any time thereafter instalment not
during such time as any part of the call or instalment remains unpaid, paid notice
without prejudice to the provisions of Article 32 hereof, serve a may be given.
notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment
as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued and
which may still accrue up to the date of actual payment.
49. The notice shall name a further day (not earlier than the expiration Form of notice.
of fourteen days from the date of service of the notice) on or before
which the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall
state that in the event of non-payment at or before the time appointed
the shares in respect of which the call was made will be liable to be
forfeited.
50. If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied If notice not
with, any share in respect of which the notice has been given may at complied with
any time thereafter, before the payment required by the notice has shares may be
been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Board to that effect. forfeited.
Such forfeiture shall include all dividends and bonuses declared in
respect of the forfeited share and not actually paid before the
forfeiture. The Board may accept the surrender of any shares liable to
be forfeited hereunder and in such cases references in these Articles
to forfeiture shall include surrender.
51. Any share so forfeited shall be deemed to be the property of the Forfeited
Company, and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such share to
terms and in such manner as the Board thinks fit and at any time become
before a sale or disposal the forfeiture may be cancelled on such property of
terms as the Board thinks fit. Company.
52. A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member Amounts to be paid
in respect of the forfeited shares, but shall, notwithstanding the notwithstanding
forfeiture, remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which, at forfeiture.
the date of forfeiture, were payable by him to the Company in respect
of the shares, together with (if the Board shall in its discretion so
require) interest thereon from the date of forfeiture until payment at
such rate not exceeding twenty per cent. per annum as the Board may
prescribe, and the Board may enforce the payment thereof if it thinks
fit, and without any deduction or allowance for the value of the
shares, at the date of
15
forfeiture, but his liability shall cease if and when the Company
shall have received payment in full of all such moneys in respect of
the shares. For the purposes of this Article any sum which, by the
terms of issue of a share, is payable thereon at a fixed time which is
subsequent to the date of forfeiture, whether on account of the
nominal value of the share or by way of premium, shall notwithstanding
that time has not yet arrived be deemed to be payable at the date of
forfeiture, and the same shall become due and payable immediately upon
the forfeiture, but interest thereon shall only be payable in respect
of any period between the said fixed time and the date of actual
payment.
53. A statutory declaration in writing that the declarant is a Director or Evidence of
Secretary of the Company, and that a share in the Company has been forfeiture and
duly forfeited on a date stated in the declaration, shall be transfer of
conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons forfeited
claiming to be entitled to the share. The Company may receive the share.
consideration, if any, given for the share on any sale or disposal
thereof and may execute a transfer of the share in favour of the
person to whom the share is sold or disposed of and he shall thereupon
be registered as the holder of the share, and shall not be bound to
see to the application of the purchase money, if any, nor shall his
title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in
the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture, sale or disposal of
the share.
54. When any share shall have been forfeited, notice of the resolution
shall be given to the member in whose name it stood immediately prior
to the forfeiture, and an entry of the forfeiture, with the date
thereof, shall forthwith be made in the register, but no forfeiture
shall be invalidated by any failure to give such notice or make such
entry as aforesaid.
55. Notwithstanding any such forfeiture as aforesaid the Board may at any Power to buy
time, before any shares so forfeited shall have been sold, re-allotted back forfeited
or otherwise disposed of, permit the shares forfeited to be bought share.
back upon the terms of payment of all calls and interest due upon and
expenses incurred in respect of the share, and upon such further terms
(if any) as they think fit.
56. The forfeiture of a share shall not prejudice the right of the Company Forfeiture not to
to any call already made or instalment payable thereon. prejudice Company's
right to call
or instalment.
57. The provisions of these Articles as to forfeiture shall apply in the Forfeiture for
case of non-payment of any sum which, by the terms of issue of a non-payment of
share, becomes payable at a fixed time, whether on account of the any sum due on
nominal value of the share or by way of premium, as if the same had shares.
been payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.
STOCK
58. The Company may by ordinary resolution convert any paid up shares into Power to
stock, and may from time to time by like resolution reconvert any convert
stock into paid up shares of any denomination. into stock.
59. The holders of stock may transfer the same or any part thereof in the Transfer of
same manner, and subject to the same regulations as and subject to stock.
which the shares from which the stock arose might prior to conversion
have been transferred, or as near thereto as circumstances admit, but
the Board may from time to time, if it thinks fit, fix the minimum
amount of stock transferable and restrict or forbid the transfer of
fractions of that minimum, but so that such minimum shall not exceed
the nominal amount of the shares from which the stock arose. No
warrants to bearer shall be issued in respect of any stock.
60. The holders of stock shall, according to the amount of the stock held Rights of
by them, have the same rights, privileges and advantages as regards stockholders.
dividends, participation in assets on a winding up, voting at
meetings, and other matters, as if they held the shares from which the
stock arose, but no such right, privilege or advantage (except
participation in the dividends and profits of the Company and in the
assets on winding up) shall be conferred by an amount of stock which
would not, if existing in shares, have conferred such right, privilege
or advantage.
61. All such of the provisions of these presents as are applicable to paid Interpretation.
up shares shall apply to stock, and the words "share" and
"shareholder" therein shall include "stock" and "stockholder".
16
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
62. (a) The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution:- Consolidation
and division
(i) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into of capital
shares of larger or smaller amount than its existing shares; and
on any consolidation of fully paid shares into shares of sub-division
larger amount, the Board may settle any difficulty which may and
arise as it thinks expedient and in particular (but without cancellation
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) may as between of shares.
the holders of shares to be consolidated determine which
particular shares are to be consolidated into each
consolidated share, and if it shall happen that any person
shall become entitled to fractions of a consolidated share
or shares, such fractions may be sold by some person
appointed by the Board for that purpose and the person so
appointed may transfer the shares so sold to the purchaser
thereof and the validity of such transfer shall not be
questioned, and so that the net proceeds of such sale (after
deduction of the expenses of such sale) may either be
distributed among the persons who would otherwise be
entitled to a fraction or fractions of a consolidated share
or shares rateable in accordance with their rights and
interests or may be paid to the Company for the Company's
benefit;
(ii) cancel any shares which at the date of the passing of the
resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any
person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the
amount of the shares so cancelled; and
(iii) sub-divide its shares or any of them into shares of smaller
amount than is fixed by the Memorandum of Association,
subject nevertheless to the provisions of the Ordinance, and
so that the resolution whereby any share is sub-divided may
determine that, as between the holders of the shares
resulting from such sub-division, one or more of the shares
may have any such preferred or other special rights over, or
may have such deferred rights or be subject to any such
restrictions as compared with the others as the Company has
power to attach to unissued or new shares.
(b) The Company may by special resolution reduce its share capital, Reduction of
any capital redemption reserve fund or any share premium account capital.
in any manner authorised and subject to any conditions prescribed
by law.
GENERAL MEETINGS
63. The Company shall in each year hold a general meeting as its annual When annual
general meeting in addition to any other meeting in that year and general
shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it; and not meeting to be
more than fifteen months shall elapse between the date of one annual held.
general meeting of the Company and that of the next. The annual
general meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Board
shall appoint.
64. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be Extraordinary
called extraordinary general meetings. general
meetings.
65. The Directors may, whenever they think fit, convene an extraordinary Convening of
general meeting, and extraordinary general meetings shall also be extraordinary
convened on requisition as provided by the Companies Ordinance, or, in general
default, may be convened by the requisitionists. meetings.
66. An annual general meeting and a meeting called for the passing of a Notices of
special resolution shall be called by 21 days' notice in writing at meetings.
the least, and a meeting of the Company other than an annual general
meeting or a meeting for the passing of a special resolution shall be
called by 14 days' notice in writing at the least. The notice shall be
exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and
of the day for which it is given, and shall specify the place, the day
and the hour of meeting and, in case of special business, the general
nature of that business, and shall be given, in the manner hereinafter
mentioned or in such other manner, if any, as may be prescribed by the
Company in general meeting, to such persons as are, under these
Articles, entitled to receive such notices from the Company.
67. (a) The accidental omission to give any such notice to, or the As to
non-receipt of any such notice by, any person entitled to receive omission to
such notice shall not invalidate any resolution passed or any give notice.
proceeding at any such meeting.
(b) In cases where instruments of proxy are sent out with notices,
the accidental omission to send such instrument of proxy to, or
the non-receipt of such instrument of proxy by, any person
entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate any resolution
passed or any proceeding at any such meeting.
17
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
68. All business shall be deemed special that is transacted at any Special
extraordinary general meeting, and also all business that is business.
transacted at an annual general meeting, with the exception of
sanctioning dividends, the reading, considering and adopting of the
Annual Report and other documents required to be annexed to the Annual
Report, the election of Directors and appointment of Auditors and
other officers in the place of those retiring, the fixing of the
remuneration of the Auditors, and the voting of remuneration or extra
remuneration to the Directors.
69. For all purposes the quorum for a general meeting shall be two members Quorum.
present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote. No business shall
be transacted at any general meeting unless the requisite quorum shall
be present at the commencement of the business.
70. If within fifteen minutes from the time appointed for the meeting a When if quorum
quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition not present
of members, shall be dissolved, but in any other case it shall stand meeting to be
adjourned to the same day in the next week and at such time and place dissolved and
as shall be decided by the Board, and if at such adjourned meeting a when to be
quorum is not present within fifteen minutes from the time appointed adjourned.
for holding the meeting, the member or members present in person shall
be a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting was
called.
71. The Chairman of the Board shall take the chair at every general Chairman of
meeting, or if at any general meeting such Chairman shall not be general
present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding meeting.
such meeting or is unwilling to act or is absent from Hong Kong or has
given notice to the Company of his intention not to attend the
meeting, a Deputy Chairman of the Board shall take the chair at such
general meeting, or if there be no such Chairman or Deputy Chairman
present at the meeting, any Director present shall take the chair at
the relevant general meeting, and if no Director be present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or
if all Directors present decline to take the chair, then the members
present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their own number to
be Chairman of that meeting.
72. The Chairman may, with the consent of any general meeting at which a Power to
quorum is present, and shall, if so directed by the meeting, adjourn adjourn
the meeting from time to time and from place to place as the meeting general
shall determine. Whenever a meeting is adjourned for fourteen days or meeting.
more, at least seven clear days' notice, specifying the place, the day
and the hour of the adjourned meeting shall be given in the same Business of
manner as in the case of an original meeting but it shall not be adjourned
necessary to specify in such notice the nature of the business to be meeting.
transacted at the adjourned meeting. Save as aforesaid, no member
shall be entitled to any notice of an adjournment or of the business
to be transacted at any adjourned meeting. No business shall be
transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which
might have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment
took place.
73. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting How questions
shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is (before or on the to be
declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded:- decided.
(a) by the Chairman; or
(b) by at least three members present in person or by proxy for the
time being entitled to vote at the meeting; or
(c) by any member or members present in person or by proxy and
representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights
of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or
(d) by any member or members present in person or by proxy and
holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the
meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up
equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all
the shares conferring that right.
Unless a poll be so demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a
declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has on a show of hands
been carried or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or
lost, and an entry to that effect in the book containing the minutes
of the proceedings of the Company, shall be conclusive evidence of the
fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded
in favour or against such resolution. The demand for a poll may be
withdrawn.
74. If a poll is demanded as aforesaid, it shall (subject as provided in Poll.
Article 75) be taken in such manner (including the use of ballot or
voting papers or tickets) and at such time and place, not being more
than
18
thirty days from the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which
the poll was demanded, as the Chairman directs. No notice need be
given of a poll not taken immediately. The result of the poll shall be
deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was
demanded. The demand for a poll may be withdrawn, with the consent of
the Chairman, at any time before the close of the meeting or the
taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier.
75. Any poll duly demanded on the election of a chairman of a meeting or In what cases poll
on any question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting and taken without
without adjournment. adjournment.
76. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on Chairman to
a poll, the Chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes have casting
place or at which the poll is demanded, shall be entitled to a second vote.
or casting vote. In case of any dispute as to the admission or
rejection of any vote, the Chairman shall determine the same, and such
determination shall be final and conclusive.
77. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting Business may
for the transaction of any business other than the question on which a proceed
poll has been demanded. notwithstanding
demand for poll.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
78. (a) Subject to any special rights, privileges or restrictions as Votes of
to voting for the time being attached to any class or classes of members.
shares, at any general meeting on a show of hands every member
who (being an individual) is present in person or (being a
corporation) is present by a representative duly authorised under
Section 115 of the Ordinance, shall have one vote, and on a poll
every member present in person or by proxy or by duly authorised
representative shall have one vote for every fully paid share of
which he is the holder and have for every partly paid share of
which he is the holder the fraction of one vote equal to the
proportion which the nominal amount due and paid up thereon bears
to the nominal value of the share, but no amount paid or credited
as paid up on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for
the purposes of this Article as paid up on the share. On a poll a
member entitled to more than one vote need not use all his votes
or cast all the votes he uses in the same way.
(b) A member of the Company, being a recognised clearing house within
the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571
of the Laws of Hong Kong) ("the clearing house") may authorise
such person or persons as it thinks fit to act as its
representative or representatives at any meeting of the Company
or at any meeting of any class of member of the Company provided
that, if more than one person is so authorised, the authorisation
must specify the number and class of shares in respect of which
each such person is so authorised. A person so authorised will be
entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the clearing
house (or its nominee) which he represents as that clearing house
(or its nominee) could exercise if it were an individual member
of the Company.
79. Any person entitled under Article 45 to be registered as a shareholder Votes in
may vote at any general meeting in respect thereof in the same manner respect of
as if he were the registered holder of such shares; provided that deceased and
forty-eight hours at least before the time of the holding of the bankrupt
meeting or adjourned meeting as the case may be at which he proposes members.
to vote, he shall satisfy the Board of his entitlement to such share,
or the Board shall have previously admitted his right to vote at such
meeting in respect thereof.
80. Where there are joint registered holders of any share, any one of such Joint holders.
persons may vote at any meeting, either personally or by proxy, in
respect of such share as if he were solely entitled thereto; but if
more than one of such joint holders be present at any meeting
personally or by proxy, that one of the said persons so present whose
name stands first on the register in respect of such share, shall
alone be entitled to vote in respect thereof. Several executors or
administrators of a deceased member in whose name any share stands
shall for the purpose of this Article be deemed joint holders thereof.
81. A member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made Votes of
by any court having jurisdiction in cases of mental disorders, may member of
vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, unsound mind.
receiver, curator bonis, or other person in the nature of a committee,
receiver or curator bonis appointed by that court, and any such
committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may, on a poll,
vote by proxy, provided that such evidence as the Directors may
require of the authority of the person claiming to vote shall have
been deposited at the registered office of the Company not less than
forty-eight hours before the time for holding the meeting, or
adjourned meeting or poll, as the case may be.
19
82. (a) Save as herein expressly provided, no person other than a Qualification
member duly registered and who shall have paid everything for the for voting.
time being due from him and payable to the Company in respect of
his shares and is entitled to attend and vote shall be entitled
to be present or to vote (save as proxy for another member)
either personally or by proxy, or to be reckoned in a quorum
(save as proxy for another member), at any general meeting.
(b) No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter Objections
except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote to votes.
objected to is given or tendered, any vote not disallowed at such
meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made
in due time shall be referred to the Chairman, whose decision
shall be final and conclusive.
82A. Where any shareholder is, under the Listing Rules, required to abstain Abstain from voting.
from voting on any particular resolution or restricted to voting only
for or only against any particular resolution, any votes cast by or on
behalf of such shareholder in contravention of such requirement or
restriction shall not be counted.
83. Any member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of Proxies.
the Company or a meeting of the holder of any class of shares in the
Company shall be entitled to appoint another person as his proxy to
attend and vote instead of him. On a poll votes may be given either
personally or by proxy. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. A
member may appoint more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion.
84. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand Instrument
of the appointor or of his attorney duly authorised in writing, or if appointing
the appointor is a corporation, either under seal, or under the hand proxy to be
of an officer or attorney duly authorised. in writing.
85. The instrument appointing a proxy and the power of attorney or other Appointment
authority, if any, under which it is signed or a notarially certified of proxy must
copy of that power or authority shall be deposited at the registered be deposited.
office of the Company or at such other place as is specified in the
notice of meeting or in the instrument of proxy issued by the Company
not less than forty-eight hours before the time for holding the
meeting or adjourned meeting or poll (as the case may be) at which the
person named in such instrument proposes to vote, and in default the
instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid. No instrument
appointing a proxy shall be valid after expiration of twelve months
from the date of its execution, except at an adjourned meeting or on a
poll demanded at a meeting or an adjourned meeting in cases where the
meeting was originally held within twelve months from such date.
Delivery of an instrument appointing a proxy shall not preclude a
member from attending and voting in person at the meeting or poll
concerned and, in such event, the instrument appointing a proxy shall
be deemed to be revoked.
86. Every instrument of proxy, whether for a specified meeting or Form of proxy.
otherwise, shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time
approve.
87. The instrument appointing a proxy to vote at a general meeting shall: Authority
(i) be deemed to confer authority upon the proxy to demand or join in under
demanding a poll and to vote on any resolution (or amendment thereto) instrument
put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit appointing
provided that any form issued to a member for use by him for proxy.
appointing a proxy to attend and vote at an extraordinary general
meeting or at an annual general meeting at which any business is to be
transacted shall be such as to enable the member, according to his
intention, to instruct the proxy to vote in favour of or against (or,
in default of instructions, to exercise his discretion in respect of)
each resolution dealing with any such business; and (ii) unless the
contrary is stated therein, be valid as well for any adjournment of
the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates.
88. A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy When vote be
shall be valid notwithstanding the previous death or unsoundness of proxy valid
mind of the principal or revocation of the proxy or power of attorney though
or other authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer authority
of the share in respect of which the proxy is given, provided that no revoked
intimation in writing of such death, unsoundness of mind, revocation
or transfer as aforesaid shall have been received by the Company at
the registered office, or at such other place as is referred to in
Article 85 of these Articles, prior to two hours before the
commencement of the meeting, adjourned meeting or poll, as the case
may be, at which the proxy is used.
89. Any corporation which is a member of the Company may by resolution of Corporation
its directors or other governing body authorise such persons as it acting by
thinks fit to act as its representatives at any meeting of the Company representative
or of any class of members of the Company, and the persons so at meetings.
authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of
the corporation which they represent as that corporation could
exercise if it were
20
an individual member of the Company.
REGISTERED OFFICE
90. The registered office of the Company shall be at such place in Hong Registered
Kong as the board shall from time to time appoint. Office.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
91. The number of Directors shall not be less than two. Number.
92. The Board shall have power from time to time, and at any time to Board may
appoint any person as a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as fill
an addition to the Board provided that the appointment of any Director vacancies.
shall be approved by the Executive Chairman. Any Director so appointed
shall hold office only until the next following annual general meeting
of the Company and shall then be eligible for re-election at that
meeting.
93. (a) Any Director may at any time by notice in writing delivered to Alternate
the registered office of the Company or at a meeting of the Directors.
Board, appoint any person (including another Director) to be his
alternate Director for such period of absence from Hong Kong or
such period of unavailability due to illness or disability or for
such meeting as may be specified therein, and may in like manner
at any time determine such appointment. Such appointment, unless
previously approved by the Board, shall have effect only upon and
subject to being so approved.
(b) The appointment of an alternate Director shall determine on the
happening of any event which, were he a Director, would cause him
to vacate such office, or if his appointor ceases to be a
Director.
(c) An alternate Director shall (except when absent from Hong Kong,
for which purpose he shall be deemed absent from Hong Kong on any
day if he has given to the Secretary notice of his intention to
be absent from Hong Kong for any period including such day and
has not revoked such notice) be entitled to receive notices of
meetings of the Board and shall be entitled to attend and vote as
a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing
him is not personally present and generally at such meeting to
perform all the functions of his appointor as a Director, and for
the purposes of the proceedings at such meeting the provisions of
these Articles shall apply as if he (instead of his appointor)
were a Director. If he shall be himself a Director or shall
attend any such meeting as an alternate for more than one
Director his voting rights shall be cumulative. If his appointor
is for the time being absent from Hong Kong or temporarily unable
to act through ill-health or disability, his signature to any
resolution in writing of the Board shall be as effective as the
signature of his appointor. To such extent as the Board may from
time to time determine in relation to any committee of the Board,
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall also apply
mutatis mutandis to any meeting of any such committee of which
his appointor is a member. An alternate Director shall not, save
as aforesaid, have power to act as a Director nor shall he be
deemed to be a Director for the purposes of these Articles.
