To make provision for the administration of estates by consular officers.
[15 March 1940]
(Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2013)
This Ordinance may be cited as the Administration of Estates by Consular Officers Ordinance.
Whenever any subject or citizen of any State mentioned in the first column of the Schedule—
dies within Hong Kong, or
dies outside Hong Kong, leaving property within Hong Kong,
and no person is present in Hong Kong at the time of his death who is rightfully entitled to administer the estate of such deceased person, the consul, vice-consul, or consular agent of such State within Hong Kong may take possession and have the custody of the property of such deceased person, and may apply the same in payment of his debts and funeral expenses, and may retain the surplus for the benefit of the persons entitled thereto; but such consul, vice-consul, or consular agent shall immediately apply for, and shall be entitled to obtain from the court, letters of administration of the property of such deceased person, limited in such manner and for such time as to the court shall seem fit.
(Amended 81 of 1999 s. 3)
The Chief Executive in Council may by order published in the Gazette vary the Schedule— (Amended L.N. 242 of 1994; L.N. 362 of 1997; 81 of 1999 s. 3; 26 of 2012 s. 11)
by adding thereto any State with whom the Government of the People’s Republic of China has entered into an agreement or arrangement which or any provision of which provides for the administration of estates by consular officers and which applies to Hong Kong; (Replaced 81 of 1999 s. 3)
by deleting therefrom any State when the provision of the agreement or arrangement with that State mentioned in the Schedule shall have ceased to have effect. (Replaced 81 of 1999 s. 3)
(Schedule replaced 81 of 1999 s. 3)