基本信息
发文字号
效力级别 香港法规
时效性 现行有效
颁布日期 1997-06-30
实施日期 2006-04-22
发布机关 香港
正文
目 录条次1．简称
2．释义
合伙经营的性质
3．合伙的定义
4．决定合伙存在的规则
5．无力清偿债务情况下，作为对利益分享的回报，延
长借款人或卖方的权利
6．商号或商号名称的含义
合伙人与交易人的关系
7．合伙人约束商号的权力
8．合伙人受代表商号行为的约束
9．合伙人为个人目的使用商号信用
10．商号不受合伙人行为约束的通知的效力
11．合伙人的责任
12．发生错误时商号的责任
13．滥用商号收取或保管的财产或金钱
14．共同或个别责任
15．为合伙目的不正当使用信托财产
16．自称为合伙人的个人责任
17．合伙人的承认与声明
18．通知常务合伙人即通知商号
19．加入合伙与退出合伙的责任
20．商号变化时持续保证的撤销
合伙人的相互关系
21．合伙条款可经同意而更改
22．合伙财产
23．合伙款项购置的财产
24．作为合伙财产持有的土地转化为动产
25．为合伙人个人债务之判决而进行的对合伙财产
之诉讼
26．除特别协议外，有关合伙人权益及义务的规则
27．合伙人之除名
28．自愿退伙
29．合伙期满继续营业视为以原有条款营业
30．合伙人提供帐目的义务
31．合伙人谋取私利的责任
32．合伙人负有不得与本商号竞争的义务
33．合伙中股权受让人的权利
合伙经营的拆伙及其后果
34．因期限届满或通知而拆伙
35．因破产、死亡或欠债而拆伙
36．因非法而拆伙
37．法院命令拆伙
38．与商号交易者对商号表面合伙人的权利
39．合伙人通知拆伙的权利
40．为结业目的，合伙人的续存权力
41．合伙人运用合伙财产的权利
42．提前拆伙时对超面值股金的处理
43．因欺诈或错误陈述而拆伙时的权利
44．在一定情形下，拆伙后退伙人分享权益的权利
45．退股人或已故合伙人的股份是一项债务
46．帐目最后结算时资产分配规则
47．保留衡平法及普通法的规则
本条例旨在整理有关合伙经营之法例。
〔1987年5月15日〕
全文
1．简称
本条例定名为合伙经营条例。
2．释义
在本条例内，除按照上下文另具意义者外，下开名词应解释如下——
“业务”包括每一行业、职业或专业；
“法院”包括对案件有审判权之每一法院及法官。
合伙经营的性质
3．合伙的定义
（1）“合伙经营”指数人共同经营业务，以谋利为目的而存在之关系。
（2）下列公司或团体之成员间之关系，不属本条例定义范围以内之合伙经营——
（ａ）按有关股份公司注册之条例而注册为公司者；或
（ｂ）按其他条例或国会法例，或英皇制诰或英廷敕书而成立或注册为法团者。
4．决定合伙存在的规则
合伙经营是否存在，按下列规则决定——
（ａ）以共同承租、可继承之合共承租、共同财产、可继承之合共财产或部分所有权方式持有或拥有任何物品，不论租客或业主是否分享因使用该物品而赚取之盈利，均不会仅因此而构成合伙经营关系；
（ｂ）凡总收入之分享，并不会仅因此而构成合伙经营关系，不论分享该收入之人士对产生收入之物业或因使用而产生收入之物业是否拥有共同或可继承之合共权利或权益；
（ｃ）凡收取业务之盈利者，即成为该业务之合伙人之表面证据；但收取业务之盈利，或收取之款额乃视乎盈利之有无或多寡而定者，则不会仅因此而使该人成为业务之合伙人；尤以下列之情形为然——
（ｉ）凡某人从业务之应计盈利内收取债款或其他定额款项，无论是否分期收取，均不会仅因此而成为该业务之合伙人或负合伙人之责任；
（ｉｉ）如某人从事业务，并立约订明以业务盈利部分为其佣工或代理人之酬劳者，则该佣工或代理人不会仅因此而成为该业务之合伙人或负合伙人责任；
（ｉｉｉ）如已故合伙人之寡妇或子女，由该人合伙经营之业务盈利项下收取年金者，不会仅因此而成为该业务之合伙人或负合伙人责任；
（ｉｖ）如某人与另一现时或行将经营业务之人士立约，订明向其贷款，依照盈利多寡计算利息或分享业务盈利部分者，则不会仅因此而成为该业务之合伙人或负合伙人之责任；但所订之合约必须以书面写成，并由立约各方签署或代为签署者；及
（ｖ）如某人出卖业务商誉而收取业务盈利部分者，不论是否以年金或其他方式收取，均不会仅因此而成为业务之合伙人或负合伙人之责任。
5．无力清偿债务情况下，作为对利益分享的回报，延长借款人或卖方的权利
凡按照第四条所述订立合约而获得贷款，或以分享业务盈利方式购买商誉，如借款人或买家宣告破产并与债权人协议偿还债项，偿还额每英镑不足二十先令者，或该人身故而无力偿债者，则贷款人无权追讨贷款，商誉之卖主亦不得按合约规定追讨其应占盈利，而须候借款人或买家之其他债权人获偿还一切金钱上或金钱价值之债务后始可收回。
6．商号或商号名称的含义
为执行本条例之规定，凡数人合伙营业，即合称为商号，其用以营业之名称，则为商号名称。
合伙人与交易人的关系
7．合伙人约束商号的权力
就合伙经营之业务而言，每一合伙人均为商号及其他合伙人之代理人；商号每一合伙人按营业常规办理该商号业务而作出之行为，均对该商号及其合伙人有约束力，但如该合伙人事实上无权为该商号办理此项特别事务，而与其交易之人士亦明知其无此权力或不知或不信其为合伙人者，则不在此限。
8．合伙人受代表商号行为的约束
凡经商号授权之人士，不论其是否为合伙人，如以该商号名义或任何其他表示拟对商号有约束力之方式所作行为或所签署之正式文件，而与商号业务有关者，则对商号及所有合伙人均有约束力；但本条对有关执行契约或可流通文件之一般法例规定，并无影响。
9．合伙人为个人目的使用商号信用
凡合伙人借用商号信用，以作显与商号日常营业无关之用途，则该商号不受约束，但若该合伙人实际上经由其他合伙人特别授权办理者，则不在此限；但本条之规定，对该合伙人因此而引致之个人责任，并无影响。
10．商号不受合伙人行为约束的通知的效力
如各合伙人协定，每名或多名合伙人之行为对商号有约束力之权力须受限制，则凡有违反协定之行为，在已知悉此项协定者而言，商号应不受约束。
11．合伙人的责任
商号每一合伙人于其为合伙人期内，应与其他合伙人共同负担商号一切债务及责任；该合伙人去世后，在处理上述债务及责任时，如属仍未清偿者，其遗产亦须个别负担责任；但该人之其他债务，则应先行偿还。
12．发生错误时商号的责任
商号合伙人因处理商号日常业务或得其他合伙人授权处理业务时因错误或遗漏而致令他人（非属合伙人）遭受损失或伤害，或被罚款项，则商号在该合伙人在上述错误或遗漏范围内，须负责任。
13．滥用商号收取或保管的财产或金钱
如有下开情形，商号须负责赔偿——
（ａ）如合伙人行使其职权范围内权力收取第三者之金钱或财产而将其误用；
（ｂ）如商号于处理业务中收取第三者之金钱或财产而于商号保管时为其中一名或多名合伙人误用。
14．共同或个别责任
凡商号根据第十二条或第十三条而须负责之一切事项，合伙人于其为商号合伙人时，应与各合伙人共同负责及个别负责。