(d) An alternate Director shall be entitled to contract and be
interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements or
transactions and to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified to
the same extent mutatis mutandis as if he were a Director, but he
shall not be entitled to receive from the Company in respect of
his appointment as alternate Director any remuneration except
only such part (if any) of the remuneration otherwise payable to
his appointor as such appointor may by notice in writing to the
Company from time to time direct.
(e) An alternate Director shall not be, nor be deemed to be, the
agent of the Director appointing him and the latter shall not be
vicariously liable for any tort committed by the former.
94. A Director need not hold any qualification shares but shall No
nevertheless be entitled to receive notice of and to attend and speak qualification
at all general meetings of the Company and at all separate meetings of shares for
the respective holders of all classes of shares of the Company. Directors.
95. The Directors shall be entitled to receive by way of remuneration for Directors'
their services such sum as shall from time to time be determined by remuneration.
the Company in general meeting, such sum (unless otherwise directed by
the resolution by which it is voted) to be divided amongst the
Directors in such proportions and in such manner as the Board may
agree or, failing agreement, equally, except that in such event any
Director
21
holding office for less than the whole of the relevant period in
respect of which the remuneration is paid shall only rank in such
division in proportion to the time during such period for which he has
held office. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to a Director
who holds any salaried employment or office in the Company except in
the case of sums paid in respect of Directors' fees.
96. The Directors shall also be entitled to be repaid all travelling, Directors'
hotel and other expenses reasonably incurred by them respectively in expenses.
or about the performance of their duties as Directors, including their
expenses of travelling to and from board meetings, committee meetings
or general meetings or otherwise incurred whilst engaged in the
business of the Company.
97. The Board may grant special remuneration to any Director who, being Special
called upon, shall perform any special or extra services to the remuneration.
Company. Such special remuneration may be made payable to such
Director in addition to or in substitution for his ordinary
remuneration as a Director, and may be made payable by way of salary,
or commission, participation in profits or otherwise as may be
arranged.
98. Notwithstanding the foregoing Articles 95, 96 and 97, the remuneration Remuneration
of a Executive Chairman, or other Executive Director or a Director of Executive
appointed to any other office in the management of the Company shall Chairman, etc.
from time to time be fixed by the Board and may be by way of salary,
commission, or participation in profits or otherwise or by all or any
of those modes and with such other benefits (including pension and/or
gratuity and/or other benefits on retirement) and allowances as the
Board may from time to time decide. Such remuneration shall be in addition
to his remuneration as a Director.
99. (a) A Director shall vacate his office:- When office of
Director to be
vacated.
(i) If he becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against
him or suspends payment, or compounds with his creditors.
(ii) If he becomes of unsound mind.
(iii) If he absents himself from the meetings of the Board during
a continuous period of six months without special leave of
absence from the Board, and his alternate Director (if any)
shall not during such period have attended in his stead, and
the Board passes a resolution that he has by reason of such
absence vacated his office.
(iv) If he becomes prohibited from being a Director by reason of
any order made under any provision of the Companies
Ordinance.
(v) If by notice in writing delivered to the Company at its
registered office he resigns his office.
(vi) If he shall be removed from office by notice in writing
served upon him signed by all his co-Directors.
(vii) If, having been appointed to an office under Article 112
hereof, he is dismissed or removed therefrom by the Board
under Article 113.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the Companies Ordinance no Director
shall be required to vacate office or be ineligible for
re-election or re-appointment as a Director, and no person shall
be ineligible for appointment as a Director, by reason only of
his having attained any particular age.
100. (a) A Director may hold any other office or place of profit with the Directors may
Company (except that of Auditor) in conjunction with his office contract with
of Director for such period and upon such terms as the Board may Company.
determine, and may be paid such extra remuneration therefor
(whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits
or otherwise) as the Board may determine and such extra
remuneration shall be in addition to any remuneration provided
for by or pursuant to any other Article.
(b) A Director may act by himself or his firm in a professional
capacity for the Company (otherwise than as Auditor) and he or
his firm shall be entitled to remuneration for professional
services as if he were not a Director.
(c) A Director of the Company may be or become a director or other
officer of, or otherwise interested in, any company promoted by
the Company or any other company in which the Company may be
interested, and shall not be liable to account to the Company or
the members for any remuneration,
22
profits or other benefits received by him as director or officer
of or from his interest in such other company. The Board may also
cause the voting power conferred by the shares in any other
company held or owned by the Company or exercisable by it as
director of such other company to be exercised in such manner in
all respects as it thinks fit, including the exercise thereof in
favour of any resolution appointing the Directors or any of them
to be directors or officers of such other company, or voting or
providing for the payment of remuneration to the directors or
officers of such other company.
(d) A Director shall not vote or be counted in the quorum on any
resolution of the Board concerning his own appointment as the
holder of office or place of profit with the Company or any other
company in which the Company is interested (including the
arrangement or variation of the terms thereof, or the termination
thereof).
(e) Where arrangements are under consideration concerning that
appointment (including the arrangement or variation of the terms
thereof, or the termination thereof) of two or more Directors to
offices or places of profit with the Company or any other company
in which the Company is interested, a separate resolution may be
put in relation to each Director and in such case each of the
Directors concerned shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in
the quorum) in respect of each resolution except that concerning
his own appointment (or the arrangement or variation of the terms
thereof, or the termination thereof) and except (in the case of
an office or place of profit with any such other company as
aforesaid) where the other company is a company in which the
Director together with any of his associates own 5 per cent. or
more.
(f) Subject to the Ordinance and to the next paragraph of this
Article, no Director or proposed or intending Director shall be
disqualified by his office from contracting with the Company,
either with regard to his tenure of any office or place of profit
or as vendor, purchaser or in any other manner whatsoever, nor
shall any such contract or any other contract or arrangement in
which any Director is in any way interested be liable to be
avoided, nor shall any Director so contracting or being so
interested be liable to account to the Company of the members for
any remuneration, profit or other benefits realised by any such
contract or arrangement by reason of such Director holding that
office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established.
(g) A Director who, to his knowledge, is interested or has an
associate who is interested, in any way, whether directly or
indirectly, in a contract or arrangement or proposed contract or
arrangement with the Company shall declare the nature of his
interest or the interest of his associate at the meeting of the
Board at which the question of entering into the contract or
arrangement is first taken into consideration if he knows his
interest or the interest of his associate then exists; or in any
other case at the first meeting of the Board after he knows that
he or his associate is or has become so interested. For this
purpose, a general notice to the Board by a Director to the
effect that:-
(i) he or any of his associates is a member of a specified
company or firm and is to be regarded as interested in any
contract or arrangement which may after the date of the
notice be made with that company or firm; or
(ii) he or any of his associates is to be regarded as interested
in any contract or arrangement which may after the date of
the notice be made with a specified person who is connected
with him or them,
shall be deemed to be a sufficient declaration of interest in
relation to any such contract or arrangement; provided that no
such notice shall be effective unless either it is given at a
meeting of the Board or the Director takes reasonable steps to
secure that it is brought up and read at the next Board meeting
after it is given.
(h) Save as otherwise provided by the Articles, a Director shall not
vote (nor be counted in the quorum) on any resolution of the
Board in respect of any contract, arrangement or proposal in
which he or any of his associates is materially interested, but
this prohibition shall not apply to any of the following matters
namely:-
(i) any contract or arrangement for the giving to such Director
or any of his associates of any security or indemnity in
respect of money lent by him or them or obligations incurred
or undertaken by him or them for the benefit of the Company
and any of its subsidiaries;
(ii) any contract or arrangement for the giving by the Company of
any security or indemnity to a
23
third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries for which the Director or
any of his associates has himself or themselves assumed
responsibility in whole or in part and whether alone or
jointly under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of
security;
(iii) any contract or arrangement by a Director or any of his
associates to subscribe for shares, debentures or other
securities of the Company issued or to be issued pursuant to
any offer or invitation to members or debenture holders of
the Company or any class thereof, and which does not provide
in respect of any Directors or any of his associates as such
any privilege or advantage not accorded to any other members
or debenture holders of the Company or any class thereof or
to the public or any sections thereof;
(iv) any contract or arrangement concerning an offer of the
shares or debentures or other securities of or by the
Company or any other company which the Company may promote
or be interested in for subscription or purchase where the
Director or any of his associates is or is to be interested
as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of
the offer;
(v) any contract or arrangement in which the Director or any of
his associates is interested in the same manner as other
holders of shares or debentures or other securities of the
Company by virtue only of his or their interest in shares or
debentures or other securities of the Company;
(vi) any contract, arrangement or proposal concerning any company
in which the Director or any of his associates is interested
only, whether directly or indirectly, as an officer or
executive or shareholder or in which the Director or any of
his associates is beneficially interested in shares of that
company, provided that he, together with any of his
associates, is not beneficially interested in 5 per cent. or
more of the equity share capital of such company (whether
his interest is derived through any third company) or of the
voting rights available to members of such company;
(vii) any proposal or arrangement concerning the benefit of
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries including the
adoption, modification or operation of a pension fund or
retirement, death or disability benefits scheme which
relates to directors (and their associates) and employees of
the Company or of any of its subsidiaries and does not
provide in respect of any Director or any of his associates
who may be employees of the Company as such any privilege or
advantage not accorded to the employees to which such scheme
or fund relates;
(viii) any proposal or arrangement concerning the adoption,
modification or operation of any share scheme involving the
issue or grant of options over shares or other securities by
the Company to, or for the benefit of the employees of the
Company or of any of its subsidiaries, under which the
Director or any of his associates who may be employees of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries may benefit.
(i) A company shall be deemed to be a company in which a Director
together with any of his associates own 5 per cent. or more if
and so long as (but only if and so long as) he together with any
of his associates are (either directly or indirectly) the holders
of or beneficially interested in 5 per cent. or more of any class
of the equity share capital of such company or of the voting
rights available to members of such company. For the purpose of
this paragraph there shall be disregarded any shares held by a
Director as bare or custodian trustee and in which he has no
beneficial interest, any shares comprised in a trust in which the
Director's interest is in reversion or remainder if and so long
as some other person is entitled to receive the income thereof,
and any shares comprised in an authorised unit trust scheme in
which the Director is interested only as an unit holder.
(j) Where a company in which a Director together with any of his
associates hold 5 per cent. or more is materially interested in a
transaction, then that Director shall also be deemed materially
interested in such transaction.
