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SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF THE PROVISIONS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN-FUNDED CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES

e02885

Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Commerce

Decree of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Commerce

No. 121

The Supplementary Provisions of the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Construction Enterprises were deliberated and
adopted on December 9th, 2003 at the 24th executive meeting of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Commerce, which are
hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.

Wang Guangtao, Minister of the Ministry of Construction

Lv Fuyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Commerce

December 19, 2003

Supplementary Provisions of the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Construction Enterprises

With a view to promoting the development of the economic & trade relations between the Mainland and Hong Kong/Macao and to encouraging
service providers from Hong Kong and Macao to establish construction enterprises in the Mainland, the following supplementary provisions
are formulated in accordance with the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland and Macao Closer
Economic Partnership Arrangement approved by the State Council, and the Provisions on the Administration of the Foreign-funded Construction
Enterprises (Decree No. 113 of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation):

1.

When a service provider from Hong Kong or Macao files an application for establishing a construction enterprise, its performance records
in Hong Kong, Macao and the Mainland shall all be taken into consideration for the purpose of assessing its qualifications for establishing
such an enterprise in the Mainland. The number of its managerial and technical personnel shall be based on the actual number of personnel
in the construction enterprise established in the Mainland for its qualifications assessment.

2.

A service provider from Hong Kong or Macao is permitted to wholly purchase a Mainland construction enterprise.

3.

Where a construction enterprise established by a service provider from Hong Kong or Macao in the Mainland undertakes Sino-foreign
construction projects, it shall not be subject to the restrictions on Chinese and foreign investment percentages.

4.

Where a construction enterprise invested in the Mainland by a Hong Kong provider or Macao service provider applies for a qualification
certificate, the relevant regulations of the Mainland shall be followed. If it has acquired the qualifications of a construction
enterprise, it may participate in the nationwide project tenders in pursuance of law.

5.

Where a service provider from Hong Kong or Macao invests in establishing a construction enterprise in the Mainland and applies for
the corresponding qualifications, the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Enterprises and the relevant provisions
on the administration of the qualifications of construction enterprises shall be followed.

6.

The terms of “Hong Kong service providers” and “Macao service providers” as mentioned in the present Supplementary Provisions shall
be in conformity with the definitions and meet the relevant requirements as respectively provided in the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer
Economic and Trade Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland-Macao Closer Economic and Trade Partnership Arrangement.

7.

The responsibility to interpret the present Supplementary Provisions shall remain with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry
of Commerce according to their respective functions.

8.

The present Supplementary Provisions shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.



 
Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Commerce
2003-12-19

 







SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS TO THE PROVISIONS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN-FUNDED MUNICIPAL PLANNING ENTERPRISES

e03037

Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Commerce

Decree of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Commerce

No. 123

Supplementary Provisions to the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Municipal Planning Enterprises were adopted after
deliberation at the 24th executive meeting of the Ministry of Construction and the executive meeting of the Ministry of Commerce,
which are hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.

Wang Guangtao, Minister of the Ministry of Construction

Lv Fuyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Commerce

December 19th, 2003

Supplementary Provisions to the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-Funded Municipal Planning Enterprises

With a view to promoting the development of the economic & trade relations between the Mainland and Hong Kong/Macao and to encouraging
Hong Kong service providers and Macao service providers to establish urban planning service enterprises, the following supplementary
provisions are formulated in accordance with the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland
and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Provisions on the Administration of the Foreign-funded Municipal Planning
Enterprises (Decree No. 116 issued by the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation):

1.

Hong Kong service providers and Macao service providers are allowed to establish solely funded urban planning service enterprises
in the Mainland as of January 1, 2004.

2.

Other provisions governing the establishment of urban planning service enterprises in the Mainland by Hong Kong or Macao service providers
shall be implemented in accordance with the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Urban Planning Service Enterprises.

3.

The terms “Hong Kong service providers” and “Macao service providers” as mentioned in the present Supplementary Provisions shall be
consistent with the definitions and meet the relevant requirements as respectively provided in the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer
Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

4.

The responsibility to interpret the present Supplementary Provisions shall remain with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry
of Commerce according to their respective functions.

5.

The present Supplementary Provisions shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.



 
Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Commerce
2003-12-19

 







THE OPINIONS ON STRENGTHENING AND STANDARDIZING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EVALUATION INDUSTRY

General Office of the State Council

The Circular of the General Office of the State Council on Transmitting the Opinions of the Ministry of Finance on Strengthening and
Standardizing the Administration of the Evaluation Industry

GuobanFa [2003] No. 101

All provincial people’s governments, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, all ministries and
commissions of the State Council, and all agencies directly under the State Council:

The Opinions of the Ministry of Finance on Strengthening and Standardizing the Administration of the Evaluation Industry has been
approved by the State Council, and is hereby transmitted to you for serious enforcement.

General Office of the State Council

December 19, 2003

The Opinions on Strengthening and Standardizing the Administration of the Evaluation Industry

In accordance with the spirit of the Circular on Straightening Up and Rectifying Economic Verification Intermediary Agencies (GuobanFa
No. 92), based on further investigation and research and extensive solicitation of opinions, the following opinions on strengthening
and standardizing the administration of the evaluation industry are hereby adopted.

1.

Development Status and Major Problems of the Evaluation Industry

With the development of the socialist market economy, China’s the evaluation industry has been developing with high speed in recent
years. The number of practitioners is gradually increasing; various rules and administration mechanism governing the evaluation industry
are being improved; its service scope and field are being enlarged; and exchanges and cooperation among evaluation industries worldwide
are being further strengthened. By the end of 2002, the number of certified practitioners had reached nearly 80, 000.

Evaluation, an intermediary service, has become the basis of such major economic activities as enterprise reform, asset restructuring,
Chinese-foreign joint investment and cooperation, property right transaction, leasing, mortgage and insurance, and plays a positive
role in promoting the development of socialist market economy.

While, because socialist market economy is in the course of growth and improvement, the evaluation industry as a special and new service
industry is still faced with many problems.

Firstly, relevant laws and regulations are incomplete, and a uniform legal base for the administration of various professional evaluations
is still lacking. Because the state has not yet formulated relevant laws and regulations governing the administration of the evaluation
industry, there are no laws to abide by for regulating and administering professional evaluation practices, nor necessary and uniform
legal constraints over the functions and responsibilities of relevant governmental departments, associations of the evaluation industry,
evaluation intermediary agencies and practitioners. In practice, competent authorities can only conduct administration over professional
evaluation affairs within their mandate through the formulation of normative documents.