15．为合伙目的不正当使用信托财产
如商号合伙人乃受托人，而不正当将信托财产用于该商号业务方面或记入合伙经营之帐项者，则其他合伙人毋须对该信托财产之受益人负责；
但——
（ａ）如任何合伙人知悉有违背信托情事，则本条之规定对其须负之责任并无影响；
（ｂ）本条之规定，并不阻止仍由商号拥有及管理之财产继续经营及向商号讨回。
16．自称为合伙人的个人责任
无论何人，如以语言、文字或行为，自称为某商号之合伙人或明知而故意容许他人称其乃商号之合伙人者，须对相信其为合伙人而向商号给予信用之人士负合伙人之责任，无论该声称是否曾由该表面为合伙人之人士向给予信用之人作出或向其知会，或知悉他人向该给予信用之人作出或知会者；
但若其中一合伙人逝世后，商号仍以原名或以死者之名字为部分名称而继续合伙经营，则该商号在该人逝世后所负之债务，不应单凭继续上述之使用而使该人之遗嘱执行人或遗产管理人，或其遗产或财物须负合伙人债务责任。
17．合伙人的承认与声明
任何合伙人在合伙经营之正常业务过程中作出有关合伙商号事务之承认或声明，均为针对商号之证据。
18．通知常务合伙人即通知商号
凡向惯常办理合伙经营业务之合伙人发出之通知而系关乎合伙事务者，即为给予商号之通知，但若属于该合伙人对该商号所作或得其同意而作之欺诈行为，则属例外。
19．加入合伙与退出合伙的责任
（1）凡新加入商号为合伙人者，对于未加入前该商号与债权人一切事情，概不须负责。
（2）凡合伙人退股，其于退股前该商号所负之合伙债务或责任，不得因此而终止。
（3）退股人得与商号之新组织成员及债权人达成协议，解除其现存之责任；此项协议，可为明订，或在新组织之商号与债权人之间之交易过程中作为一项事实推断。
20．商号变化时持续保证的撤销
凡因商号之业务交易而提供予商号或第三者之持续保证，在商号组织改变时，如无协议订明继续有效，则在日后之交易中均予撤销；如保证乃为各项交易而提供者，亦在日后之交易中撤销。
合伙人的相互关系
21．合伙条款可经同意而更改
合伙人相互间之权力及义务，无论由协议订明或本条例规定者，如经所有合伙人同意，得予以更改，而上述同意，可为明订或在交易过程中推断。
22．合伙财产
（1）合伙经营成立时，所有购买存入商号帐内或以其他方法收购予商号或为合伙经营而收购之财产、产权及权益，本条例均称之为合伙财产，须由合伙人按合伙协约绝对为合伙经营之目的而持有及运用：但属于合伙经营之合法产业或土地权益，须按其性质、年期及适用之法例规定转移，但须尽可能为对本条所指土地享有受益人权益之人士托管。
（2）凡产业或土地权益非属合伙财产性质而由一名以上业主共同拥有，该等人士乃以合伙人身份分享使用该土地所得利润者，如以该项利润购置其他土地，则若无相反协议，该土地应属彼等所有，但不作为合伙人而作为共同业主，共同拥有各该产业及权益，与其在购买之日拥有前述土地之情形相同。
23．合伙款项购置的财产
除有相反意向外，向以商号之款项购置之物业，应视作为该商号而购置者。
24．作为合伙财产持有的土地转化为动产
如土地或土地权益已成为合伙财产，除有相反意向外，此项财产于各合伙人（包括已故合伙人之代表）之间及于已故合伙人继承人及遗嘱执行人或遗产管理人之间，应视为动产而非不动产。
25．为合伙人个人债务之判决而进行的对合伙财产之诉讼
（1）法院对合伙财产不颁发执行令，但如系对商号之判决，则属例外。
（2）法院或法官于接获合伙人之判定债权人以传票提出申请后，可颁发命令，在该合伙人所占合伙财产之权益及利润中登记欠债，以缴付此项判定债务及利息，并可在原令或另发命令委任清盘人，接管该合伙人所占之利润（无论是否已宣布或应收者）及日后由该合伙经营所得而归其所有之其他款项，并发出有关一切帐目及调查之指示，及发出其他一切命令及指示，而该命令或指示，如合伙人为判定债权人之利益而登记欠项时亦会发出或因情况所需会发出者。
（3）商号其他合伙人得随时赎回作欠项登记之权益，或如已有指示变卖，并得购回之。
（4）本条之规定，亦适用于英国矿务合伙公司，一如该类公司乃本条例所指之合伙经营。
26．除特殊协议外，有关合伙人权益及义务的规则
合伙人在合伙财产所占之权益及其对合伙经营之权利及职责，除另有明订或暗示之协议外，须按下列规则由各合伙人相互决定之——
（ａ）全体合伙人对合伙经营资金及利润所占比例均相同，对商号资金或其他项目之亏损，亦须平均负担之；
（ｂ）商号须对每一合伙人在以下情形下所支付之款项或所引起个人责任负赔偿之责——
（ｉ）进行商号之日常及正当业务；
（ｉｉ）进行维持商号业务或财产所必要办理之事项；
（ｃ）凡合伙人为合伙经营而实际支付或垫支之款项，较其协定认购股份额为多者，得有权由支付或垫支款项之日期起计，收取年息八厘之利息；
（ｄ）合伙人于商号确定获利润之前，无权收取其认购股本之利息；
（ｅ）合伙人可参与合伙业务之管理；
（ｆ）合伙人不得因办理合伙业务而收受酬劳；
（ｇ）未得全体现有合伙人同意，不得介绍他人加入为合伙人；
（ｈ）合伙经营如在并通事务上意见分歧时，得由大多数合伙人之意见取决，但未得全体现有合伙人同意，合伙经营业务之本质不得改变；及
（ｉ）合伙经营之簿册，须存于营业地方（若营业地方超过一处，则存于主要地方）；合伙人如认为适当，可随时查阅，并录取副本。27．合伙人之除名
虽有多数合伙人同意，亦不得将任何合伙人逐出合伙经营；但有协议明确授权执行者除外。28．自愿退伙
（1）凡合伙经营之合伙期并无协议固定者，则任何合伙人于将其意向通知其他合伙人后，即可随时终止其合伙关系。
（2）凡合伙经营原根据契约所组织者，合伙人可签署通知书，通知其他合伙人后，即可终止其合伙关系。29．合伙期满继续营业视为以原有条款营业
（1）凡合伙经营订有固定期限者，若合伙期满仍继续经营而无重新另订协议者，则合伙人之权利与责任保持不变，与期满时无异，但须与无固定期限合伙经营之情形无抵触为限。
（2）合伙人或于合伙期间内习惯处理商号事务之合伙人，若于合伙期满后继续营业，而未清理或结束合伙事务者，视作继续合伙业务。30．合伙人提供帐目的义务
合伙人须负责供给真确帐项及所有与合伙业务有关之资料予任何合伙人或其法律代表。31．合伙人谋取私利的责任
（1）每一合伙人，如未经其他合伙人同意而利用合伙业务或合伙财产、名称或商务关系而赚取利润，须向商号解释。
（2）对于合伙人去世而拆股后，但于合伙事务未完全结束之前，任何现存合伙人或已故合伙人之代表所进行之业务，本条亦适用。
32．合伙人负有不得与本商号竞争的义务
凡合伙人未经其他合伙人同意而经营与商号业务性质相同之业务并与商号进行竞争者，则其由此而赚取之一切溢利，必须向商号解释，并拨归商号所有。33．合伙中股权受让人的权利
（1）凡合伙人以名下股份转让予他人，无论为绝对转让或按揭，或可赎回之欠项登记，在合伙经营继续期内，不得作为授权受让人干预合伙业务之行政管理，或要求取得合伙交易之帐目，或查阅合伙经营之簿册，该受让人仅可收受出让人有权获得之盈利，并须接纳经各合伙人同意之帐目。