(k) If any question shall arise at any meeting of the Board as to the
materiality of the interest (including, for these purposes, the
interest of any of his associates) of a Director (other than the
Chairman of meeting) or as to the entitlement of any Director
(other than such Chairman) to vote or be counted in the quorum
and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to
abstain from voting or not be counted in the quorum, such
question shall be referred to the Chairman of the meeting and his
ruling in relation to such other Director shall be final and
conclusive except in a case where the nature
24
or extent of the interest of the Director concerned as known to
such Director has not been fairly disclosed to the Board. If any
question as aforesaid shall arise in respect of the Chairman of
the meeting such question shall be decided by a resolution of the
Board (for which purpose such Chairman shall not be counted in
the quorum and shall not vote thereon) and such resolution shall
be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or
extent of the interest of such Chairman as known to such Chairman
has not been fairly disclosed to the Board.
(l) In so far as it is required by The Rules Governing the Listing of
Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, a Director
shall not vote (nor be counted in the quorum) on any resolution
of the shareholders in respect of any contract or arrangement in
which he is to his knowledge materially interested provided that
this prohibition (a) shall not apply to any of the matters
specified as (i) to (viii) inclusive in Article 100 (h) above;
and (b) is also subject to any waiver which may be granted by The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
(m) The Company may by ordinary resolution ratify any transaction not
duly authorised by reason of a contravention of these Articles
provided that no Director who is materially interested in such
transaction, together with any of his associates, shall vote upon
such Ordinary Resolution in respect of any shares in the Company
in which they are interested.
101. The Company may from time to time in general meeting by ordinary Power of general
resolution increase or reduce the number of Directors but so that the meeting to increase or
number of Directors shall never be less than two. reduce number
of Directors.
101A. At each annual general meeting one-third of the Directors for the Retirement
time being (or, if their number is not a multiple of three, then the of Directors
number nearest to but not greater than one-third) shall retire from by rotation.
office. Any Director retiring at a meeting pursuant to this Article
101A shall retain office until the close or adjournment of the
meeting.
101B. Any Director who wishes to retire and not to offer himself for Retiring
re-election shall be included for the purposes of determining the Director.
number of the Directors to retire at any annual general meeting pursuant
to the preceding Article 101A. Any further Directors so to retire shall be
those of the other Directors subject to retirement by rotation who have
been longest in office since their last election or appointment and so
that as between persons who became or were last elected Directors on the
same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among
themselves) be determined by lot. A retiring Director shall be eligible
for election.
101C. The Company at the annual general meeting at which a Director retires Retiring Directors
in accordance with these Articles may fill up the vacated office by to remain in office
electing a person thereto, and in default of such election by the till successors
Company, the retiring Director shall be deemed to have been re-elected appointed.
and shall, if willing, continue in office until the next annual
general meeting and so on from year to year until his place is filled,
unless:-
(a) it is expressly resolved at such meeting not to fill up such
vacated office; or
(b) a resolution for the re-election of such Director shall have been
put to the meeting and lost; or
(c) such Director has given notice in writing to the Company that he
is unwilling to be re-elected.
102. No person, other than a retiring Director, shall, unless recommended Notices to
by the Directors for election, be eligible for election to the office be given
of Director at any general meeting, unless notice in writing of the when person
intention to propose that person for election as a Director and notice proposed for
in writing by that person of his willingness to be elected shall have election.
been given to the Company in each case, during the period (being a
period of at least seven days) commencing on the day after despatch of
the notice of general meeting at which elections to the office of
Director are to be considered and ending on the day that falls seven
days before the date of the general meeting (both days inclusive).
103. The Company shall keep at its office a register containing all such Register of
particulars of its Directors as are required by the Ordinance to be Directors and
kept therein and shall send to the Registrar of Companies a copy of notification
such register and shall from time to time notify to the Registrar any of changes to
change that takes place in such Directors or their particulars as Registrar.
required by the Ordinance.
104. The Company may by ordinary resolution remove any Director (including Power to
a Managing or other Executive Director) before the expiration of his remove
period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or in any Director by
agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice ordinary
to any claim which such resolution.
25
Director may have for damages for any breach of any contract of
service between him and the Company) and may elect another person in
his stead. Any person so elected shall hold office for such time only
as the Director in whose place he is elected would have held the same
if he had not been removed. Special notice, in accordance with the
Companies Ordinance, shall be required in relation to any meeting at
which such an ordinary resolution is to be considered.
105. The Board may by a resolution passed by three quarters of the total Power to
number of directors remove any Director prior to the expiration of his remove
period of office notwithstanding anything in these Articles or any Director by
agreement between the Company and such Director (but without prejudice the Board.
to any claim which such Director may have for damages for any breach
of contract of service between him and the Company). The appointment
of another Director in his stead shall be in accordance with Article
92.
BORROWING POWERS
106. The Board may from time to time at their discretion exercise all the Power to
powers of the Company to raise or borrow, or to secure the payment of, borrow.
any sum or sums of money for the purposes of the Company and to
mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or
any part thereof.
107. The Board may raise or secure the payment or repayment of such sum or Conditions on
sums in such manner and upon such terms and conditions in all respects which money
as it thinks fit and in particular, by the issue of debentures, may be
debenture stock, bonds or other securities of the Company, whether borrowed.
outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or
obligation of the Company or of any third party.
108. Debentures, debenture stock, bonds and other securities may be made Assignment.
assignable free from any equities between the Company and the person
to whom the same may be issued.
109. Any debentures, debenture stock, bonds or other securities may be Special
issued at a discount, premium or otherwise and with any special privileges.
privileges as to redemption, surrender, drawings, allotment of shares,
attending and voting at general meetings of the Company, appointment
of Directors and otherwise.
110. The Board shall cause a proper register to be kept, in accordance with Register of
the provisions of the Companies Ordinance, of all mortgages and charges to
charges specifically affecting the property of the Company and shall be kept.
duly comply with the requirements of the Companies Ordinance, in
regard to the registration of mortgages and charges therein specified
and otherwise.
111. Where any uncalled capital of the Company is charged, all persons Charge of
taking any subsequent charge, therein shall take the same subject to uncalled
such prior charge, and shall not be entitled, by notice to the members capital.
or otherwise, to obtain priority over such prior charge.
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN ETC.
112. The Board may from time to time appoint any one or more of its body to Power to
the office of Executive Chairman or other Executive Director and/or appoint
such other office in the management of the Company as it may decide Executive
for such period and upon such terms as it thinks fit and upon such Chairman etc.
terms as to remuneration as it may decide in accordance with Article
98.
114. Every Director appointed to an office under Article 112 hereof shall, Removal of
subject to the provisions of any contract between himself and the Executive
Company with regard to his employment in such office, be liable to be Chairman,
dismissed or removed therefrom by the Board. etc.
114. A Director appointed to an office under Article 112 thereof shall be Cessation of
subject to the same provisions as to resignation and removal as the appointment.
other Directors of the Company, and he shall (subject to the
provisions of any contract between him and the Company) ipso facto and
immediately cease to hold such office if he ceases to hold the office
of Director for any cause.
115. The Board may from time to time entrust to and confer upon an Powers may be
Executive Chairman or Executive Director all or any of the powers of delegated.
the Board that it may think fit. But the exercise of all powers by
such Director shall be subject to such regulations and restrictions as
the Board may from time to time make and impose, and the said powers
may at any time be withdrawn, revoked or varied.
26
POWER OF DIRECTORS
116. (a) Subject to any exercise by the Board of the powers conferred by General powers
Articles 115, 117, 118, 119, 125, 137 and 138 hereof, the of the Company
management of the business of the Company shall be vested in the vested in the
Board who, in addition to the powers and authorities by these Board.
Articles expressly conferred upon them, may exercise all such
powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or
done or approved by the Company and are not hereby or by the
Ordinance expressly directed or required to be exercised or done
by the Company in general meeting, but subject nevertheless to
the provisions of the Ordinance and of these Articles and to any
regulations from time to time made by the Company in general
meeting not being inconsistent with such provisions or these
Articles, provided that no regulation so made shall invalidate
any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such
regulation had not been made.
(b) Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by these
Articles it is hereby expressly declared that the Board shall
have the following powers:-
(i) To give to any person the right or option of requiring at a
future date that an allotment shall be made to him of any
share at par or at such premium as may be agreed.
(ii) To give any Directors, officers or servants of the Company
an interest in any particular business or transaction or
participation in the profits thereof or in the general
profits of the Company either in addition to or in
substitution for a salary or other remuneration.
MANAGERS
117. The Board may from time to time appoint a general manager, a manager Appointment
or managers of the Company and may fix his or their remuneration and
either by way of salary or commission or by conferring the right to remuneration
participation in the profits of the Company or by a combination of two of managers.
or more of these modes and pay the working expenses of any of the
staff of the general manager, manager or managers who may be employed
by him or them upon the business of the Company.
118. The appointment of such general manager, manager or managers may be Tenure of
for such period as the Board may decide, and the Board may confer upon office and
him or them all or any of the powers of the Directors as it may think powers.
fit.
119. The Board may enter into such agreement or agreements with any such Terms and
general manager, manager or managers upon such terms and conditions in conditions of
all respects as the Board may in its absolute discretion thinks fit, appointment.
including a power for such general manager, manager or managers to
appoint an assistant manager or managers or other employees whatsoever
under them for the purpose of carrying on the business of the Company.
CHAIRMAN
120. The Board may elect a Chairman and one or more Deputy Chairman for Chairman.
their meetings and determine the period of which the Chairman and any
of the Deputy Chairmen are to hold office; but if at any meeting the
Chairman is not present, or is unwilling so to act within five minutes
after the time appointed for holding the same, the Deputy Chairman or
any one of them (if more than one Deputy Chairman has been appointed),
shall be the Chairman of that meeting; or if no such Chairman is
elected and/or no Deputy Chairman is present or is willing so to act
within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the same, the
Directors present may choose one of their number to be Chairman for
that meeting.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE DIRECTORS
121. The Directors may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn Meetings of
and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings as they think Directors,
fit and may determine the quorum necessary for the transaction of quorum, etc.
business. Unless otherwise determined two Directors shall be a quorum,
one of whom shall be the Executive Chairman unless the Executive
Chairman gives written notice that he waives this requirement in
relation to any meeting. For the purpose of this Article an alternate
Director shall be counted in a quorum but notwithstanding that an
alternate Director is an alternate for more than one Director he shall
for quorum purposes count as only one Director. Any Director may
participate in a meeting of the Board or of any such committee of the
Board by means of a conference telephone or similar communication
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting
are capable of hearing each other.