Secondly, governmental administrative supervision and industrial self-discipline are still lacking. Some departments fail to seriously
fulfill the duty of administrative supervision; some sub-sectors of the evaluation industry haven’t established organizations of
industrial self-discipline. Effective supervision over evaluation agencies, and the qualification, practices and service quality
of practitioners is still lacking.

Thirdly, the establishment of technical norms and professional ethics falls behind. At present, the establishment of technical norms
and professional ethics in China’s evaluation industry falls behind seriously, which fails to meet the objective needs of the development
of the evaluation industry, and, to a certain extent, negatively affects the healthy development of this industry.

Fourthly, exchanges, coordination and cooperation between different sub-sectors of the evaluation industry are inadequate. There exist
close connections between different sub-sectors of the evaluation industry, which necessitates exchanges, coordination and cooperation.
While in practice, such necessary connections are lacking in the evaluation industry, which impedes the coordinated development of
the establishment of relevant systems regarding practicing requirements, qualifications, technical norms, etc.

2.

Basic Principles of Standardizing the Administration of the Evaluation Industry

In accordance with the requirements of actively developing professional market intermediary service agencies that operate in an independent,
fair and normative way, and of standardizing and developing various self-discipline organizations such as industrial associations
following market rules, and the spirit of deepening the reform of the administrative examination and approval system of the third
Plenary Session of the Sixteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the following principles shall be followed in
standardizing the administration of the evaluation industry:

(1)

To establish the qualification types of the evaluation profession scientifically so as to accommodate the characteristics of different
business lines and their respective practicing requirements, and meet the objective demand of the market.

(2)

To define the duties of relevant government departments and industrial associations, establish a standardized administrative mechanism
over the evaluation industry, and strengthen the administrative supervision and self-discipline of the evaluation industry.

(3)

To establish a mechanism of exchanges, coordination and cooperation between various industrial associations of the evaluation profession,
and promote the sound and coordinated development of the entire evaluation industry.

3.

Specific Measures of Strengthening and Standardizing the Administration of the Evaluation Industry

(1)

To establish and administer the qualification setup of the evaluation profession. , Respective professional qualifications for six
types of practitioners in the evaluation industry, namely certified asset appraisers, certificated real estate appraisers, land appraisers,
mining property appraisers, insurance appraisers and automobile appraisers, shall be established in accordance with the objective
needs of the development of China’s socialist market economy.

(2)

To improve and strengthen the administration and self-discipline for the evaluation industry.

The administrative departments in charge of the evaluation industry shall, in accordance with their mandate provided for in the regulations
of ‘three settlements’ approved by the State Council, and relevant governmental requirements of strengthening the administration
of evaluation intermediary services, fulfill their duties conscientiously, and improve and strengthen administrative supervision
over evaluation intermediary services. They shall formulate the rules and regulations governing the evaluation industry, supervise
the practices of evaluation agencies and their practitioners, and steer and supervise the work of evaluation industrial associations,
etc.

Evaluation industrial associations shall improve the self-discipline of evaluation agencies and their appraisers in a concrete manner,
draft and organize the implementation of the code and professional ethics of the evaluation industry, strengthen the establishment
of various self-discipline mechanisms, organize and launch supervision and inspection over the service quality of evaluation agencies
and their practitioners, promote good faith, establish a complete and effective mechanism of industrial self-discipline, and exercise
punishment on those agencies and individual practitioners violating the code and professional ethics of the evaluation industry.
For those sub-sectors of the evaluation industry that have not established relevant appraisers’ associations, government agencies
in charge shall, following relevant procedures, establish such associations as soon as possible.

All kinds of evaluation agencies and professionals shall seriously implement relevant laws and regulations and rulings of the government,
and engage in the business of evaluation in accordance with the law. They shall observe strictly the code of the evaluation industry
as well as various administrative systems of self-discipline, practice in good faith, and provide evaluation services in an objective
and fair way.

(3)

To establish a joint conference mechanism among evaluation industrial associations, and improve and strengthen exchanges, coordination
and cooperation between the various evaluation associations.

In order to facilitate exchanges, coordination and cooperation between various sub-sectors of the evaluation industry, promote the
coordinated development of China’s evaluation industry, based on the voluntary principle, a joint conference system can be established
through self-initiated consultations among relevant evaluation associations. The joint conference is mainly responsible for conducting
research and putting forward opinions and proposals regarding the reform and development of China’s evaluation industry, formulating
professional code and ethics for regulating appraisers’ practices, coordinating the professional codes and rules of different sub-sectors,
presenting research-based opinions and suggestions for strengthening industrial self-discipline, participating in the research and
drafting of evaluation related laws and regulations, etc.

(4)

To accelerate the research and formulation of the Regulations for the Administration of the Evaluation Industry.

For the purpose of enforcing law-based standardization of the administration of the evaluation industry, and promoting the sound development
of China’s evaluation industry, the Regulations for the Administration of the Evaluation Industry shall be formulated as soon as
possible based on the development experience of the evaluation industries home and abroad. The Appraiser’s rights, obligations and
legal liabilities shall be clearly defined in the Regulations for the Administration of the Evaluation Industry, so shall the professional
qualifications and management modes of evaluation intermediaries, and the administrative duties of competent government authorities,
as well as evaluation industrial associations’ requirements of self-discipline.

(5)

To organize and launch a comprehensive examination of the practicing qualifications of evaluation intermediaries and relevant practitioners.

By the end of June of 2004, competent government agencies shall have co-launched a comprehensive examination with relevant evaluation
industrial associations. The focuses are on the practicing qualifications and service quality of evaluation agencies and their evaluation
practitioners, and on whether relevant evaluation agencies have completed reform and become independent. Agencies and practitioners
that either fail to meet the qualification or seriously violate relevant professional code and ethics shall be disqualified according
to law.

4.

Organization and Implementation

All relevant government departments in charge shall, in accordance with the spirit of the third plenary session of the sixteenth National
Congress of the Communist Party of China, and in compliance with the aforementioned opinions and requirements, conscientiously carry
out and organize relevant work and activities. Before the end of August 2004, the Ministry of Finance shall report to the State Council
the results of such rectification, standardization and examination.