（2）如合伙经营拆伙，无论对于所有合伙人或对于出让股份之合伙人，受让人有权收受出让人与其他合伙人之间出让人所占之合伙资产；为确定该股份之数目，受让人有权取得由拆伙之日起结算之帐目。
合伙经营的拆伙及其后果
34．因期限届满或通知而拆伙
（1）除合伙人之间另有协议外，合伙经营于下开情况下拆伙——
（ａ）若订明固定合伙期限而期限届满；或
（ｂ）若为单一项业务或事业而成立，而该项业务或事业经已完结；或
（ｃ）若无订明固定期限，而任何合伙人将其拆伙意图通知另一合伙人或其他合伙人。
（2）若属上述取后一种情形，合伙经营之拆伙生效日期为拆伙通知书上之日期，若无注明日期，则为通讯之日期。35．因破产、死亡或欠债而拆伙
（1）除合伙人之间另有协议外，凡任何合伙人死亡或破产，对所有合伙人而言，合伙经营即告拆伙。
（2）任何合伙人若因另欠债项而容许其所占之合伙财产按本条例而作欠项登记，则如其他合伙人选择拆伙，即可拆伙。36．因非法而拆伙
若有任何事件发生，使商号继续之合伙营业成为非法者，或使商号之合伙人经营之贸易成为非法者时，合伙经营即可拆伙。37．法院命令拆伙
凡有下开情形，法院于接获一名合伙人之申请时，得命令合伙经营拆伙——
（ａ）合伙人经研讯后裁定为精神错乱者，或经证明为永久性心智不健全而法院相信属实者；在上述两种情况之一，均可经该合伙人之受托监管人或诉讼保护人申请或代为申请或其他有干预权之人或其他合伙人申请；
（ｂ）合伙人（提出申请之合伙人除外）永远无法履行其对合伙契约责任；
（ｃ）合伙人（提出申请之合伙人除外）之行为经法院考虑该商号之营业性质后，认为系蓄意妨害合伙业务而判其有罪；
（ｄ）合伙人（提出申请之合伙人除外）故意或持续违背合伙协议，或对合伙业务所作行为，令另一合伙人或其他合伙人在合理情况下实际上无法与其继续合伙经营业务；
（ｅ）合伙业务只能在亏损情况下继续经营；及
（ｆ）凡产生某等情况，以致法院认为拆伙乃公正合理者。
38．与商号交易者对商号表面合伙人的权利
（1）凡商号组织章程更改，则与该商号交易之人士，除非接获有关更改之通知，否则有权对表面上为旧商号之成员，作为更改后之成员对待。
（2）如商号之主要营业地点乃在本港而在宪报刊登有关该商号之启事者，得作为对商号拆伙或组织章程变更前从未与该商号交易之人士之通知。
（3）去世或破产合伙人之财产，或商号交易人不知其为合伙人之人士退休后之财产，不必对该合伙人去世后，破产后或退休后，合伙经营所负之债务负责。39．合伙人通知拆伙的权利
凡合伙经营拆伙或有合伙人退休，则任何合伙人均可就有关事实发出公开启事；为执行此措施，该合伙人得要求其他合伙人同意其采取一切必要或正确行动，而该等行动无其他合伙人同意乃不能进行者。40．为结业目的，合伙人的续存权力
合伙经营拆伙后，若仍须结束业务或已开始之交易尚未完结，则纵使已告拆伙，每一合伙人对商号之约束权及各合伙人之其他权利及义务，仍继续存在，以便完成该等事项，但对其他事项，则不适用；但该商号无论在何等情况之下，概不受破产合伙人行动之约束；但本但书对破产后仍自称为破产者之合伙人之人士，或明知而容许其本人被认为乃该破产者之合伙人之人士所负责任，不会影响。41．合伙人运用合伙财产的权利
对商号其他合伙人及所有透过该等合伙人而声称在商号占有合伙权益者而言，在合伙经营拆伙时，每一合伙人有权运用商号之合伙财产，清偿商号债务，并将余下财产于扣除各合伙人应付予商号之款项后，分发予每一有关合伙人；任何合伙人或其代表于合伙经营终结时，可向法院申请结束商号之营业及事务。
42．提前拆伙时对超面值股金的处理
如合伙人于加入固定期限之合伙经营时，曾付予另一合伙人一笔超面值之股金者，若合伙经营于该段期限届满前拆伙，但非因某一合伙人之去世而引致者，则法院于考虑合伙经营契约条款及合伙期间之长短后，得命令付还该笔超面值股金或其认为公平之部分；但下列情形除外——
（ａ）法院裁定合伙经营之拆伙，完全或主要由于付超面值股金之合伙人行为失当所致；
（ｂ）合伙经营由合伙人协议拆伙，但协议并无订明须付还任何超面值股金。43．因欺诈或错误陈述而拆伙时的权利
凡合伙契约因其中一方之欺诈或错误陈述而取消者，有权取消契约之一方，在不妨碍其他权益之情形下，得有下开权力——
（ａ）合伙营业资产，除偿还所负债项外，对所剩下之资产，有留置权或保留权，以抵偿其所支付购买合伙经营股份及所缴资本额，并可
（ｂ）有权以商号债权人身份，要求偿还其为合伙经营所负债务而付出之款项，及
（ｃ）有权向犯欺诈行为或作错误陈述者就商号一切债项及所负责任要求赔偿。44．在一定情形下，拆伙后退伙人分享权益的权利
如商号任何合伙人去世或停任合伙人，而其余尚存之合伙人或继续经营之合伙人以该商号资本或资产继续经营而未将商号与退出合伙人（或其遗产）之间帐目结算清楚者，若无相反之协议，该退出合伙人（或其遗产）可经由其本人或代理人选择，有权分享有自拆伙以来法院裁定乃运用其所占合伙资产而赚取或有权收取其所占合伙资产之利息，按年息八厘计算；但若合伙契约订明尚存或继续经营之合伙人有权承购已故或退股合伙人之权益，而已正式作出选择后，已故合伙人之遗产或已退股合伙人或其遗产，将无权分享日后或其他收益；但若合伙人于选择时，在重要条款方面不按合伙契约办理者，得按本条前述各规定办理。
45．退股人或已故合伙人股份是一项债务
除各合伙人间另订有协议外，所有尚存或继续经营之合伙人因退股人或已故合伙人之股份而应付予退股人或已故合伙人之代理人之款项，应属在拆伙日或该合伙人去世日产生之债务。
46．帐目最后结算时资产分配规则
合伙经营拆伙后，合伙人之间帐目之结算，须遵照下列规则办理，但另有协议则除外——
（ａ）所有亏损，包括资本亏损及短缺，应先从溢利中偿还，其次应由资本中偿还，最后如有必要，应由各合伙人按其所占溢利比例偿还；及
（ｂ）商号资产，包括由各合伙人共同分担弥补资本亏损或短缺之款项，应依照下列办法及次序办理——
（ｉ）偿还商号欠非合伙人之债务；
（ｉｉ）按比例支付由合伙人垫支与资本有别而商号仍欠该合伙人之款项；及
（ｉｉｉ）按比例将商号欠合伙人之资本发还各合伙人；及
（ｉｖ）最后所剩之款项，应由各合伙人按其所占溢利比例均分。
47．保留衡平法及普通法的规则
凡衡平法与普通法之规则适用于合伙经营者，应继续有效，但与本条例订明之规定有抵触者则除外。
PARTNERSHIP ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 38)
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section1. Short title2. Interpretation
