Key Points for the Memorandum Concerning Mutual Recognition and Enforcement of Money Judgments in Commercial Cases between Chinese Courts and Singaporean Courts

关于中国法院和新加坡法院互相承认与执行商事案件金钱判决备忘录的要点

 

Written by Ellen Xie / Di Zhu

谢晓云 / 朱迪 撰写

 

On 31 August 2018, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter “China”) and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore (hereinafter “Singapore”) jointly signed a Memorandum of Guidance between the Supreme People’s Court of China and the Supreme Court of Singapore on Recognition and Enforcement of Money Judgments in Commercial Cases (hereinafter the “Memorandum”).  In the absence of a treaty or an international agreement between China and Singapore in respect of the recognition and enforcement of each other’s court judgments, this Memorandum (though not binding) provides a good guidance for both courts in China (hereinafter “Chinese Courts”) and courts in Singapore (hereinafter “Singaporean Courts”) to mutually recognize and enforce each other’s money judgements in commercial cases.

2018年8月31日，中华人民共和国（以下简称“中国”）最高人民法院与新加坡共和国（以下简称“新加坡”）最高法院联合签署了《中华人民共和国最高人民法院与新加坡最高法院关于承认与执行商事案件金钱判决的指导备忘录》（以下简称“备忘录”）。在中国和新加坡两国之间未就双方的法院判决的承认与执行签订任何条约或国际协议的情况下，此备忘录虽不具有法律约束力，但为中国的法院（以下简称“中国法院”）和新加坡的法院（以下简称“新加坡法院”）相互承认与执行各自的商事案件金钱判决提供了有力的指导。

 

If you have a business that covers both jurisdictions of China and Singapore or have a commercial dispute either involving Chinese or Singaporean entities or persons or involving property located in China or Singapore, this legal newsletter summarizing certain key aspects of the Memorandum will be of relevance to you and your business.

若您的业务覆盖中国和新加坡两国的司法管辖区、或者您的商事争议涉及中国的或新加坡的实体或个人或者涉及位于中国境内或新加坡境内的财产，则本篇法律文章简述的备忘录的若干重点将对您和您业务非常相关。

 

I. Recognition and Enforcement of A Singaporean Court Judgment in China

在中国承认和执行新加坡法院判决

 

1. Chinese Court’s Review Approach and Scope

中国法院的审查方式和范围

According to the Memorandum, Chinese Courts may recognize and enforce a Singaporean Court judgment filed by the claimant on the basis of reciprocity.  Chinese Courts will not review the merits of the judgment and may not challenge such judgment on the ground that it contains an error of fact or law.

根据备忘录的规定，中国法院可在互惠基础上，根据申请人的申请，承认和执行新加坡法院的判决。中国法院对该判决不会进行实质性审查，并且也不会以判决中存在事实或者法律错误为由质疑该判决。

 

However, the Memorandum also provides that a Singaporean Court judgment submitted to Chinese Courts for recognition and enforcement must fulfil certain conditions.  In the case that such conditions are met, Chinese Courts will only have limited grounds to challenge such judgment.

然而，备忘录也规定提交给中国法院承认与执行的新加坡法院判决必须符合相关条件。并且，在该判决符合相关条件的前提下，中国法院仅可基于有限的理由质疑该判决。

 

2. Conditions That A Singaporean Court Judgement Should Satisfy

新加坡法院的判决需满足的条件

A Singaporean Court judgement must first meet the following conditions in order to be considered by Chinese Courts for recognition and enforcement:

为向中国法院申请承认与执行，新加坡法院的判决必须首先符合如下条件：

 

(a) It must be a judgment made by Singaporean Court(s) in commercial cases, i.e., a money judgement that includes a judgement on costs;

该判决必须是新加坡法院作出的商事案件金钱判决（包括有关诉讼费用的判决）；

 

(b) It must be a final and conclusive judgment and is not subject to appeal or under appeal;

该判决必须是终局性和确定性的判决，并且不是有待上诉或者处于上诉过程中的判决；

 

(c) It must not fall within the scope of judgments of the courts of Singapore that Chinese Courts have explicitly rejected to recognize and enforce, including but not limited to the Singaporean Court judgment which would amount to the direct or indirect enforcement of any foreign penal, revenue or public law, or the Singaporean Court judgments of intellectual property rights cases, unfair competition cases and monopoly cases; and

该判决必须不属于中国法院明确拒绝承认和执行的新加坡法院的判决类型/范围，包括但不限于将导致直接或间接执行任何涉及外国刑罚、税收或公法的新加坡法院判决，以及涉及知识产权、不正当竞争、垄断案件的新加坡法院判决；并且

 

(d) It is made by Singaporean Court(s) that must have had jurisdiction to determine the subject matter of the dispute, as determined by Chinese Courts, in accordance with Chinese law.