 
General Office of the State Council
2003-12-19

 







THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF THE PROVISIONS ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF FOREIGN-FUNDED CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING DESIGN ENTERPRISES

e02884

Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Commerce

Decree of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Commerce

No. 122

The Supplementary Provisions of the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Construction and Engineering Design Enterprises
were deliberated and adopted at the 24th executive meeting of the Ministry of Construction and the executive meeting of the Ministry
of Commerce, which are hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.

Wang Guangtao, Minister of the Ministry of Construction

Lv Fuyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Commerce

December 19th, 2003

The Supplementary Provisions of the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Construction and Engineering Design Enterprises

With a view to promoting the development of the economic & trade relations between the Mainland and Hong Kong/Macao and to encouraging
service providers form Hong Kong and Macao to establish construction and engineering design enterprises, the following supplementary
provisions are formulated in accordance with the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement the Mainland and
Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement approved by the State Council, and the Regulations on the Administration of the Foreign-funded
Construction and Engineering Design Enterprises (Decree No. 114 of the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Foreign Trade
and Economic Cooperation):

1.

Service providers from Hong Kong or Macao may establish solely funded construction and engineering design enterprises in the Mainland
as of January 1st, 2004.

2.

When Hong Kong or Macao service providers establish construction and engineering design enterprises in the Mainland and apply for
the qualification certificate, the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-funded Construction and Engineering Design Enterprises
and the relevant regulations governing the management of qualifications of construction and engineering design enterprises shall
be complied with.

3.

The terms of “Hong Kong service providers” and “Macao service providers” as mentioned in the present Supplementary Provisions shall
be in conformity with the definitions and meet the relevant requirements as respectively provided in the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer
Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

4.

The responsibility to interpret the present Supplementary Provisions shall remain with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry
of Commerce according to their respective functions.

5.

The present Supplementary Provisions shall come into force as of January 1st, 2004.



 
Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Commerce
2003-12-19

 







CIRCULAR OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE ON PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTING THE MEASURE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF PROJECTS (SUB-PROJECTS) WITH THE WORLD BANK’S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Ministry of Finance

Circular of the Ministry of Finance on Printing and Distributing the “Measure for the Administration of Projects (Sub-Projects) with
the World Bank’s Technical Assistance”

Caiji [2003] No. 108

December 25, 2003

The relevant ministries, commissions and institutions directly under the State Council, and the departments (bureaus) in all provinces,
autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities directly under the State planning:

For further standardizing the administration of the projects with the World Bank’s technical assistance, improving the quality of
managing the projects and the efficiency of using the fund, this Measure for the Administration has been formulated and is hereby
printed and distributed to your organization. Please observe and implement them.

Annex: Measures for the Administration of Projects (Sub-Projects) with the World Bank’s Technical Assistance Annex:Measures for the Administration of Projects (Sub-Projects) with the World Bank’s Technical Assistance

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1

The present Measures are formulated with a view to further standardizing the administration of projects (sub-projects) with the World
Bank technical assistance, improving the quality of managing the projects and the efficiency of using the fund, and ensuring the
smooth attainment of the projects’ targets.

Article 2

“Projects (sub-projects) with the World Bank’s technical assistance” in this Law refer to projects (sub-projects) that use the World
Bank’s grants or technical cooperation loans.

Chapter II Administration of the World Bank’s Grants

Article 3

Relevant central and local agencies shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Ministry of Finance, apply for the grants.
After verified and approved by the Ministry of Finance, the entity will become the grant project entity and be responsible for the
specifics of implementing the grant projects.

Article 4

The relevant central and local agencies that apply for the grants shall submit their applications to the Ministry of Finance along
with the materials as follow:

(1)

Proposal of the projects (sub-projects);

(2)

Commitment Letter of Grant Use

The above materials shall satisfy the relevant requirements of the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.

Article 5

Applications of the relevant central agencies may be submit to the International Department of the Ministry of Finance in the name
of the competent authorities (Department level) of the entities; Applications of the relevant local agencies must be submit to the
International Department of the Ministry of Finance through the finance authorities of their provinces.

Article 6

Where the grant project entity is a central agency, with the Ministry of Finance’s approval, the grant may be managed and used by
its own, and the entity shall open and manage a special account for the projects in accordance with relevant provisions. For those
are not qualified for managing fund and finance or be under special circumstance, the grants shall be managed (including account
opening and management) by the International Department of the Ministry of Finance or the entity designated by the International
Department of the Ministry of Finance.

Article 7

Where the grant project entity is a local agency, with the Ministry of Finance’s approval, the grant shall be managed (including account
opening and management) through the finance authority of its province. Where there are special cases as the project involves several
localities and the account can not be divided, the account and the grant shall be managed by the International Department of the
Ministry of Finance or the entity designated by the International Department of the Ministry of Finance.

Article 8

Every grant project (sub-project) entity shall, in accordance with relevant provisions of the Ministry of Finance, pay adequately
and timely the charge for the use of the grant prior to the first withdrawal and account report.

Article 9

Every grant project (sub-project) entity shall implement the grant project in accordance with the Grants Agreement, relevant provisions
of the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance and the commitments in the Commitment Letter of Grant Use, and receive supervision
on procurement and audit from the World Bank, relevant finance authorities and auditing authorities.

Chapter III Administration of the World Bank’s Technical Cooperation Loans

Article 10

Relevant central and local agencies that need the World Bank’s technical cooperation loans shall apply in accordance with the project
management regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Finance for every technical cooperation project. After being verified and approved
by the Ministry of Finance, the entity will become the sub-project entity and be responsible for the specifics of implementing the
sub-projects.

Article 11

The applications submitted by the central and local agencies include the Sub-project Proposal that is required by the Projects Overall
Objective stipulated in the Loan Agreement (Development Credit Agreement). The Sub-project Proposal shall be made in accordance with
the standard format required by the Project Management Regulations.

Article 12

The applications of relevant central agencies that plan to use the central uniformly repay fundï¿¿ï¿¿shall apply directly to the Ministry
of Finance by it own name. Other relevant central agencies’ applications may be submitted to the International Department of the
Ministry of Finance in the name of the competent authorities (Department level) of their respective agencies. The applications of
the relevant local agencies must be submitted to the International Department of the Ministry of Finance through finance authorities
of their provinces.