NATURE OF PARTNERSHIP3. Definition of partnership4. Rules for determining existence of partnership5. Postponement of rights of person lending or selling in consideration of share of profits in case of insolvency6. Meaning of firm and firm-name
RELATIONS OF PARTNERS TO PERSONS DEALING WITH THEM7. Power of partner to bind firm8. Partners bound by acts on behalf of firm9. Partner using credit of firm for private purposes10. Effect of notice that firm will not be bound by acts of partner11. Liability of partners12. Liability of firm for wrongs13. Misapplication of money or property received for or in custody of firm14. Liability for wrongs joint and several15. Improper employment of trust property for partnership purposes16. Persons liable by "holding out"17. Admissions and representations of partner18. Notice to acting partner to be notice to firm19. Liabilities of incoming and outgoing partners20. Revocation of continuing guarantee by change in firm
RELATIONS OF PARTNERS TO ONE ANOTHER21. Variation by consent of terms of partnership22. Partnership property23. Property bought with partnership money24. Conversion into personal estate of land held as partnership property25. Procedure against partnership property for partner's separate judgment
debt26. Rules as to interests and duties of partners, subject to special
agreement27. Expulsion of partner28. Retirement from partnership at will29. Where partnership for term is continued over, continuance on old terms
presumed30. Duty of partners to render accounts, etc.31. Accountability of partners for private profits32. Duty of partner not to compete with firm33. Rights of assignee of share in partnership
DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP AND ITS CONSEQUENCES34. Dissolution by expiration or notice35. Dissolution by bankruptcy, death, or charge36. Dissolution by illegality of partnership37. Dissolution by the court38. Rights of persons dealing with firm against apparent members of firm39. Right of partner to notify dissolution40. Continuing authority of partners for purposes of winding-up41. Right of partners as to application of partnership property42. Apportionment of premium where partnership prematurely dissolved43. Rights where partnership dissolved for fraud or misrepresentation44. Rights of outgoing partner in certain cases to share profits made
after dissolution45. Retiring or deceased partner's share to be a debt46. Rules for distribution of assets on final settlement of accounts47. Savingfor rules of equity and of common lawTo codify the law relation to partnership.[cf. 1890 c. 39 U. K.][15 May 1897]
Whole Document
1. Short titleThis Ordinance may be cited as the Partnership Ordinance.(Amended 5 of 1924 s. 6)2. InterpretationIn this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--"business" includes every trade, occupation, or profession;"court" includes every court and judge having jurisdiction in the case.