出具该判决的新加坡法院必须是经中国法院根据中国法律裁定对争议事项具有司法管辖权的法院。

 

3. Grounds That Chinese Courts Can Rely on to Challenge A Singaporean Court Judgment

中国法院可依据并质疑新加坡法院判决的理由

Pursuant to the Memorandum, once a Singaporean Court judgement has met all conditions specified in item 2 of Section I above, Chinese Courts can only challenge such judgment on limited grounds.  Such limited grounds include but not limited to, the following:

根据备忘录的规定，在新加坡法院的判决满足以上第一节第2项中列明的各项条件的情况下，中国法院仅可基于有限的理由质疑新加坡法院的判决。该等理由包括但不限于下列理由：

 

(a) the judgment is contrary to basic principles of the law of China or will prejudice to its sovereignty, security or public Interests;

判决违反中国法律的基本原则或者损害国家主权、安全、社会公共利益；

 

(b) the judgment was obtained by fraud;

判决系以欺诈手段取得；

 

(c) the litigant had not been given proper notice of the judicial proceedings or had not been given a reasonable opportunity to defend the case;

当事人没有获得有关司法程序的适当通知或者没有获得答辩的合理机会；

 

(d) the judicial body is constituted by persons with personal interests in the outcome of the case;

审判组织成员与案件结果有个人利害关系；

 

(e) the litigant without capacity for action has not been properly represented;

无诉讼行为能力的当事人没有得到适当代理；

 

(f) the litigation between the same litigants and on the same subject is pending in Chinese Courts, or Chinese Courts have rendered or made a final and conclusive judgment, or have recognized or enforced a final and conclusive judgment rendered by a third state or an arbitration award.

中国法院对于相同当事人之间的同一争议正在进行审理或者已经作出终局性和确定性判决，或者已经承认或执行第三国就此作出的终局性和确定性判决或者仲裁裁决。

 

4. Procedures and Application Documents Required

申请程序和需递交的申请文件

The claimant who seeks to recognize and enforce a Singaporean Court judgment must commence the procedure by filling an application together with its certified Chinese translation (if the application is not in Chinese) to the intermediary court of China in the place where the litigant subject to execution has a domicile or where its property/asset is located.

为在中国法院承认与执行新加坡法院的判决，申请人必须向被执行人住所地或者其财产所在地的中级人民法院提交申请书（若申请书不是以中文书写，还应附上经证明无误的中文译本）启动诉讼程序。

 

According to the Memorandum, the following notarized and certified documents as well as their certified Chinese translations (if the aforesaid documents are not in Chinese) should be filed along with the application:

根据备忘录的规定，以下经公证认证的文件（若该等经公证认证的文件不是以中文书写，还应附上其经证明无误的中文译本）亦应与申请书一并递交：

 

(a) a certified copy of the judgment;

经证明的判决书副本；

 

(b) documents to certify that the judgment is not subject to or under appeal, the appeal period has expired in respect of the judgment and there is no pending application for an extension of time to appeal, unless that is specified in the judgment itself;

证明判决并非有待上诉或者处于上诉过程中、上诉期限已满且不存在待决延长上诉期限申请的文件，除非判决中对此已予说明；

 

(c) in the case of default judgment, documents to certify that the defaulting litigant has been legally summoned, unless that is specified in the judgment itself;

在缺席判决的情况下，证明缺席一方已经合法传唤的文件 ，除非判决中对此已予说明；

 

(d) documents to certify that the litigant without capacity for action has been properly represented, unless that is specified in the judgment itself.

证明无诉讼行为能力人已得到适当代理的文件，除非判决中对此已予说明。

 

Once the Singaporean Court judgment is recognized by Chinese Courts, the claimant can apply for enforcing such judgment in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of China.

一旦新加坡法院的判决经中国法院承认，申请人可根据中国民事诉讼法申请执行该判决。

 

5. Governing Law

适用法律

The recognition and enforcement of a Singaporean Court judgment will be reviewed and conducted by Chinese Courts in accordance with Chinese law.

中国法院将根据中国法律规定审查和办理新加坡法院的判决的承认与执行。

 

II. Recognition and Enforcement of A Chinese Court Judgment in Singapore

在新加坡承认和执行中国法院判决

 

1. Singaporean Court’s Review Approach and Scope

新加坡法院的审查方式和范围

According to the Memorandum, Singaporean Courts may recognize and enforce a Chinese Court judgement by a claim made at common law.  Singaporean Courts will not review the merits of a judgment of Chinese Courts and may not challenge such judgments on the ground that it contains an error of fact or law.

根据备忘录的规定，新加坡法院可依据申请人根据普通法的规定提出的请求，承认与执行新加坡法院的判决。新加坡法院对中国法院的判决不会进行实质性审查，并且也不会以判决中存在事实或者法律错误为由质疑该判决。

 

2. Conditions That A Chinese Court Judgement Should Satisfy

中国法院的判决需满足的条件

A Chinese Court judgement must first meet the following conditions in order to be considered by Singaporean Courts for recognition and enforcement:

为向新加坡法院申请承认与执行，中国法院的判决必须首先符合如下条件：

 

(a) It must be a judgment made by Chinese Court(s) in commercial cases, i.e., a money judgement that includes a judgement on costs;

该判决必须是中国法院作出的商事案件金钱判决（包括有关诉讼费用的判决）；

 

(b) It must be a final and conclusive judgment;

该判决必须是终局性和确定性的判决；

 

(c) It must not fall within the scope of judgments that Singaporean Courts have explicitly rejected to recognize and enforce, including the Chinese Court judgment which would amount to the direct or indirect enforcement of any foreign penal, revenue or public law; and

该判决必须不属于新加坡法院明确拒绝承认和执行的中国法院的判决类型/范围，包括将导致直接或间接执行任何涉及外国刑罚、税收或公法的中国法院判决；并且

 

(d) It is made by Chinese Court(s) that must have had jurisdiction to determine the subject matter of the dispute, as determined by Singaporean Courts.