Article 13

When it is a central agency and has been approved to use the central uniformly repay fund, the sub-project entity shall directly sign
the Sub-project Agreement with the Ministry of Finance. When it is a central agency but has not been approved to use the central
uniformly repay fund, the sub-project entity shall directly sign the Agreement on Sub-project Loan Transfer with the Ministry of
Finance. When it is a local agency, the sub-project entity shall sign the Agreement on Sub-project Loan Transfer with the Ministry
of Finance through finance authority of its province.

Article 14

The special account of the technical cooperation projects, withdrawals and account reporting to the World Bank shall be uniformly
managed by the International Department of the Ministry of Finance or the entity designated by the International Department of the
Ministry of Finance. The relevant projects entities and finance authorities shall complete the procedure of withdrawals and submitting
expense accounts with the Ministry of Finance.

Article 15

Every sub-project entity shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Ministry of Finance, pay adequately and timely the
charge for loan administration prior to the first withdrawal and account report.

Article 16

Every sub-project entity shall, in accordance with the Loan Agreement, the Project Management Regulations, the Sub-project Implementation
Agreement or the Agreement on Sub-project Loan Transfer and the relevant provisions of the World Bank and the Ministry of Finance,
implement the branch projects and receive supervision on procurement and auditing from the World Bank, relevant finance authorities
and auditing authorities.

Chapter IV Supplementary Provisions

Article 17

Any violation of this Measure will be seriously punished by the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations,
and the relevant rules of the Ministry of Finance as well as the relevant requirements of the World Bank.

Article 18

The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for the interpretation of this Measure.

Article 19

This Measure shall enter into force as of January 1, 2004.



 
Ministry of Finance
2003-12-25

 







BANKING SUPERVISION LAW OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress

Order of the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China

No.11

The Banking Supervision Law of the People’s Republic of China was adopted at the 6th session of the Standing Committee of the 10th
National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China on December 27, 2003. It is hereby promulgated and shall be implemented
as of February 1, 2004.

Hu Jintao, Chairman of the People’s Republic of China

December 27, 2003

Banking Supervision Law of the People’s Republic of China ContentChapter I. General Provisions

Chapter II. Supervision Institutions

Chapter III. Supervision Functions

Chapter IV. Supervision Measures

Chapter V. Legal Liabilities

Chapter VI. Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I. General Provisions

Article 1

The present Law is formulated to strengthen the supervision over the banking industry, regulate the activities of supervision, prevent
and eliminate banking risks, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the depositors and other clients and promote the sound
development of the banking industry.

Article 2

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall be responsible for the supervision over the nationwide banking financial
institutions and operations.

The term “banking financial institutions” as mentioned in the present Law refers to the commercial banks, urban credit cooperatives,
rural credit cooperatives and other financial institutions and policy banks established within China and engaged in taking in deposits
of the general public.

The present Law shall be applicable to the supervision over the financial assets management companies, trust investment companies,
financial companies and the financial lease companies established within the People’s Republic of China and other financial institutions
established within China upon approval of the banking supervision institution of the State Council.

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the present Law, conduct
supervision over the financial institutions established abroad upon its approval and the overseas operations of the financial institutions
as mentioned in the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 3

The banking supervision shall be targeted for promoting the lawful, steady, and sound operations of the banking industry, and maintaining
the confidence of the general public in the banking.

The banking supervision shall protect the fair competitions of banking and improve the competitive ability of the banking industry.

Article 4

When conducting banking supervision, the banking supervision institutions shall comply with the principle of law compliance, openness,
impartiality and efficiency.

Article 5

The banking supervision institutions and their functionaries engaged in banking supervision shall perform their duties in accordance
with the law, shall be protected by the law. None of the local governments, government departments of all levels, the social institutions
and individuals may interfere with them.

Article 6

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall establish a supervision information sharing system with the People’s
Bank of China and the other financial supervision institutions of the State Council.

Article 7

The banking supervision institution of the State Council may also establish cooperation systems with the banking supervision institutions
of other countries or regions for the purpose of conducting transnational supervision.

Chapter II. Supervision Institutions

Article 8

The banking supervision institution of the State Council may set up dispatched institutions in light of the needs for exercising their
duties. The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall practice unified leadership and management to the institutions
dispatched by it.

The institutions dispatched by the banking supervision institution of the State Council shall, within the powers granted by the banking
supervision institution of the State Council, perform their supervision duties.

Article 9

Among the functionaries of the banking supervision institutions, those engaged in supervision shall have the professional knowledge
and experiences adapting to their respective post.

Article 10

The functionaries of the banking supervision institutions shall devote to their duties, handle matters in pursuance of the law, be
impartial and clean, shall not seek improper interests by taking advantages of their posts, and shall not hold concurrent positions
in other financial institutions or other enterprises.

Article 11

The functionaries of banking supervision institutions shall keep the secrets of the state in accordance with the law, and shall be
obligated to keep the secrets of the banking financial institutions and the parties concerned under their supervision.

Where the banking supervision institution of the State Council exchanges supervision information with the banking supervision institutions
of other countries or regions, it shall make an arrangement to keep the information secret.

Article 12

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall disclose the supervision procedures, shall establish supervision responsibility
system and internal supervision system.

Article 13

When the banking supervision institutions deal with the risks of a banking financial institution, investigate into and punish relevant
illegal financial offences, or carry out other supervision activities, the local governments, the departments of all levels shall
support and cooperate with them.

Article 14

The auditing, supervision and other organs of the State Council shall conduct supervision over the activities of the banking supervision
institution of the State Council in pursuance of the law.

Chapter III. Supervision Duties

Article 15

In accordance with the law and the administrative regulations, the banking supervision institution of the State Council shall formulate
and issue regulations and rules governing the supervision over the financial banking institutions and their operations.

Article 16

In pursuance of the requirements and procedures as prescribed in the laws and the administrative regulations, the banking supervision
institution of the State Council shall be responsible for the examination and approval of the establishment, modifications, termination
and operation scope of the banking financial institutions.

Article 17

With regard to an applicant for establishing a financial institution or a banking financial institution that modifies the shareholder
whose total capital contributions or total shares reach or exceed the prescribed proportion, the banking supervision institution
of the State Council shall examine the shareholder’s sources of funds, financial status, capital adequacy and credit standing.