27
122. A Director may and, on request of a Director, the Secretary shall, at Convening of
any time summon a meeting of the Board. Notice thereof shall be given Board meeting.
to each Director either in writing or by telephone or by facsimile at
the facsimile number from time to time notified to the Company by such
Director or by telex or telegram at the address from time to time
notified to the Company by such Director or by electronic mail at the
electronic mail address from time to time notified to the Company by
such Director or in such other manner as the Board may from time to
time determine. Provided however that notice need not be given to any
Director for the time being absent from Hong Kong. A Director may
waive notice of any meeting and any such waiver may be prospective or
retrospective.
123. Questions arising at any meeting of the Board shall be decided by a How questions
majority of votes, and in case of an equality of votes the Executive to be
Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. Questions arising at any decided.
meeting of a committee of the Board shall be decided by a majority of
votes and in case of an equality of votes the chairman of such meeting
shall have a second or casting vote.
124. A meeting of the Board for the time being at which a quorum is present Powers of
shall be competent to exercise all or any of the authorities, powers meeting.
and discretions by or under the Articles of the Company for the time
being vested in or exercisable by the Board generally.
125. The Board may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of Power to
such member or members of its body as the Board thinks fit, and it appoint
may, from time to time, revoke such delegation or revoke the committee and
appointment of and discharge any such committees either wholly or in to delegate.
part, and either as to person or purposes, but every committee so
formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any
regulations that may time to time be imposed upon it by the Board.
126. All acts done by any such committee in conformity with such Acts of
regulations, and in fulfilment of the purposes for which it is committee to
appointed, but not otherwise, shall have the like force and effect, as be of same
if done by the Board, and the Board shall have power, with the consent effect as acts
of the Company in general meeting, to remunerate the members of any of the Board.
special committee, and charge such remuneration to the current
expenses of the Company.
127. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, two Directors shall form a Proceedings
quorum for any meeting of a committee of the Board. A committee may of committee.
elect a chairman of its meetings. If no such chairman is elected, or
if at any meeting the chairman is not present within five minutes
after the time appointed for holding the same, the members present may
choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting. A committee
may meet and adjourn as its members think proper.
128. All acts bona fide done by any meeting of the Board or by a committee When acts of
of the Board, or by any person acting as a Director shall, Directors or
notwithstanding that it shall be afterwards discovered that there was committee to
some defect in the appointment of any such Director or person acting be valid
as aforesaid or that he had by virtue of Article 99(a) ceased to be a notwithstanding
Director, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed defects.
and had not ceased to be a Director.
129. The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their Directors'
body, but, if and so long as their number is reduced below the minimum powers when
number fixed by or pursuant to these Articles, the continuing vacancies
Directors or Director may act for the purpose of increasing the number exist.
of Directors to that number, or of summoning a general meeting of the
Company, but for no other purpose.
130. A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors in Hong Kong, Directors'
except such as are temporarily unable to act through ill-health or resolutions
disability and all the alternate Directors in Hong Kong whose in writing.
appointors are absent from Hong Kong or are temporarily unable to act
as aforesaid, shall (so long as they constitute a quorum as provided
in Article 121) be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at
a meeting of the Board duly convened and held and may consist of
several documents in like form each signed by one or more of the
Directors or alternate Directors.
PRESIDENT
131. The Board may, at any time and from time to time, appoint any one of President.
their number or any former Director of the Company who, in their
opinion, has rendered outstanding services to the Company, or any
other person to be President of the Company for life or any other
period. The President shall not, by virtue of his office, be deemed a
Director or be entitled to any remuneration. Nevertheless where he is
not a Director he may, by invitation of the Board, attend meetings of
the Board for the purpose of giving advice and the Board may
remunerate him in respect of advice and assistance from time to time
given by him.
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SECRETARY
132. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Board for such term, at such Appointment
remuneration and upon such conditions as it may think fit, and any of Secretary.
Secretary so appointed may be removed by the Board. Anything by the
Ordinance or these Articles required or authorised to be done by or to
the Secretary, if the office is vacant or there is for any other
reason no Secretary capable of acting, may be done by or to any
assistant or deputy Secretary, or if there is no assistant or deputy
Secretary capable of acting, by or to any officer of the Company
authorised generally or specially on that behalf by the Board.
133. The Secretary shall be an individual, ordinarily resident in Hong Residence.
Kong.
134. A provision of the Ordinance or of these Articles requiring or Same person
authorising a thing to be done by or to a Director and the Secretary not to act in
shall not be satisfied by its being done by or to the same person two capacities
acting both as Director and as or in place of the Secretary. at once.
MANAGEMENT - MISCELLANEOUS
135. (a) The Board shall provide for the safe custody of the seal which Seal.
shall only be used by the authority of the Board or of a
committee of the Board authorised by the Board in that behalf,
and every instrument to which the seal shall be affixed shall be
signed by a Director and shall be countersigned by the Secretary
or by a second Director or by some other person appointed by the
Board for the purpose. Provided that the Board may either
generally or in any particular case or cases resolve (subject to
such restrictions as to the manner in which the seal may be
affixed as the Board may determine) that such signatures or any
of them may be affixed to certificates for shares or debentures
or representing any other form of security by some mechanical
means other than autographic to be specified in such resolution
or that such certificates need not be signed by any person. Every
instrument executed in manner provided by this Article shall be
deemed to be sealed and executed with the authority of the Board
previously given.
(b) The Company may have an official seal for use for sealing Official seal.
certificates for shares or other securities issued by the Company
as permitted by Section 73A of the Ordinance (and no signature of
any Director, officer or other person and no mechanical
reproduction thereof shall be required on any such certificates
or other document and any such certificates or other document to
which such official seal is affixed shall be valid and deemed to
have sealed and executed with the authority of the Board
notwithstanding the absence of any such signature or mechanical
reproduction as aforesaid) and an official seal for use abroad
under the provisions of the Companies Ordinance where and as the
Board shall determine, and the Company may by writing under the
seal appoint any agents or agent, committees or committee abroad
to be the duly authorised agents of the Company for the purpose
of affixing and using such official seal and they may impose such
restrictions on the use thereof as may be thought fit. Wherever
in these Articles reference is made to the seal, the reference
shall, when and so far as may be applicable, be deemed to include
any such official seal as aforesaid.
136. All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange and other Cheques and
negotiable instruments, and all receipts for moneys paid to the banking
Company shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed or otherwise arrangements.
executed as the case may be, in such manner as the Board shall from
time to time by resolution determine. The Company's banking account
shall be kept with such banker or bankers as the Board shall from time
to time determine.
137. (a) The Board may from time to time, and at any time, by power of Power to
attorney under the common seal, appoint any company, firm or appoint
person, or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated attorney.
directly or indirectly by the Board to be the attorney or
attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers,
authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or
exercisable by the Board under these Articles) and for such
period and subject to such conditions as it may think fit, and
any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the
protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such
attorney as the Board may think fit, and may also authorise any
such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers
authorities and discretions vested in him.
(b) The Company may, by writing under its common seal, empower any Execution of
person, either generally or in respect of any specified matter, deeds by
as its attorney, to execute deeds and instruments on its behalf attorney.
and to enter into contracts and sign the same on its behalf in
any place not situate within Hong Kong, and every deed signed by
such attorney on behalf of the Company and under his seal shall
bind the Company and have the same effect as if it were under the
common seal of the Company.
29
138. The Board may establish any committees, local boards or agencies for Local boards.
managing any of the affairs of the Company, either in Hong Kong or
elsewhere, and may appoint any persons to be members of such
committees, local boards or agencies and may fix their remuneration,
any may delegate to any committee, local board, or agent any of the
powers, authorities and discretions vested in the Board (other than
its powers to make calls and forfeit shares), with power to
sub-delegate, and may authorise the members of any local board, or any
of them, to fill any vacancies therein, and to act notwithstanding
vacancies, and any such appointment or delegation may be upon such
terms and subject to such conditions as the Board may think fit, and
the Board may remove any person so appointed, and may annul or vary
any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without
notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.
139. The Board may establish and maintain or procure the establishment and Pension funds,
maintenance of any contributory or non-contributory pension or donations, etc.
superannuation funds for the benefit of, or give or procure the giving
of donations, gratuities, pensions, allowances or emoluments to any
persons who are or were at any time in the employment or service of
the Company, or of any company which is a subsidiary of the Company,
or is allied or associated with the Company or with any such
subsidiary company, or who are or were at any time directors or
officers of the Company or of any such other company as aforesaid, and
who hold or who have held any salaried employment or office in the
Company or such other company, and the wives, widows, families and
dependants of any such persons. The Board may also establish and
subsidise to any institutions, associations, clubs or funds calculated
to be for the benefit of or to advance the interests and well-being of
the Company or of any such other company as aforesaid or of any such
persons as aforesaid, and may make payments for or towards the
insurance of any such persons as aforesaid, and subscribe or guarantee
money for charitable or benevolent objects or for any exhibition or
for any public, general or useful object. The board may do any of the
matters aforesaid, either alone or in conjunction with any such other
company as aforesaid. Any Director holding any such employment or
office shall be entitled to participate in and retain for his own
benefit any such donation, gratuity, pension, allowance or emolument.
CAPITALISATION OF RESERVES
140. (a) The Company in general meeting may upon the recommendation of the Power to
Directors resolve that it is desirable to capitalise any part of capitalise.
the amount for the time being standing to the credit of any of
the Company's reserve accounts or to the credit of the profit and
loss account or otherwise available for distribution (and not
required for the payment or provision of the dividend on any
shares with a preferential right to dividend) and accordingly
that such sums be set free for distribution amongst the members
holding ordinary shares in proportion to the number of ordinary
shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively on
condition that the same be not paid in cash but be applied either
in or towards paying up any amounts for the time being unpaid on
any shares held by such members respectively or paying up in full
unissued shares or debentures of the Company to be allotted and
distributed credited as fully paid up to and amongst such members
in the proportions aforesaid, or partly in the one way and partly
in the other, and the Board shall give effect to such resolution,
provided that a share premium account and a capital redemption
reserve fund may, for the purposes of this Article, only be
applied in the paying up of unissued shares to be issued to
members of the Company as fully paid up shares.