NATURE OF PARTNERSHIP
3. Definition of partnership(1) Partnership is the relation which subsists between persons carrying ona business in common with a view of profit.(2) but the relation between members of any company or association whichis--(a) registered as a company under any Ordinance relating to theregistration of joint-stock companies; or (Amended 50 of 1911; 1 of 1912Schedule)(b) formed or incorporated by or in pursuance of any other Ordinance, orany Act of Parliament, or letters patent, or Royal Charter,is not a partnership within the meaning of this Ordinance.4. Rules for determining existence of partnershipIn determining whether a partnership does or does not exist, regard shallbe had to the following rules--(a) joint tenancy, tenancy in common, joint property, common property, orpart ownership does not of itself create a partnership as to anything soheld or owned, whether the tenants or owners do or do not share anyprofits made by the use thereof;(b) the sharing of gross returns does notof itself create a partnership, whether the persons sharing such returnshave or have not a joint or common right or interest in any property fromwhich or from the use of which the returns are derived;(c) the receipt by a person of a share of the profits of a business isprima facie evidence that he is a partner in the business, but the receiptof such a share, or of a payment contingent on or varying with the profitsof a business, does not of itself make him a partner in the business; andin particular--(i) the receipt by a person of a debt or other liquidated amount, byinstalments or otherwise, out of the accruing profits of a businessdoesnot of itself make him a partner in the business or liable as such;(ii) a contract for the remuneration of a servant or agent of a personengagedin a business by a share of the profits of the business does notof itself make the servant or agent a partner in the business or liable assuch;(iii) aperson being the widow or child of a deceased partner, andreceiving by way of annuity a portion of the profits made in the businessin which thedeceased person was a partner, is not, by reason only of suchreceipt, a partner in the business or liable as such;(iv) the advance of money by way of loan to a person engaged or about toengage in any business on a contract with that person that the lendershall receive a rate of interest varyingwith the profits, or shallreceive a share of the profits arising from carrying on the business, doesnot of itself make the lender a partner with the person or personscarrying on the business or liable as such: Provided that the contract isin writing and signed by or on behalf of all the parties thereto; and(v) a person receiving, by way of annuity or otherwise, a portion of theprofits of a business in consideration of the sale by him of the goodwillof the business is not, by reason only of such receipt, a partner in thebusiness or liable as such.
5. Postponement of rights of person lending or selling in consideration ofshare of profits in case of insolvencyIn the event of any person to whommoney has been advanced by way of loanupon such a contract as is mentioned in section 4, or of any buyer of agoodwill in consideration of a share ofthe profits of the business, beingadjudged a bankrupt, entering into an arrangement to pay his creditorsless than twenty shillings in the pound, or dying in insolventcircumstances, the lender of the loan shall not be entitled to recoveranything in respect of his loan, and the seller of the goodwill shall notbe entitled to recover anything in respect of the share of profitscontracted for, until the claims of other creditors ofthe borrower orbuyer for valuable consideration in money or money's worth have beensatisfied.(Amended 50 of 1911 s. 4; 5 of 1924 s. 8)6. Meaningof firm and firm-namePersons who have entered into partnership with one another are, for thepurposes of this Ordinance, called collectively a firm, and the name underwhich their business is carried on is called the firm-name.
RELATIONS OF PARTNERS TO PERSONS DEALING WITH THEM
7. Power of partner to bind firmEvery partner is an agent of the firm and his other partners for thepurpose of the business of the partnership; and the acts of every partnerwho does any act for carrying on in the usual way business of the kindcarried on by the firm of which he is a member bind the firm and hispartners, unless the partner so acting has in fact no authority to act forthe firm in the particular matter, and the person with whom he is dealingeither knows that he has no authority or does not know or believe him tobe a partner.8. Partners bound by acts on behalf of firmAn act or instrument relating to the business of the firm and done orexecuted in the firm-name, or in any other manner showing an intention tobindthe firm, by any person thereto authorized, whether a partner or not,is binding on the firm and all the partners:Provided that this section shall not affect any general rule of lawrelating to the execution of deeds or negotiable instruments.9. Partner using credit of firm for private purposesWhereone partner pledges the credit of the firm for a purpose apparentlynot connected with the firm's ordinary course of business, the firm is notbound, unless he is in fact specially authorized by the other partners;but this section does not affect any personal liability incurred by anindividual partner.10. Effect of notice that firm will not be bound by acts of partnerIf it has been agreed between the partners that any restriction shall beplaced on the power of any one or more of them to bind the firm, no actdone in contravention of the agreement is binding on the firm with respectto persons having notice of the agreement.