Article 18

The operations within the operation scope of a banking financial institution shall be subject to the examination and approval of or
be registered by the banking supervision institution of the State Council. The specific operations shall be prescribed and announced
by the banking supervision institution of the State Council in accordance with the laws and administrative regulations.

Article 19

Without approval of the banking supervision institution of the State Council, no entity or individual may establish any banking financial
institution or carry on operations as a banking financial institution.

Article 20

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall adopt qualification management for the appointment of directors and
senior managerial personnel of the banking financial institutions and it shall formulate specific measures.

Article 21

The rules for prudent operations governing the banking financial institutions may be provided for in the laws and administrative regulations,
and may also be formulated by the banking supervision institution of the State Council in accordance with the laws and administrative
regulations.

The term “rules for prudent operations” as mentioned in the preceding paragraph covers the risk management, internal control, capital
adequacy ratio, quality of capital, loss reserve fund, risk concentration, related transactions and liquidity of assets, etc.

All banking financial institutions shall strictly abide by the rules for prudent operations.

Article 22

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall, within the prescribed time limit, make a written decision about approving
or disapproving any of the following items; if it decides to disapprove, it shall give the reasons:

(1)

The establishment of a banking financial institution, within 6 months from the day when the application documents are received;

(2)

The modification or termination, the operation scope and the operations added to the operation scope of a banking financial institution,
within 3 months from the day when the application documents are received;

(3)

The examination of the qualifications of the directors and senior managerial personnel, within 30 days from the day when the application
documents are received.

Article 23

The banking supervision institutions shall conduct non-on-site supervision over the operations and risk status of the banking financial
institutions, shall establish banking financial institution supervision information system, and shall analyze and evaluate the risk
status of banking financial institutions.

Article 24

A banking supervision institution shall conduct on-site inspection on the operations and risk status of the banking financial institutions.

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall formulate on-site inspection procedures, and regulate on-site inspections.

Article 25

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall adopt consolidated financial statements in conducting supervision over
the banking financial institutions.

Article 26

With regard to the advice given by the People’s Bank of China about the inspection on banking financial institutions, the banking
supervision institution of the State Council shall make a reply within 30 days from the day it receives the advice.

Article 27

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall establish a banking financial institution supervision grade evaluation
system and a risk pre-warning system. It shall, in light of the grade and the risk situation of a banking financial institution,
determine the frequency and scope of on-site inspections, and other necessary measures.

Article 28

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall establish a post responsibility system for the discovery and reporting
of banking emergencies.

Where a banking supervision institution discovers an emergency may result in a systematic banking risk or may seriously affect the
stability of the society, it shall immediately report to the person-in-charge of the banking supervision institution of the State
Council. If the person-in-charge considers it necessary to report to the State Council, it shall report to the State Council at once,
and shall inform the People’s Bank of China, the finance department of the State Council and other relevant departments.

Article 29

The banking supervision institution shall, jointly with the People’s Bank of China, the finance department of the State Council and
other relevant departments, shall establish a banking emergency handling system, formulate a banking emergency disposal plan and
clearly specify the handing institutions, the personnel and their duties, the measures and procedures so as to timely and effectively
handle any banking emergencies.

Article 30

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall be responsible for the making of unified statistics and statements
of the nationwide banking financial institutions, and shall announce them in accordance with relevant regulations of the State.

Article 31

The banking supervision institution of the State Council shall guide and supervise the activities of the banking self-disciplinary
organizations.

The constitution of any banking self-disciplinary organization shall be submitted to the banking supervision institution of the State
Council for archival purposes.

Article 32

The banking supervision institution of the State Council may carry out activities of international communication and cooperation related
to banking supervision.

Chapter IV. Supervision Measures

Article 33

A banking supervision institution shall, in light of the needs to perform its duties, have the power to demand the banking financial
institutions to submit their asset-liability statements, profit statements, and other financial and accounting statements, operation
management materials and the audit reports issued by certified public accountants.

Article 34

In accordance with the requirement of prudent supervision, a banking supervision institution shall taking following measures for conducting
on-site inspection:

(1)

To conduct inspection by entering into a banking financial institution;

(2)

To question the functionaries of the banking financial institution, to demand them to give explanations about the relevant to-be-inspected
items;

(3)

To examine and copy the documents and materials relating to the to-be-inspected items, to seal up the documents and materials that
may be moved, hidden or destroyed;

(4)

To examine the banking financial institution’s computer system for operation data management.

An on-site inspection shall be subject to the approval of the person-in-charge of the banking supervision institution. In an on-site
inspection, the number of inspectors shall not be less than 2, and the inspectors shall show their legitimate certificates and the
inspection notice. Under the circumstance of insufficient number of inspectors or a failure to show the legitimate certificates and
inspection notice, the banking financial institution shall be enpost_titled to refuse the inspection.

Article 35

In light of the needs to perform the duties, a banking supervision institution may talk with the directors and the senior managerial
personnel of a banking financial institution, may demand them to give explanations about significant matters concerning the operations
and risk control of this banking financial institution.

Article 36

The banking supervision institutions shall order the banking supervision institutions to faithfully disclose the information about
the financial and accounting statements, the status of risk management, the replacement of the directors and senior managerial personnel
and other significant matters.

Article 37

Where a banking financial institution is in violation of the prudent operation rules, the banking supervision institution of the State
Council or its dispatched institution of the province level shall order it to get right within a time limit. If the banking financial
institution fails to do so, or if its offences are so serious that will endanger the steady and sound operations of the banking financial
institution or impair the legitimate rights and interests of the depositors or other clients, the following measures may be taken
on the basis of different circumstances upon approval of the person-in-charge of the banking supervision institution of the State
Council:

(1)

To order it to suspend some of its operations, to stop approving new operations;

(2)

To restrict the distribution of bonus and other incomes;

(3)

To restrict the alienation of assets;

(4)

To order the controlling shareholder to transfer its stock right or to restrict the powers of relevant shareholders;

(5)

To order it to replace the directors and senior managerial personnel or restrict their powers;

(6)

To stop approving the establishment of any new branches.

After a banking financial institution gets right, it shall submit a report to the banking supervision institution of the State Council
or to its dispatched institution on the province level, which shall conduct a re-inspection. If the banking financial institution
is found to meet the prudent operation rules upon re-inspection, the relevant measures as mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall
be lifted within 3 days as of the completion of the re-inspection.

