Keywords: Hong Kong, contracts, ordinance, contract rule

The Government has gazetted 1 January 2016 as the commencement date of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (the "Ordinance").

The Ordinance radically reforms Hong Kong's long established privity of contract rule. Once it is in force, a third party may, in certain circumstances, be able to enforce a contract to which it is not a party.

We are advising clients to treat now as a lead-in period, and take practical steps to get their contracts ready. To assist, we have been running a number of well-received seminars introducing the Ordinance. We will publicise future dates in due course.

Please see our earlier legal updates:

General

Employment

Insurance

Intellectual Property and Technology, Media & Telecommunications

We will be pleased to discuss the potential impact of the Ordinance on your contracting arrangements.

Originally published 9 June 2015

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