11. Liability of partnersEvery partner in a firm is liable jointly with the other partners for alldebts and obligations of the firm incurred while he is a partner; andafter his death his estate is also severally liable in a due course ofadministration for such debts and obligations, sofar as they remainunsatisfied but subject to the prior payment of his separate debts.12. Liability of firm for wrongsWhere, by any wrongful act or omission of any partner acting in theordinary course of the business of the firm or with the authority of hisco-partners, loss or injury is causedto any person not being a partner inthe firm, or any penalty is incurred, the firm is liable therefor to thesame extent as the partner so acting or omitting to act. 13.Misapplication of money or property received for or in custody of firm Inthe following cases, namely--(a) where one partner, acting within the scope of his apparent authority,receives the money or property of a third person and misapplies it; and(b) where a firm in the course of its business receives the money orproperty of a third person, and the money or property so received ismisapplied by one or more of the partners while it is in the custody ofthe firm,the firm is liable to make good the loss.14. Liability for wrongs joint and severalEvery partner is liable jointly with his co-partners and also severallyfor everything for which the firm while he is a partner therein becomesliable under section 12 or13. (Amended 50 of 1911 s. 4; 5 of 1924 s. 8)15. Improper employment of trust property for partnership purposesIf a partner, being a trustee, improperly employs trust property in thebusiness or on the account of the partnership, no other partner is liablefor the trust property to the persons beneficially interested therein:Provided as follows--(a) this section shall not affect any liability incurred by any partner byreason of his having notice of a breach of trust; and(b) nothing in this section shall prevent trust money from being followedand recovered from the firm, if still in its possession or under itscontrol.16. Persons liable by "holding out"Every one who, by words spoken or written or by conduct, representshimself, or who knowingly suffers himself to be represented, as a partnerin a particular firm is liable as a partner to any one who has, on thefaith of any such representation, given credit to the firm, whether therepresentation, has or has not been made or communicated to the person sogiving credit by or with the knowledge of the apparent partner making therepresentation or suffering it to be made:Provided that where, after a partner's death, the partnership business iscontinued in the old firm-name, the continued use of that name or of thedeceased partner's name as part thereof shall not of itself make hisexecutors or administrators, estate or effects, liable for any partnershipdebts contracted after his death.
17. Admissions and representations of partnerAn admission or representation made by any partner concerning thepartnership affairs, and in the ordinary course of its business, isevidence against the firm.18. Notice to acting partner to be notice to firmNotice to any partner who habitually acts in the partnership business ofany matter relating to partnership affairs operates as notice to the firm,except in the case of a fraud on thefirm committed by or with the consentof that partner.19. Liabilities of incoming and outgoing partners(1) A person who is admitted as a partner into an existing firm does notthereby become liable to the creditors of the firm for anything donebefore he becomes a partner.(2) A partner who retires from a firm doesnot thereby cease to be liable for partnership debts or obligationsincurred before his retirement.(3) A retiring partner may be discharged from any existing liabilities byan agreement to that effect between himself and the members of the firm asnewly constituted and the creditors, and this agreement may be eitherexpress or inferred as a fact from the course of dealing between thecreditors and the firm as newly constituted.20. Revocation of continuing guarantee by change in firmA continuing guarantee given either to a firm or to a third person inrespect of the transactions of a firm is, in the absence of agreement tothe contrary, revoked as to future transactions by any change in theconstitution of the firm towhich, or of the firm in respect of thetransactions of which, the guarantee was given. RELATIONS OF PARTNERS TO
ONE ANOTHER
21. Variation by consent of terms of partnershipThe mutual rights and duties of partners, whether ascertained by agreementor defined by this Ordinance, may be varied by the consent of all thepartners, may be varied by the consent of all the partners, and suchconsent may be either expressor inferred from a course of dealing.22. Partnership property(1) All property and rights and interests in property originally broughtinto the partnership stock or acquired, whether by purchase or otherwise,on account of the firm, or for the purposes and in the course of thepartnership business, are called in this Ordinance partnership property,and must be held and applied by the partners exclusively for the purposesof the partnership and inaccordance with the partnership agreement:Provided that the legal estate or interest in any land which belongs tothe partnership shall devolve according to the nature and tenure thereofand the general rules of law applicable thereto, but in trust, so far asnecessary, for the persons beneficially interested in the land under thissection.(2) Where co-owners of an estate or interest in any land, not being itselfpartnership property, are partnersas to profits made by the use of thatland, and purchase other land out of the profits to be used in likemanner, the land so purchased belongs to them, in the absence of anyagreement to the contrary, not as partners, but as co-owners for the samerespective estates and interests as are heldby them in the land firstmentioned at the date of the purchase.23. Property bought with partnership moneyUnless the contrary intention appears,property bought with moneybelonging to the firm is deemed to have been bought on account of thefirm.