Article 38

Where a banking financial institution has already had or may have a credit crisis, which seriously impairs the legitimate rights and
interests of the depositors and other clients, the banking supervision institution of the State Council may take over the banking
financial institution or urge it to restructure. The taking over and restructure shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant
laws and the regulations of the State Council.

Article 39

Where a banking financial institution conducts illegal operations or faulty operations and management, and it will seriously impair
the financial order and the interests of the general public unless cancelled, the banking supervision institution of the State Council
shall be empowered to cancel it.

Article 40

Where a banking financial institution is taken over, restructured or canceled, the banking supervision institution of the State Council
shall be empowered to demand the directors, the senior managerial personnel and other functionaries to perform their duties according
to the requirements of the banking supervision institution of the State Council.

During the course of taking over, restructure or cancellation liquidation, the following measures may be taken against the direct
liable directors, senior managerial personnel and other direct liable persons upon approval of the person-in-charge of the banking
supervision institution of the State Council:

(1)

If the direct liable directors, senior managerial personnel and other direct liable persons exit China, and the interests of the state
will suffer a serious loss, the exit administrative organs shall be given a notice prohibiting them from exiting China in accordance
with the law;

(2)

It shall request the judicial organ to prohibit the banking financial institution from moving, transferring its properties or setting
other rights to its properties.

Article 41

Upon approval of the person-in-charge of the banking supervision institution of the State Council or upon approval of the person-in-charge
of its dispatched institution on the province level, the banking supervision institution shall be empowered to inquire about the
bank accounts of a banking financial institution that is suspected of conducting illegal financial operations, its functionaries
and other persons involved. With regard to those who are suspected of moving or hiding illegal funds, upon approval of the person-in-charge
of the banking supervision institution, an application may be filed to the judicial organ for freezing the funds.

Chapter V. Legal Liabilities

Article 42

Any of the functionaries engaged in supervising banking supervision institutions is under any of the following circumstances shall
be given an administrative sanction in pursuance of the law; if any crime is constituted, he (she) shall be subject to the criminal
liabilities.

(1)

Violating the requirements in examining and approving the establishment, modifications, termination, operation scope and the specific
operations within the operation scope of the banking financial institutions;

(2)

Violating the requirements in conducting on-site inspections on the banking financial institutions;

(3)

Failing to report the emergencies in accordance with Article 28 of the present Law;

(4)

Violating the requirements in inquiring about the banking accounts or applying for freezing them;

(5)

Violating the requirements in taking measures against or punishing a banking financial institution; or

(6)

Other offences of abusing his (her) powers or neglecting his (her) duties.

With regard to a functionary engaged in supervising banking supervision institutions who embezzles public funds, accepts bribes, betrays
state secrets or divulges the commercial secrets that he (she) knows, if any crime is constituted, he (she) shall be subject to the
criminal liabilities in accordance with the law; if no crime is constituted, he (she) shall be given an administrative sanction in
accordance with the law.

Article 43

Any one who establishes a banking financial institution without approval or illegally carries on operations as a banking financial
institution shall banned by the banking supervision institution of the State Council; if any crime is constituted, he (she) shall
be subject to criminal liabilities; if no crime is constituted, the banking supervision institution of the State Council shall confiscate
its illegal gains; if the amount of the illegal gains is not less than 550, 000 Yuan, a fine of not less than the same amount of
but not more than 5 times of the amount of the illegal gains shall be imposed on it; if there are no illegal gains or the amount
of the illegal gains is less than 550, 000 Yuan, a fine of 500, 000 Yuan up to 2, 000, 000 Yuan shall be imposed on it.

Article 44

Where a banking financial institution is under any of the following circumstances, it shall be ordered to get right by the banking
supervision institution of the State Council. If there are illegal gains, the illegal gains shall be confiscated; if the amount of
the illegal gains are not less than 500, 000 Yuan, a fine of not less than the same amount of or not more than 5 times of the amount
of the illegal gains shall be imposed; if there are no illegal gains or the illegal gains are less than 500, 000 Yuan, a fine of
500, 000 up to 2, 000, 000 Yuan shall be imposed. If the circumstance is extremely serious, or if the banking financial institution
fails to get right within the time limit, the banking supervision institution of the State Council may order it to stop its operations
for internal rectification or withdraw its business license; if any crime is constituted, it shall be subject to the criminal liabilities
according to law:

(1)

Establishing a branch without approval;

(2)

Making modification or terminating without approval;

(3)

Violating any of the regulations, or carrying on operations without approval or without registration;

(4)

Violating any of the regulations, elevating or lowering savings interest rates and credit interest rates.

Article 45

Where a banking financial institution is under any of the following circumstances, it shall be ordered to get right by the banking
supervision institution of the State Council, and shall be imposed on a fine of 200, 000 up to 500, 000 Yuan; if the circumstance
is extremely serious, or if it fails to get right within the time limit, the banking supervision institution of the State Council
may order it to stop its operations for internal rectification or withdraw it business license; if any crime is constituted, it shall
be subject to criminal liabilities in accordance with the law:

(1)

Appointing directors and senior managerial personnel without undergoing qualification examination;

(2)

Refusing or hindering the non-on-site supervisions or on-site inspections;

(3)

Providing false statements, reports and other documents and materials or providing statements, reports and other documents and materials
without disclosing imports facts;

(4)

Failing to disclose the information as required;

(5)

Violating the prudent operation rules seriously; or

(6)

Refusing to execute the measures as provided in Article 37 of the present Law.

Article 46

Where a banking financial institution fails to provide the statements, reports and other documents and materials as required, it shall
be ordered to get right the banking supervision institution within a time limit. If it fails to get right within the time limit,
it shall be imposed on a fine of 100, 000 up to 300, 000 Yuan.

Article 47

Where a banking financial institution is in violation of the laws, administrative regulations and the relevant regulation of the state
on banking supervision, the banking supervision institution shall not only punish it in accordance with Articles 43 through 46 of
the present Law, but also may take the following measures in light of the different circumstances:

(1)

To order the banking financial institution to give a disciplinary sanction to the direct liable directors, senior managerial personnel
and other liable persons;

(2)

If the offences of the banking financial institution constitute no crime, the direct liable directors, senior managerial personnel
and other direct liable persons shall be given a warning, and be imposed on a fine of 50, 000 up to 500, 000 Yuan;

(3)

To disqualify the direct liable directors, senior managerial personnel from taking the positions for a certain time period to even
a life-long period, to prohibit the direct liable directors, senior managerial personnel and other direct liable persons from engaging
in banking operations for a certain time period to even a life-long period.