出具该判决的中国法院必须是经新加坡法院裁定对争议事项具有司法管辖权的法院。

 

3. Grounds That Singaporean Courts Can Rely on to Challenge A Chinese Court Judgment

新加坡法院可依据并质疑中国法院判决的理由

Pursuant to the Memorandum, once a Chinese Court judgement has met all conditions specified in item 2 of Section II above, Singaporean Courts can only challenge such judgment on limited grounds.  Such limited grounds include but not limited to, the following:

根据备忘录的规定，在中国法院的判决满足上述第二节第2项中所述各项条件的情况下，新加坡法院仅可基于有限的理由质疑中国法院的判决。这些理由包括下列理由：

 

(a) the judgment was obtained by fraud;

判决系以欺诈手段取得；

 

(b) the judgment is contrary to Singapore public policy;

判决违反新加坡的公共政策；

 

(c) the proceedings were conducted in a manner which Singaporean Court regards as contrary to the principles of nature justice, such as but not limited to, (1) the litigant had not been given proper notice of the judicial proceedings or had not been given a reasonable opportunity to be heard, or (2) the judicial body is constituted by persons with personal interests in the outcome of the case.

新加坡法院认为作出判决的程序与自然正义的原则相抵触，包括但不限于：（1）当事人没有获得有关司法程序的适当通知或者没有获得陈述意见的合理机会；或者（2）审判组织成员与案件结果有个人利害关系。

 

4. Procedures and Application Documents Required

申请程序和需递交的申请文件

The claimant (i.e., the creditor of Chinese Court judgement) must commence the procedure by filing a writ of summons along with certified judgment to the competent court of Singapore.  If the defendant (i.e., the debtor of Chinese Court judgement) is outside of Singapore, the claimant will need to seek the leave of court to serve the writ of summons out of the jurisdiction.

申请人（即中国法院判决的债权人）应向适格的新加坡法院递交传讯令状以启动承认与执行中国法院判决的程序。若中国法院判决的债务人不在新加坡境内，则中国法院判决的债权人应向新加坡法院申请送达境外传讯令状。

 

If after serving the writ of summons, the defendant does not respond to the claim, the claimant will have the right to obtain a default judgement.  However, if after serving the writ of summons, the defendant does respond to the claim, the claimant must file and serve a statement of claim.

若传讯令状送达后判决的债务人未应诉的，则申请人可依法获得缺席判决。若传讯令状送达后判决的债务人应诉的，则申请人必须递交并送达请求陈述书。

 

Unless the defendant can raise a triable issue related to a defence based on any ground specified in item 3 of Section II above, the claimant generally will have a right to obtain a summary judgement without trial.

除非被告能提出应进行审理的答辩理由（包括本文第二节第3项中所述的任何理由），原告一般有权获得即时判决且无需开庭。

 

Once the judgement on the claim rendered by the Singaporean Court supports the claimant’s claim, the claimant will be entitled to apply for the enforcement of the Chinese Court Judgement at the Singaporean Court.

一旦新加坡法院裁决支持原告的诉请，则原告有权向新加坡法院申请执行中国法院的判决。

 

5. Governing Law

适用法律

The recognition and enforcement of a Chinese Court judgment will be reviewed and conducted by Singaporean Courts in accordance with Singaporean law including common law with the exception that a dispute over the finality and conclusiveness of the Chinese Court judgement will be determined in accordance with the Chinese law.

除了中国法院的判决的终局性和确定性争议将依据中国法律决定外，新加坡法院将根据新加坡法律（包括普通法）审查和办理中国法院的判决的承认与执行。

 

 

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This China Legal Update was written by attorney Xiaoyun Xie (Ellen), the Managing Director and Lawyer Admitted in China and US (California) of Shanghai Hui Xiao Law Group and trainee Di Zhu, and published by Shanghai Hui Xiao Law Group.
本期中国法律速递系由谢晓云律师，上海慧晓律师事务所主任和中国及美国（加利福尼亚州）执业律师、以及实习律师朱迪撰写，并由上海慧晓律师事务所发布。

 

Note: This document (including information contained herein) is for general information only and is not legal advice or opinion for any purpose.  All rights reserved.  No part of this document may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted without prior permission in writing of Shanghai Hui Xiao Law Group.

注：本篇文章（包括其所含的所有信息）均仅为一般信息，并且在任何情况下均不构成法律意见或建议。本篇文章中的所有权利（包括版权）均归上海慧晓律师事务所所有，未经许可不得复制或转载。

  

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