24. Conversion into personal estate of land held as partnership propertyWhere land or any interest therein has become partnership property, itshall, unless the contrary intention appears, be treated, as between thepartners (including the representatives of a deceased partner), and alsoasbetween the heirs of a deceased partner and his executors oradministrators, as personal and not real estate.25. Procedure against partnership property for partner's separate judgmentdebt (1) A writ of execution shall not issue against any partnershipproperty except on a judgment against the firm. (Amended 50 of 1911 s. 4)(2) The court or a judge may, on the application by summons of anyjudgment creditor of a partner, make an order charging that partner'sinterest in the partnership property and profits with payment of theamount of the judgment debt and interest thereon, and may, by the same ora subsequent order, appoint a receiver of that partner's share of profits(whether already declared or accruing), and of any othermoney which maybe coming to him in respect of the partnership, and direct all accountsand inquiries, and give all other orders and directions, which might havebeen directed or given if the charge had been made in favour of thejudgment creditor by the partner, or which the circumstances of the casemay require. (Amended 50 of 1911; 1 of 1912 Schedule)(3) The other partner or partners shall be at liberty at any time toredeem the interest charged, or, in case of a sale being directed, topurchase the same.(4) This section shall apply in the case of a cost-book company as if thecompany were a partnership within the meaning of this Ordinance.26. Rules as to interests and duties of partners, subject to specialagreementThe interests of partners in the partnership property, and theirrights and duties in relation to the partnership, shall be determined,subject to any agreement, express or implied, between the partners, by thefollowing rules--(a) all the partners are entitled to share equally in the capital andprofits of thebusiness, and must contribute equally towards the losses,whether of capital or otherwise, sustained by the firm;(b) the firm must indemnify every partner in respect of payments made andpersonal liabilities incurred by him--(i) in the ordinary and proper conduct of the business of the firm; or(ii) in or about anything necessarily done for the preservation of thebusiness or property of the firm;(c) a partner making, for the purposes of the partnership, any actualpayment or advance beyond the amount of capital which he has agreed tosubscribe, is entitled to interest at the rate of eight per cent per annumfrom the date of the payment or advance;(d) a partner is not entitled,before the ascertainment of profits, to interest on the capital subscribedby him;(e) every partner may take part in the management of the partnershipbusiness;(f) no partner shall be entitled to remuneration for acting inthe partnership business;(g) no person may be introduced as a partnerwithout the consent of all existing partners;(h) any difference arising as to ordinary matters connected with thepartnership business may be decided by a majority of the partners, but nochange may be made in the nature of the partnership business may bedecided by a majority of the partners, but no change may be made in thenature of the partnership business without the consent of all existingpartners; and(i) the partnership books are to be kept at the place of business of thepartnership (or the principal place, if there are more places than one),and every partner may, when he thinks fit, have access to and inspect andcopy any of them.
27. Expulsion of partnerNo majority of the partners can expel any partner, unless a power to do sohas been conferred by express agreement between the partners.28. Retirement from partnership at will(1) Where no fixed term has been agreed upon for the duration of thepartnership, any partner may determine the partnership at any time ongiving notice of his intention to do so to all the other partners.(2) Where the partnership has originally been constituted by deed, anotice in writing, signed by the partner giving it, shall be sufficientfor this purpose.29. Where partnership for term is continued over, continuance on old termspresumed(1) Where a partnership entered into for a fixed term iscontinued after the term has expired, and without any express newagreement, the rights and duties of the partners remain the same as theywere at the expiration of the term, so faras consistent with theincidents of a partnership at will.(2) A continuance of the business by the partners or such of them ashabitually acted therein during the term, without any settlement orliquidation of the partnership affairs, is presumed to be a continuance ofthe partnership.30. Duty of partners to render accounts, etc.Partners are bound to render true accounts and full information of allthings affecting the partnership to any partner or his legalrepresentatives.31. Accountability of partners for private profits(1) Every partner must account to the firm for any benefit derived by him,without the consent of the other partners, from any transaction concerningthe partnership or from any use by him of the partnership property, name,or business connexion.(2) This section applies also to transactionsundertaken after a partnership has been dissolved by the death of apartner, and before the affairs thereof have been completely wound up,either by any surviving partner or by the representatives of the deceasedpartner.32. Duty of partner not to compete with firmIf a partner, without the consent of the other partners, carries on anybusiness of the same nature as andcompeting with that of the firm, hemust account for and pay over to the firm all profits made by him in thatbusiness.33. Rights of assignee of share in partnership(1) An assignment by any partner of his share in the partnership, eitherabsolute or by way of mortgage or redeemable charge, does not, as againstthe other partners, entitle the assignee, during the continuance of thepartnership, to interfere in the management or administration of thepartnership business or affairs, or to require any accounts of thepartnership transactions, or to inspect the partnership books, butentitles the assignee only to receive the share of the profits to whichthe assigning partner would otherwise be entitled, and the assignee mustaccept the account of profits agreed to by the partners.(2) In the case of a dissolution of the partnership, whether as respectsall the partners or as respects the assigning partner, the assignee isentitled to receive the share of the partnership assets to which theassigning partner is entitled asbetween himself and the other partners,and, for the purpose of ascertaining that share, to an account as from thedate of the dissolution.
DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
34. Dissolution by expiration or notice(1) Subject to any agreement between the partners, a partnership isdissolved--(a) if entered into for a fixed term, by the expiration of thatterm; or(b) if entered into for a single adventure or undertaking, by thetermination of that adventure or undertaking; or(c) if entered into for an undefined time, by any partner giving notice tothe other or others of his intention to dissolve the partnership.(2) In the last-mentioned case the partnership is dissolved as from thedate mentioned in the notice as the date of dissolution, or, if no date isso mentioned, as from the date of the communication of the notice.35. Dissolution by bankruptcy, death, or charge(1) Subject to any agreement between the partners, every partnership isdissolved as regards all the partners by the death or bankruptcy of anypartner.(2) A partnership may, at the option of the other partners, be dissolvedif any partner suffers his share of the partnership property to be chargedunder this Ordinance for his separate debt.36. Dissolution by illegality of partnershipA partnership is in every case dissolved by the happening of any eventwhich makes it unlawful for the business of the firm to be carried on orfor the members of the firm to carry it on in partnership.37. Dissolution by the courtOn application by a partner,the court may decree a dissolution of thepartnership in any of the following cases--(a) when a partner is found lunatic by inquisition, or is shown, to thesatisfaction of the court, to be of permanently unsound mind, in either ofwhich cases the application may be made as well on behalf of that partnerby his committee, or next friend, or person having title to intervene asby any other partner;(b) when a partner, other than the partner suing, becomes in any other waypermanently incapable of performing his part of the partnership contract;(c) when a partner, other than the partner suing, has been guilty of suchconduct as, in the opinion of the court, regard being had to the nature ofthe business, is calculated to affect prejudicially the carryingon of thebusiness;(d) when a partner, other than the partner suing, wilfully or persistentlycommits a breach of the partnership agreement or otherwise so conductshimself in matters relating to the partnership business that it is notreasonably practicable for the other partner or partners to carry on thebusiness in partnership with him;(e) when the business of the partnership can only be carried on at a loss;and(f) whenever in any case circumstances have arisen which, in theopinion of the court, render it just and equitable that the partnership bedissolved.