Chapter VI. Supplementary Provisions

Article 48

Where it is otherwise provided for the supervision over the policy banks and financial assets management companies established within
the People’s Republic of China in the laws and administrative regulations, the relevant laws and administrative regulations shall
prevail.

Article 49

Where it is otherwise provided for the supervision over the foreign-funded banking financial institutions, the Sino-foreign joint
equity banking financial institutions and the branches of foreign banking financial institutions established within the People’s
Republic of China in the laws and administrative regulations, the relevant laws and administrative regulations shall prevail.

Article 50

The present Measures shall be implemented as of February 1, 2004.



 
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
2003-12-27

 







COMMERCIAL BANKS LAW

Law of the People’s Republic of China on Commercial Banks






(Adopted at the 13th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People’s Congress on May 10, 1995,
promulgated by Order No. 47 of the President of the People’s Republic of China on May 10, 1995, and amended in accordance with the
Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Amending the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Commercial
Banks adopted at the Sixth Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People’s Congress on December 27, 2003) 

Contents 

Chapter I     General Provisions 

Chapter II    Establishment and Organizational Structure of Commercial Banks 

Chapter III   Protection of depositors 

Chapter IV    Basic Rules for Loans and Other Business Operations 

Chapter V     Financial Affairs and Accounting 

Chapter VI    Supervision and Control 

Chapter VII   Assumption of Control and Termination 

Chapter VIII  Legal Responsibility 

Chapter IX    Supplementary Provisions 

Chapter I 

General Provisions 

Article 1 This Law is enacted in order to protect the lawful rights and interests of commercial banks, depositors and other clients,
to standardize the behavior of commercial banks, to raise the quality of credit assets, to strengthen supervision and control, to
ensure the stable and sound operation of commercial banks, to maintain financial order and to promote the development of the socialist
market economy. 

Article 2 For the purposes of this Law, the term “commercial banks” means enterprise legal persons that are established in conformity
with this Law and the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China and that take in deposits from the general public, grant loans,
handle settlements, etc. 

Article 3 Commercial banks may engage in some or all of the following business operations: 

(1) taking in deposits from the general public; 

(2) granting short-term, medium-term and long-term loans; 

(3) handling domestic and foreign settlements; 

(4) handling the acceptance and discounting of negotiable instruments; 

(5) issuing financial bonds; 

(6) acting as an agent for the issue, honoring and underwriting of government bonds; 

(7) buying and selling government bonds and financial bonds; 

(8) engaging in interbank lending; 

(9) buying and selling foreign exchange and acting as an agent for the purchase and sale of foreign exchange; 

(10) engaging in the business of bank cards; 

(11) providing letter of credit services and guaranty; 

(12) acting as an agent for the receipt and payment of money and acting as an insurance agent; 

(13) providing safe deposit box services; and 

(14) other business operations as approved by the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

The scope of business shall be specified in the articles of association of the commercial bank, and submitted to the banking regulatory
authority under the State Council for approval. 

Upon approval of the People’s Bank of China, commercial banks may engage in the business of the settlement and sale of foreign exchange. 
     

Article 4 The business operations of commercial banks shall be governed by the principles of safety, liquidity and efficiency. 
Commercial banks shall make their own decisions regarding their business operations, take responsibility for their own risks, assume
sole responsibility for their profits and losses and exercise self-restriction. 

Commercial banks shall, pursuant to law, conduct business operations without interference from any unit or individual. 

Commercial banks shall independently assume civil liability with their entire legal person property. 

Article 5 Commercial banks shall adhere to the principles of equality, voluntariness, fairness and good faith in business dealings
with their clients. 

Article 6 Commercial banks shall safeguard the lawful rights and interests of depositors against infringement by any unit or individual. 

Article 7 In credit transactions, commercial banks shall strictly examine the credit-worthiness of a borrower and implement the system
of guaranty in order to ensure that the loan is recovered on schedule. 

Commercial banks shall be protected by law when they recover the principal of loans that have become due and the interest thereon
from the borrowers in accordance with legal provisions. 

Article 8 In business transactions, commercial banks shall abide by the relevant provisions of laws and administrative rules and
regulations and may not harm the interests of the State or of the public. 

Article 9 In business transactions, commercial banks shall abide by the principle of fair competition and may not engage in illegitimate
competition.  

Article 10 Commercial banks shall, in accordance with law, accept supervision and control of the banking regulatory authority under
the State Council, but where laws provide that their relevant business operations shall be subject to supervision and control of
other regulatory departments or bodies, such provisions shall prevail. 

Chapter II 

Establishment and Organizational Structure of Commercial Banks 

Article 11 The establishment of commercial banks shall be subject to examination and approval by the banking regulatory authority
under the State Council. 

No unit or individual may engage in commercial banking business such as taking in deposits from the general public, and no unit may
use the word “bank” in its name, without approval of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

Article 12 A commercial bank shall meet the following requirements for establishment: 

(1) having articles of association that conform to this Law and the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China; 

(2) having the minimum amount of registered capital as specified in this Law; 

(3) having directors and other senior administrators with the expertise and experience in work commensurate with the positions they
are holding; 

(4) having a sound organizational structure and management system; and 

(5) having the required place of business, security and precautionary measures and other facilities relevant to it business operations. 

The establishment of a commercial bank shall, in addition, meet other requirements of prudence. 

Article 13 The minimum amount of registered capital required for the establishment of a national commercial bank shall be RMB one
billion yuan. The minimum amount of registered capital required for the establishment of an urban commercial bank shall be 100 million
yuan, and the minimum amount of registered capital required for the establishment of a rural commercial bank shall be 50 million
yuan. Registered capital shall be paid-up capital. 

The banking regulatory authority under the State Council may readjust the minimum amount of registered capital on the basis of the
requirements of prudent supervision and control, however, the readjusted amount may not be lower than the amount specified in the
preceding paragraph.     