(b) Whenever such a resolution as aforesaid shall have been passed Effect of
the Board shall make all appropriations and applications of the resolution
undivided profits resolved to be capitalised thereby, and all capitalise.
allotments and issues of fully paid up shares or debentures, if
any, and generally shall do all acts and things required to give
effect thereto, with full power to the Board to make such
provision by the issue of fractional certificates or by payment
in cash or otherwise (including provision for the benefit of
fractional entitlements to accrue to the Company rather than to
the members concerned) as they think fit for the case of shares
or debentures becoming distributable in fractions, and also to
authorise any person to enter on behalf of all members entitled
thereto into an agreement with the Company providing for the
allotment to them respectively, credited as fully paid up, of any
further shares or debentures to which they may be entitled upon
such capitalisation, or, as the case may require, for the payment
up by the Company on their behalf, by the application thereto of
their respective proportions of the profits resolved to be
capitalised, of the amounts or any part of the amounts remaining
unpaid on their existing shares, and any agreement made under
such authority shall be effective and binding on all such
members.
SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS RESERVE
141. (a) If, so long as any of the rights attached to any warrants issued Subscription
by the Company to subscribe for Rights
Reserve.
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shares of the Company shall remain exercisable, the Company does
any act or engages in any transaction which, as a result of any
adjustments to the subscription price in accordance with the
provisions of the conditions of the warrants, would reduce the
subscription price to below the par value of a share then the
following provisions shall apply:-
(i) as from the date of such act or transaction the Company
shall establish and thereafter (subject as provided in this
Article) maintain in accordance with the provisions of this
Article a reserve (the "Subscription Rights Reserve") the
amount of which shall at no time be less than the sum which
for the time being would be required to be capitalised and
applied in paying up in full the nominal amount of the
additional shares required to be issued and allotted
credited as fully paid pursuant to sub-paragraph (iii) of
this paragraph (a) on the exercise in full of all the
subscription rights outstanding and shall apply the
Subscription Rights Reserve in paying up such additional
shares in full as and when the same are allotted;
(ii) the Subscription Rights Reserve will not be used for any
purpose other than that specified above until all other
reserves of the Company (other than share premium account
and capital redemption reserve fund) have been used and will
then only be used to make good losses of the Company if and
so far as is required by law;
(iii) upon the exercise of all or any of the subscription rights
represented by any warrant, the relevant subscription rights
shall be exercisable in respect of a nominal amount of
shares equal to the amount in cash which the holder of such
warrant is required to pay on exercise of the subscription
rights represented thereby (or as the case may be, the
relevant portion thereof in the event of a partial exercise
of the subscription rights) and, in addition, there shall be
allotted in respect of such subscription rights to the
exercising warrantholder credited as fully paid such
additional nominal amount of shares as is equal to the
difference between:-
(aa) the said amount in cash which the holder of such
warrant is required to pay on exercise of the
subscription rights represented thereby (or, as the
case may be, the relevant portion thereof in the event
of a partial exercise of the subscription rights) and
(bb) the nominal amount of shares in respect of which such
subscription rights would have been exercisable having
regard to the provisions of the conditions of the
warrants, had it been possible for such subscription
rights to represent the right to subscribe for shares
at less than par;
and immediately upon such exercise so much of the sum
standing to the credit of the Subscription Rights Reserve as
is required to pay up in full such additional nominal amount
of shares shall be capitalised and applied in paying up in
full such additional nominal amount of shares which shall
forthwith be allotted and credited as fully paid to the
exercising warrantholders;
(iv) if upon the exercise of the subscription rights represented
by any warrant the amount standing to the credit of the
Subscription Rights Reserve is not sufficient to pay up in
full such additional nominal amount of shares equal to such
difference as aforesaid to which exercising warrantholder is
entitled, the Board shall apply any profits or reserve then
or thereafter becoming available (including to the extent
permitted by law, share premium account and capital
redemption reserve fund) for such purpose until such
additional nominal amount of shares is paid up and allotted
as aforesaid and until such time no dividend or other
distributions shall be paid or made on the shares. Pending
such payment up and allotment the exercising warrantholder
shall be issued by the Company with a certificate evidencing
his right to the allotment of such additional nominal amount
of shares. The rights represented by any such certificate
shall be in registered form and shall be transferable in
whole or in part in units of one share in the like manner as
the shares for the time being transferable, and the Company
shall make such arrangements in relation to the maintenance
of a register therefor and other matters in relation thereto
as the Board may think fit and adequate particulars thereof
shall be made known to each relevant exercising
warrantholder upon the issue of such certificate.
(b) Shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall
rank pari passu in all respects with the other shares allotted on
the relevant exercise of the subscription rights represented by
the warrant concerned.
31
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in paragraph (a) of this
Article no fraction of a share shall be allotted on exercise of
the subscription rights.
(d) The provisions of this Article as to the establishment and
maintenance of the Subscription Rights Reserve shall not be
altered or added to in any way which would vary or abrogate, or
which would have the effect of varying or abrogating, the
provisions for the benefit of any warrantholder or class of
warrantholders under this Article without the sanction of a
special resolution of such warrantholders or class of
warrantholders.
(e) A certificate or report by the Auditors as to whether or not the
Subscription Rights Reserve is required to be established and
maintained, as to the purposes for which the Subscription Rights
Reserve has been used, as to the extent to which it has been used
to make good losses of the Company, as to the additional nominal
amount of shares required to be allotted to an exercising
warrantholder credited as fully paid and as to any other matter
concerning the Subscription Rights Reserve shall (in the absence
of manifest error) be conclusive and binding upon the Company and
all warrantholders and shareholders.
DIVIDENDS AND RESERVES
142. The Company in general meeting may declare dividends in any currency, Power to
but no dividends shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board. declare
dividends.
143. (a) The Board may from time to time pay to the members such interim Board's power
dividends as appear to the Board to be justified by the profits to pay
of the Company, and in particular (but without prejudice to the interim
generality of the foregoing) if at any time the share capital of dividends.
the Company is divided into different classes, the Board may pay
such interim dividends in respect of those shares in the capital
of the Company which confer on the holders thereof deferred or
non-preferential rights as well as in respect of those shares
which confer on the holders thereof preferential rights with
regard to dividend and provided that the Board acts bona fide the
Board shall not incur any responsibility to the holders of shares
conferring any preference for any damage that they may suffer by
reason of the payment of an interim dividend on any shares having
deferred or non-preferential rights.
(b) The Board may also pay half-yearly or at other suitable intervals
to be settled by it any dividend which may be payable at a fixed
rate if the Board is of the opinion that the profits justify the
payment.
144. (a) No dividend shall be payable except out of the profits of the Provisions as
Company. No dividend shall carry interest. to dividends.
(b) For so long as any share issued under any share incentive scheme
for employees remains subject to restrictions on dividends,
voting and transfer imposed thereby, but without prejudice to the
entitlement of the holder of such share to participate in any
distribution on capitalization of reserves under Article 140, no
dividend whether payable in cash or in specie or by way of
allotment of fully paid shares under Article l46 hereof shall be
declared or paid on such share.
145. Whenever the Board or the Company in general meeting have resolved Dividend in
that a dividend be paid or declared, the Board may further resolve specie.
that such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part by the distribution
of specific assets of any kind and in particular of paid up shares,
debentures or warrants to subscribe securities of the Company or any
other company, or in any one or more of such ways, and where any
difficulty arises in regard to the distribution the Board may settle
the same as it thinks expedient, and in particular may issue
fractional certificates, disregard fractional entitlements or round
the same up or down, and may fix the value for distribution of such
specific assets, or any part thereof, and may determine that cash
payment shall be made to any members upon the footing of the value so
fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties, and may vest and
such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Board
and may appoint any person to sign any requisite instruments of
transfer and other documents on behalf of the persons entitled to the
dividend, and such appointment shall be effective. Where requisite, a
contract shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of the
Ordinance, and the Board may appoint any person to sign such contract
on behalf of the persons entitled to the dividend, and such
appointment shall be effective.
146. (a) Whenever the Board or the Company in general meeting have Scrip dividends.
resolved that a dividend be paid or declared on the share capital
of the Company, the Board may further resolve:-
32
(i) That such dividend be satisfied wholly or in part in the
form of an allotment of shares credited as fully paid
provided that the shareholders entitled thereto will be
entitled to elect to receive such dividend (or part thereof)
in cash in lieu of such allotment. In such case, the
following provisions shall apply:-
(aa) the basis of any such allotment shall be determined by
the Board;
(bb) the Board, after determining the basis of allotment,
shall give not less than two weeks' notice in writing
to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of
election accorded to them and shall send with such
notice forms of election and specify the procedure to
be followed and the place at which and the latest date
and time by which duly completed forms of election must
be lodged in order to be effective;
(cc) the right of election may be exercised in whole or in
part;
(dd) the dividend (or that part of the dividend to be
satisfied by the allotment of shares as aforesaid)
shall not be payable in cash on shares in respect
whereof the cash election has not been duly exercised
("the non-elected shares") and in satisfaction thereof
shares shall be allotted credited as fully paid to the
holders of the non-elected shares on the basis of
allotment determined as aforesaid and for such purpose
the Board shall capitalise and apply out of any part of
the undivided profits of the Company (including profits
carried and standing to the credit of any reserve or
reserves or other special account other than the
Subscription Rights Reserve or Conversion Rights
Reserve or Capital Redemption Reserve Fund (if there be
any such Reserves)) as the Board may determine, such
sum as may be required to pay up in full the
appropriate number of shares for allotment and
distribution to and amongst the holders of the
non-elected shares on such basis; or
(ii) That the shareholders entitled to such dividend be entitled
to elect to receive an allotment of shares credited as fully
paid in lieu of the whole or such part of the dividend as
the Board may think fit. In such case, the following
provisions shall apply:-
(aa) the basis of any such allotment shall be determined by
the Board;
(bb) the Board, after determining the basis of allotment,
shall give not less than two weeks' notice in writing
to the holders of the relevant shares of the right of
election accorded to them and shall send with such
notice forms of election and specify the procedure to
be followed and the place at which and the latest date
and time by which duly completed forms of election must
be lodged in order to be effective;
(cc) the right of election may be exercised in whole or in
part;
(dd) the dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect
of which a right of election has been accorded) shall
not be payable in cash on shares in respect whereof the
share election has been duly exercised ("the elected
shares") and in lieu thereof shares shall be allotted
credited as fully paid to the holders of the elected
shares on the basis of allotment determined as
aforesaid and for such purpose the Board shall
capitalise and apply out of any part of the undivided
profits of the Company (including profits carried and
standing to the credit of any reserve or reserves or
other special account other than the Subscription
Rights Reserve or Conversion Rights Reserve or Capital
Redemption Reserve Fund (if there be any such
Reserves)) as the Board may determine, such sum as may
be required to pay up in full the appropriate number of
shares for allotment and distribution to and amongst
the holders of the elected shares on such basis.