38. Rights of persons dealing with firm against apparent members of firm(1) Where a person deals with a firm after a change in its constitution,he is entitled to treat all apparent members of the old firm as stillbeing members of the firm until he has notice of the change.(2) An advertisement in the Gazette as to a firm whose principal place ofbusiness is in the Colony shall be notice as to persons who had notdealings with the firm before the date of the dissolution or change soadvertised. (Amended 50 of 1911 s. 4)(3) The estate of a partner whodies, or who becomes bankrupt, or of a partner who, not having been knownto the person dealing with the firm to be a partner, retires from thefirm, is not liable for partnership debts contracted after the date of thedeath, bankruptcy, or retirement respectively.39. Right of partner to notify dissolutionOn the dissolution of a partnership or retirement of a partner, anypartner may publicly notify the same, and may require the other partner orpartners to concur for that purpose in all necessary or proper acts, ifany, which cannot be done without his or their concurrence.40. Continuing authority of partners for purposes of winding-upAfter the dissolution of a partnership, the authority of each partner tobind the firm, and the other rights and obligations of the partners,continue, notwithstanding the dissolution, so far as may be necessary towind up the affairs of the partnership, and to complete transactions begunbutunfinished at the time of the dissolution, but not otherwise: Providedthat the firm is in no case bound by the acts of a partner who has becomebankrupt; but this proviso does not affect the liability of any person whohas, after the bankruptcy, represented himself or knowingly sufferedhimself to berepresented as a partner of the bankrupt.41. Rights of partners as to application of partnership propertyOn the dissolution of a partnership, every partner is entitled, as againstthe other partners in the firm and all persons claiming through them inrespect of their interests as partners, to have the property of thepartnership applied in payment of the debts and liabilities of the firm,and to have the surplus assets after such payment applied in payment ofwhat may be due to the partners respectively, after deducting what may bedue from them as partners to the firm; and for that purpose any partner orhis representatives may, on the termination of the partnership, apply tothe court to wind up the business and affairs of the firm.42. Apportionment of premium where partnership prematurely dissolved Whereone partner has paid a premium to another on entering into a partnershipfor a fixed term, and the partnership is dissolved before the expirationof that term otherwise than by the death of a partner, the court may otherthe repayment of the premium, or of such part thereof as it thinks just,having regard to the terms of the partnership contract and to the lengthof time during which thepartnership has continued; unless--(a) the dissolution is, in the judgment of the court, wholly or chieflydue to the misconduct of the partner who paid the premium; or(b) the partnership has been dissolved by an agreement containing noprovision for a return of any part of the premium.
43. Rights where partnership dissolved for fraud or misrepresentationWhere a partnership contract is rescinded on the ground of the fraud ormisrepresentation of one of the parties thereto, the party entitled torescind is, without prejudice to any other right, entitled--(a) to a lien on,or right of retention of, the surplus of the partnershipassets, after satisfying the partnership liabilities, for any sum of moneypaid by him for the purchase of a share in the partnership and for anycapital contributed by him, and is(b) to stand in the place of thecreditors of the firm for any payments made by him in respect of thepartnership liabilities, and(c) to be indemnified by the person guilty of the fraud or making therepresentation against all the debts and liabilities of the firm.44. Rights of outgoing partner in certain cases to share profits madeafter dissolutionWhere anymember of a firm has died or otherwise ceasedto be a partner, and the surviving or continuing partners carry on thebusiness of the firm with itscapital or assets without any finalsettlement of accounts as between the firm and the outgoing partner or hisestate, then, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary, theoutgoing partner or his estate is entitled, at the option of himself orhis representatives, to such share ofthe profits made since thedissolution as the court may find to be attributable to the use of hisshare of the partnership assets, or to interest at the rate of eightper cent per annum on the amount of his share of the partnership assets:Provided that where, by the partnership contract, an option is given tosurviving or continuing partners to purchase the interest of a deceased oroutgoing partner, and that option is duly exercised, the estate of thedeceased partner or the outgoing partner or his estate, as the case maybe, is not entitled to any further or other share of profits; but if anypartner assuming to act in exercise of the option does not in all materialrespects comply with the terms thereof, he is liable to account under thepreceding provisions of this section.45. Retiring or deceased partner's share to be a debtSubject to any agreement between the partners, the amount due fromsurviving or continuing partners to an outgoing partner or therepresentatives of a deceased partner in respect of the outgoingordeceased partner's share is a debt accruing at the date of the dissolutionor death.
46. Rules for distribution of assets on final settlement of accountsIn settling accounts between the partners after a dissolution ofpartnership, the following rules shall, subject to any agreement, beobserved--(a) losses, including losses and deficiencies of capital, shall be paidfirst out of profits, next out of capital, and lastly, if necessary, bythe partners individually in the proportion in which they were entitled toshareprofits; and(b) the assets of the firm, including the sums, if any, contributed by thepartners to make up losses or deficiencies of capital, shall be applied inthe following manner and order-(i) in paying the debts and liabilities of the firm to persons who are notpartners therein;(ii) in paying to each partner rateably what is due from the firm to himfor advances as distinguished from capital;(iii) in paying to each partner rateably what is due from the firm to himin respect of capital; and(iv) the ultimate residue, if any, shall be divided among the partners inthe proportion in which profits are divisible.47. Saving for rules of equity and of common lawThe rules of equity and of common law applicable to partnership shallcontinue in force, except so far as they are inconsistent with the expressprovisions of this Ordinance.