(b) (i) The shares allotted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph
(a) shall rank pari passu in all respects with the shares of
the same class (if any) then in issue save only as regards
participation in the relevant dividend.
(ii) The Directors may do all acts and things considered
necessary or expedient to give effect to any capitalisation
pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (a), with full power
to the Board to make such provisions as they think fit in
the case of shares becoming distributable in fractions
(including provisions whereby, in whole or in part,
fractional entitlements are aggregated or rounded up or down
or whereby the benefit of fractional entitlements accrues to
the Company
33
rather than to the members concerned). The Board may
authorise any person to enter into, on behalf of all members
interested, an agreement with the Company providing for such
capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any
agreement made pursuant to such authority shall be effective
and binding on all concerned.
(c) The Company may upon the recommendation of the Board by special
resolution resolve in respect of any particular dividend of the
Company that notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of
this Article a dividend may be satisfied wholly in the form of an
allotment of shares credited as fully paid without offering any
right to shareholders to elect to receive such dividend in cash
in lieu of such allotment.
(d) The Board may on any occasion determine that an allotment of shares
under paragraph (a)(i) of this Article or a right of election to
receive an allotment of shares under paragraph (a)(i) of this Article
shall not be made or made available to any shareholders with
registered addresses in any territory where in the absence of a
registration statement or other special formalities the allotment of
shares or the circulation of an offer of such right of election would
or might be unlawful, and in such event the provisions aforesaid
shall be read and construed subject to such determination.
147. The Board may, before recommending any dividend, set aside out of the Reserves.
profits of the Company such sums as it thinks fit as a reserve or
reserves which shall, at the discretion of the Board, be applicable
for meeting claims on or liabilities of the Company or contingencies
or for paying off any loan capital or for equalising dividends or for
any other purpose to which the profits of the Company may be properly
applied, and pending such application may, at the like discretion,
either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested in
such investments (other than shares of the Company) as the Board may
from time to time think fit, and so that it shall not be necessary to
keep any investments constituting the reserve or reserves separate or
distinct from any other investments of the Company. The Board may also
without placing the same to reserve carry forward and profits which it
may think prudent not to divide.
148. Subject to the rights of persons, if any, entitled to shares with Dividends to
special rights as to dividend, all dividends shall be declared and be paid in
paid according to the amounts paid or credited as paid up on the proportion to
shares in respect whereof the dividend is paid, but no amount paid up paid up capital.
or credited as paid up on a share in advance of calls shall be treated
for the purposes of this Article as paid up on the share. All
dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts
paid or credited as paid up on the shares during any portion or
portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid; but
if any share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for
dividend as from a particular date such shares shall rank for dividend
accordingly.
149. (a) The Board may retain any dividends or other moneys payable on or Retention of
in respect of a share upon which the Company has a lien, and may dividends, etc.
apply the same in or towards satisfaction of the debts,
liabilities or engagements in respect of which the lien exists.
(b) The Board may deduct from any dividend or bonus payable to any Deduction of
member all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the debts.
Company on account of calls, instalments or otherwise in relation
to the shares of the Company.
150. Any general meeting sanctioning a dividend may make a call on the Dividend and
members of such amount as the meeting fixes, but so that the call on call together.
each member shall not exceed the dividend payable to him, and so that
the call be made payable at the same time as the dividend, and the
dividend may, if so arranged between the Company and the member, be
set off against the call.
151. A transfer of shares shall not pass the right to any dividend or bonus Effect of
declared thereon before the registration of the transfer. transfer.
152. If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, Receipts of
any one of such persons may give effectual receipts for any dividends, dividends on
interim dividends or bonuses and other moneys payable in respect of shares held
such shares. joint holders.
153. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, any dividend or bonus may be Payment by
paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post to the registered post.
address of the member entitled, or, in case of joint holders, to the
registered address of that one whose name stands first in the register
in respect of the joint holding or to such person and to such address
as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every cheque or
warrant so sent shall be sent at the risk of the holder or joint
holder, as the case may be, and made payable to the order of the
person to whom it is sent, and the payment of any such cheque or
warrant shall operate
34
as a good discharge to the Company in respect of the dividend and/or
bonus represented thereby, notwithstanding that it may subsequently
appear that the same has been stolen, or that any endorsement thereon
has been forged.
154. All dividends or bonuses unclaimed for one year after having been Unclaimed
declared may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the dividends.
benefit of the Company until claimed and the Company shall not be
constituted a trustee in respect thereof for any profit or benefit
derived therefrom. All dividends or bonuses unclaimed for six years
after having been declared may be forfeited by the Board and shall
revert to the Company.
155. Any resolution declaring a dividend on shares of any class, whether a Record dates.
resolution of the Company in general meeting or a resolution of the
Board, may specify that the same shall be payable or distributable to
the persons registered as the holders of such shares on a particular
date or at a point of time on a particular date, notwithstanding that
it may be a date prior to that on which the resolution is passed, and
thereupon the dividend shall be payable or distributable to them in
accordance with their respective holdings so registered, but without
prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of such dividend of
transferors and transferees of any such shares. The provisions of this
Article shall mutatis mutandis apply to bonuses, capitalisation issue,
distributions of realised capital profits or offers or grants made by
the Company to the members.
156. Without prejudice to the rights of the Company under Article 154, the Company may
Company may cease sending such cheques for dividend entitlements or cease sending
dividend warrants by post if such cheques or warrants have been left dividend
uncashed on two consecutive occasions. However, the Company may warrants.
exercise the power to cease sending cheques for dividend entitlements
or dividend warrants after the first occasion on which such a cheque
for dividend entitlements or dividend warrants is returned delivered.
157. The Company shall have the power to sell, in such manner as the Board Company may
may think fit, any shares of a member who is untraceable, but no such sell shares of
sale shall be made unless:- untraceable
members.
(i) all cheques or warrants, being not less than three in total
number, for any sum payable in cash to the holder of such shares
in respect of them sent during the relevant period in the manner
authorised by the Articles of the Company have remained uncashed;
(ii) so far as it is aware at the end of the relevant period, the
Company has not at any time during the relevant period received
any indication of the existence of the member who is the holder
of such shares or of a person entitled to such shares by death,
bankruptcy or operation of law; and
(iii) the Company has caused an advertisement to be inserted in
English in an English language newspaper and in Chinese in a
Chinese language newspaper giving notice of its intention to sell
such shares and has notified The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited of such intention and a period of three months has
elapsed since the date of such advertisement.
For the purpose of the foregoing, "relevant period" means the period
commencing twelve years before the date of publication of the
advertisement referred to in paragraph (iii) of this Article and
ending at the expiry of the period referred to in that paragraph.
To give effect to any such sale the Board may authorise any person to
transfer the said shares and instrument of transfer signed or
otherwise executed by or on behalf of such person shall be as
effective as if it had been executed by the registered holder or the
person entitled by transmission to such shares, and the purchaser
shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money
nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or
invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds
of the sale will belong to the Company and upon receipt by the
Company of such net proceeds it shall become indebted to the former
member for an amount equal to such net proceeds. No trust shall be
created in respect of such debt and no interest shall be payable in
respect of it and the Company shall not be required to account for
any money earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the
business of the Company or as it thinks fit. Any sale under this
Article shall be valid and effective notwithstanding that the member
holding the shares sold is dead, bankrupt or otherwise under any
legal disability or incapacity.
ACCOUNTS
158. The Board shall cause true accounts to be kept of the sums of money Accounts to
received and expended by the Company, and the matters in respect of be kept.
which such receipt and expenditure take place, and of the property,
35
assets, credits and liabilities of the Company and of all other
matters required by the Ordinance or necessary to give a true and fair
view of the Company's affairs and to explain its transactions.
159. The books of accounts shall be kept at the registered office or at Where accounts
such other place or places as the Board thinks fit and shall always be to be kept.
open to the inspection of the Directors.
160. The Board shall from time to time determine whether and to what Inspection
extent, at what times and places and under what conditions or by members.
regulations, the accounts and books of the Company, or any of them,
shall be open to the inspection of the members not being Directors,
and no member (not being a Director) shall have any right of
inspecting any account or book or document of the Company, except as
conferred by the Ordinance or authorised by the Directors or by the
Company in general meeting.
161. (a) The Board shall from time to time in accordance with the Annual Report
provisions of the Ordinance cause to be prepared and to be laid and/or summary
before the members of the Company at every annual general financial
meeting, the Annual Report and/or the summary financial report report.
which complies with Section 141CF(1) of the Companies Ordinance
and such other reports and accounts as may be required by law.
(b) Every Annual Report shall be signed pursuant to the provisions of Annual Report
the Ordinance and copies of those documents (including but not and/or summary
limited to the Annual Report and/or the summary financial report) financial
which are to be laid before the members of the Company at an report to be
annual general meeting shall not less than 21 days before the sent to
date of the annual general meeting be made available in printed members.
form and/or using electronic means whether in the English
language only, in the Chinese language only or in both the
English language and the Chinese language and at the same time as
the notice of an annual general meeting to every member of the
Company, every holder of debentures of the Company, every person
registered under Article 45 and every other person entitled to
receive notices of general meetings of the Company in compliance
with the Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or
regulations, provided that the Company shall not be required to
make available those documents to any person of whose address the
Company is not aware or to more than one of the joint holders of
any shares or debentures whether in printed form or by electronic
means. In the case of those documents being made available in
printed form, such documents will be sent by post to the
registered addresses of those entitled to receive them as set out
above.
(c) Where a member, in accordance with the Listing Rules and any
applicable law, rules or regulations has consented to treat the
publication of the Annual Report or the summary financial report
as set out in Article 161(a) using electronic means or has
consented to receiving the summary financial report instead of
the Annual Report, as discharging the Company's obligation under
the Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or regulations to
send a copy of such relevant financial documents, then
publication by the Company, in accordance with the Listing Rules
and any applicable law, rules or regulations, using electronic
means of such relevant financial documents and/or receipt by such
member of the summary financial report at least 21 days before
the date of the relevant general meeting, shall, in relation to
each such member, be deemed to discharge the Company's
obligations under Article 161(a) provided that any person who is
otherwise entitled to such financial documents of the Company
may, if he so requires, by notice in writing served on the
Company, demand that the Company sends to him, a complete printed
copy of the Annual Report or the summary financial report not
previously requested by him.
AUDITORS
162. Auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance Auditors.
with the provisions of the Companies Ordinance.
163. Subject as otherwise provided by the Ordinance, the remuneration of Remuneration
the Auditors shall be fixed by the Company in general meeting. of Auditors.
164. Every statement of accounts, audited by the Company's Auditors and When accounts
presented by the Board at an annual general meeting, shall after to be deemed
approval at such meeting, be conclusive except as regards any error finally settled.
discovered therein within three months of the approval thereof.
Whenever any such error is discovered within that period, it shall
forthwith be corrected, and the statement of accounts amended in
respect of the error shall be conclusive.
36
NOTICES
165. Any notice or document or any Corporate Communication to be given or Service of
issued under these Articles shall be in writing, and may be served by notices.
the Company and/or by the Board on any member either personally or by
sending it through the post in a prepaid letter, envelope or wrapper
addressed to such member at his registered address as appearing in the
register or (in the case of notice) by advertisement published in both
an English language newspaper in English and a Chinese language
newspaper in Chinese or by any electronic means in compliance with
these Articles and the Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or
regulations provided that the Company has obtained the member's prior
express positive confirmation in writing to receive or otherwise have
made available to him notices and documents to be given or issued to
him by the Company by such electronic means. In the case of joint
holders of a share, all notices shall be given to that holder for the
time being whose name stands first in the register and notice so given
shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders.
166. A member shall be entitled to have notice served on him at any address Members out of
within Hong Kong or by any electronic means in compliance with these Hong Kong.
Articles, legislation and the Listing Rules and any applicable law,
rules or regulations. Any member whose registered address is outside
Hong Kong may notify the Company in writing of an address in Hong Kong
which for the purpose of service of notice shall be deemed to be his
registered address. A member who does not notify the Company of an
address in Hong Kong may notify the Company of an address outside Hong
Kong and the Company may serve notices on him at such overseas
address. In the absence of notification by a member of an address in
Hong Kong or overseas for the purpose of service of notice, such
member shall be deemed to have received any notice which shall have
been displayed at the registered office of the Company and shall have
remained there for the space of twenty-four hours and such notice
shall be deemed to have been received by such member on the day
following that on which it shall have been first so displayed.
167. Any notice sent by post shall be deemed to have been served on the day When notice
following that on which the envelope or wrapper containing the same is by post or
put into a post office situated within Hong Kong and in proving such electronic
service it shall be sufficient to prove that the envelope or wrapper means deemed
containing the notice was properly prepaid (and in the case of an to be served.
address outside Hong Kong where airmail service can be extended
thereto airmail postage prepaid), addressed and put into such post
office and a certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or other
person appointed by the Board that the envelope or wrapper containing
the notice was so addressed and put into such post office shall be
conclusive evidence thereof. Any notice or document or Corporate
Communication sent by electronic mail shall be deemed to have been
served at the time when such notice or document or Corporate
Communication is transmitted provided no notification is received by
the Company that such notice or document has not reached its
recipient. Any notice or document or Corporate Communication which the
Company has made available to any member by publication on its own
website or computer network or the website of The Stock Exchange of
Hong Kong Limited shall be deemed to have been served on the day on
which such publication is made.
168. A notice or document or Corporate Communication may be given by the Services of
Company to the person or persons entitled to a share in consequence of notice to
the death, mental disorder or bankruptcy of a member in the manner set persons
out in Article 165 in which the same might have been given if the entitled on
death, mental disorder or bankruptcy had not occurred. death, mental
disorder or
bankruptcy of
a member.
169. Any person who by operation of law, transfer or other means whatsoever Transferee to
shall become entitled to any share shall be bound by every notice in be bound by
respect of such share which previously to his name and address being prior
entered on the register shall be duly given to the person from whom he notices.
derives his title to such share.
170. Any notice or document or Corporate Communication delivered or sent by Notice valid
post or left at the registered address of any member or made available though Member
by electronic means in compliance with these Articles, legislation and deceased.
the Listing Rules and any applicable law, rules or regulations, shall
notwithstanding that such member be then deceased and whether or not
the Company has notice of his death be deemed to have been duly served
in respect of any registered shares whether held solely or jointly
with other persons by such member until some other person be
registered in his stead as the holder or joint holder thereof, and
such service shall for all purposes of these presents be deemed a
sufficient service of such notice or document on his personal
representatives and all persons (if any) jointly interested with him
in any such shares.
171. (a) The signature to any notice to be given by the Company may be How notice to
written or printed by means of facsimile or where relevant, by be signed.
Electronic Signature.
37
(b) Subject to the Listing Rules and any applicable laws, rules and
regulations, any notice or document, including but not limited to
the documents referred to in Article 161 and any Corporate
Communication, may be given in the English language only, in the
Chinese language only or in both the English language and the
Chinese language provided that the Company has obtained the
relevant member's prior express positive confirmation in writing
to receive or otherwise have made available to him such notices
or documents in either the English language only or the Chinese
language only or in both the English language and the Chinese
language and provided further that such member may, if he so
requires, by notice in writing served on the Company, demand at
any time that the Company sends or makes available to him any
notice or document or Corporate Communication in the language not
previously provided to him.
INFORMATION
172. No member (not being a Director) shall be entitled to require Member not
discovery of or any information respecting any detail of the Company's entitled to
trading or any matter which is or may be in the nature of a trade secret
secret, mystery of trade or secret process which may relate to the information.
conduct of the business of the Company and which in the opinion of the
Board it will be inexpedient in the interests of the members of the
Company to communicate to the public.
DOCUMENTS
173. (a) Any Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Authentication
Board for the purpose shall have power to authenticate any of documents.
documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any
resolutions passed by the Company or the Board or any committee
of the Board and any books, records, documents and accounts,
relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies
thereof or extracts therefrom as true copies or extracts; and,
where any books, records, documents and accounts are elsewhere
than at the registered office, the local manager or other officer
of the Company having the custody thereof shall be deemed to be a
person appointed by the Board as aforesaid. A document purporting
to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a
meeting, of the Company or of the Board or any committee of the
Board which is certified as aforesaid shall be conclusive
evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon
the faith thereof that such resolution has been duly passed or,
as the case may be, that such minutes or extract is a true and
accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting.
(b) (i) The Company shall be entitled to destroy the following Destruction
documents at the following times:- of documents.
(aa) registered instruments of transfer: at any time after
the expiration of seven years from the date of
registration thereof;
(bb) allotment letters: at any time after the expiration of
seven years from the date of issue thereof;
(cc) copies of powers of attorney, grants of probate and
letters of administration: at any time after the
expiration of two years after the account to which the
relevant power of attorney, grant of probate or letters
of administration related has been closed;
(dd) dividend mandates and notifications of change of
address: at any time after the expiration of two years
from the data of recording thereof; and
(ee) cancelled share certificates: at any time after the
expiration of one year from the date of the
cancellation thereof.
(ii) It shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company:-
(aa) that every entry in the register purporting to be made
on the basis of any such documents so destroyed was
duly and properly made; and
(bb) that every such document so destroyed was valid and
effective and had been duly and properly registered,
cancelled, or recorded in the books or records of the
Company, as the case may be.
(iii)(aa) The provisions aforesaid shall apply only to the
destruction of a document in good faith
38
and without notice of any claim (regardless of the
parties thereto) to which the document might be
relevant;
(bb) Nothing herein contained shall be construed as imposing
upon the Company any liability in respect of the
destruction of any such document earlier than as
aforesaid or in any other circumstances which would not
attach to the Company in the absence of this Article;
and
(cc) References herein to the destruction of any document
include references to the disposal thereof in any
manner.
WINDING UP
174. If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is Division of
voluntary, under supervision or by the court) the liquidator may with assets in
the authority of a special resolution, divide among the members in liquidation.
specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and
whether or not the assets shall consist of property of one kind or
shall consist of properties of different kinds, and may for such
purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or
classes of property and may determine how such division shall be
carried out as between the members or different classes of members.
The liquidator may, with the like authority, vest any part of the
assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of members as the
liquidator with the like authority shall think fit, and liquidation of
the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no
contributory shall be compelled to accept any shares or other assets
in respect of which there is a liability.
175. In the event of a winding-up of the Company in Hong Kong, every member Service of
of the Company who is not for the time being in Hong Kong shall be process.
bound, within fourteen days after the passing of an effective
resolution to wind up the Company voluntarily, or the making of an
order for the winding-up of the Company, to serve notice in writing on
the Company appointing some person resident in Hong Kong and stating
that person's full name, address and occupation upon whom all
summonses, notices, process, orders and judgments in relation to or
under the winding-up of the Company may be served, and in default of
such nomination the liquidator of the Company shall be at liberty on
behalf of such member to appoint some such person, and service upon
any such appointee, whether appointed by the member or the liquidator,
shall be deemed to be good personal service on such member for all
purposes, and where the liquidator makes any such appointment, he
shall with all convenient speed give notice thereof to such member by
advertisement in an English language newspaper in English and a
Chinese language newspaper in Chinese as he shall deem appropriate or
by a registered letter sent through the post and addressed to such
member at his address as mentioned in the register, and such notice
shall be deemed to be served on the day following that on which the
advertisement appears or the letter is posted.
INDEMNITY
176. (a) Every Director, manager, Secretary or other officer and every Indemnity.
auditor of the Company shall be entitled to be indemnified out of
the assets of the Company against all losses or liabilities
(including any such liability as is mentioned in sub-section (2)
of Section 165 of the Ordinance) which he may sustain or incur in
or about the execution of the duties of his office or otherwise
in relation thereto, and no Director, manager, Secretary or other
officer or Auditor shall be liable for any loss, damage or
misfortune which may happen to or be incurred by the Company in
the execution of the duties of his office or in relation thereto.
But this Article shall only have effect in so far as it
provisions are not avoided by the said Section.
(b) Subject to Section 165 of the Ordinance, if any Director or other
person shall become personally liable for the payment of any sum
primarily due from the Company, the Board may execute or cause to
be executed any mortgage, charge, or security over or affecting
the whole or any part of the assets of the Company by way of
indemnity to secure the Director or person so becoming liable as
aforesaid from any loss in respect of such liability.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name, Addresses and Descriptions of Subscribers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(SD.) Chong Yet Sing
00, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxx 0X,
Xxxx Xxxx.
Merchant
39
(SD.) Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxx
00, Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxx 0X,
Xxxx Xxxx.
Merchant
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated the 7th day of April, 1979.
WITNESS to the above signatures:
(SD.) XXXXX XX
Secretary
904 China Underwriters Life Building,
00-00 Xxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxx Xxxx.
40