Article 14 To establish a commercial bank, the applicant shall provide the following documents and information to the banking regulatory
authority under the State Council: 

(1) a written application, in which the name, location, registered capital, scope of business, etc. of the proposed commercial bank
are clearly stated ; 

(2) a feasibility study; and 

(3) other documents and information to be provided as specified by the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

Article 15 If an application for establishing a commercial bank is found, after examination, to be in conformity with the provisions
of Article 14 of this Law, the applicant shall complete an official application form and provide the following documents and information: 

(1) a draft of the articles of association; 

(2) the qualification certificates of the director or other senior administrator who is to hold office; 

(3) an investment verification certificate issued by a statutory investment verification organization; 

(4) a list of the names, capital contributions and shares of shareholders; 

(5) credit-worthiness certificates and relevant information concerning the shareholders that hold five percent or more of the registered
capital each; 

(6) business policies and plans; 

(7) information concerning the place of business, security and precautionary measures and other facilities relevant to business operations;
and 

(8) other documents and information as specified by the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

Article 16 A commercial bank the establishment of which has been approved shall be issued a permit for operation by the banking regulatory
authority under the State Council and, on the strength of such permit, register with the administrative department of industry and
commerce and obtain a business license from it. 

Article 17 The organizational form and structure of commercial banks shall be governed by the Company Law of the People’s Republic
of China. 

Commercial banks, established prior to the implementation of this Law, that do not entirely conform to the provisions of the Company
Law of the People’s Republic of China in organizational form and structure   may continue to be governed by previous regulations.
The date on which the preceding paragraph shall apply to such commercial banks shall be specified by the State Council. 

Article 18 A board of supervisors shall be established in a wholly State-owned commercial bank. Measures for forming the board of
supervisors shall be formulated by the State Council. 

The board of supervisors shall exercise supervision over the quality of credit assets of the wholly State-owned commercial bank,
its assets-liabilities ratios and maintenance of and increase in the value of State-owned assets, and over the senior administrators
of the commercial bank to see whether they violate any laws, administrative rules and regulations or the articles of association
or commit any acts which harm the interests of the bank. 

Article 19 Commercial banks may establish branches within and outside the People’s Republic of China, in light of their needs in
business operations. The establishment of such a branch shall be subject to examination and approval by the banking regulatory authority
under the State Council. The establishment of branches within the People’s Republic of China shall not be restricted by the administrative
division of regions. 

When a commercial bank establishes a branch within the People’s Republic of China, it shall allocate operating funds in keeping with
the scale of its business, in accordance with regulations. The sum total of operating funds allocated to all the branches may not
exceed 60 percent of the total amount of the capital of the head office. 

Article 20 To establish a branch of a commercial bank, the applicant shall submit the following documents and information to the
banking regulatory authority under the State Council: 

(1) a written application, in which the name, amount of operating funds and scope of business of the proposed branch, the location
of the head office and the branch, etc. are clearly stated; 

(2) the applicant’s financial and accounting reports of the preceding two years; 

(3) the qualification certificates of the senior administrators who are to hold office; 

(4) business policies and plans; 

(5) information concerning the place of business, security and precautionary measures and other facilities relevant to business operations;
and 

(6) other documents and information as specified by the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

Article 21 A commercial bank’s branch the establishment of which has been approved shall be issued a permit for operation by the
banking regulatory authority under the State Council and, on the strength of such permit, register with the administrative department
of industry and commerce and obtain a business license from it. 

Article 22 With respect to their branches, commercial banks shall apply across the board a financial system of centralized accounting
and centralized movement of funds, and of management at different levels. 

Branches of commercial banks shall not have the status of a legal person and shall lawfully conduct their business operations within
the scope authorized by their head offices, and their civil liability shall be assumed by their head offices. 

Article 23 The banking regulatory authority under the State Council shall announce its approval of the establishment of commercial
banks and their branches. 

If a commercial bank or branch thereof fails, without good reason, to commence business more than six months after the date of obtaining
its business license or, after commencing business, suspends business without authorization for six months or more in succession,
the banking regulatory authority under the State Council shall revoke its permit for operation and make it known to the public. 

Article 24 A commercial bank shall obtain the approval of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council for making any
of the following changes: 

(1) change of name; 

(2) change in the registered capital; 

(3) change of location of the head office or a branch; 

(4) adjustment of the scope of business; 

(5) change of shareholders that hold five percent or more of the total amount of capital or shares each; 

(6) revision of the articles of association; or 

(7) changes in other matters as are governed by the regulations of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

When a director or a senior administrator is to be replaced, the qualifications of the substitute for the position shall be submitted
to the banking regulatory authority under the State Council for examination.              
 

Article 25 Division and merger of commercial banks shall be governed by the provisions of the Company Law of the People’s Republic
of China. 

Division and merger of commercial banks shall be subject to examination and approval by the banking regulatory authority under the
State Council. 

Article 26 Commercial banks shall use their permits for operation  in accordance with the provisions of laws and administrative
rules and regulations. Forging, alteration, assigning, leasing out or lending of such permits is prohibited. 

Article 27 None of the following persons may serve as a director or a senior administrator of a commercial bank: 

(1) persons who have been sentenced to criminal punishment for the crime of embezzlement, bribery, seizure or misappropriation of
property  or disruption of  the public and economic order, or persons who have been deprived of their political rights
for committing a crime; 

(2) directors of companies or enterprises, or factory directors or managers who have been  subjected to bankruptcy liquidation
due to mismanagement, and who bear personal liability for the bankruptcy; 

(3)  legal representatives of companies or enterprises that had their business licenses revoked for breaking law, who bear personal
liability therefor; and 

(4) persons with comparatively large amounts of overdue personal debts . 

Article 28 Purchase by any unit or individual of five percent or more of the total amount of the shares of a commercial bank shall
be subject to prior approval by the People’s Bank of China. 

 

Chapter III 

Protection of Depositors 

Article 29 In handling savings deposits for individuals, commercial banks shall adhere to the principles of voluntary deposit, unimpeded
withdrawal, interest payment on deposits and confidentiality for the depositors. 

Commercial banks shall have the right to refuse to answer the inquiries into and to refuse to freeze, deduct or transfer an individual’s
savings deposits– as made or requested by any unit or individual, except where otherwise provided for by law. 

Article 30 Commercial banks shall have the right to refuse to answer the inquiries into a unit’s deposits by any other unit or individual,
except where otherwise provided for by laws and administrative rules and regulations, and shall have the right to refuse to freeze,
deduct  or transfer  a unit’s deposits as  requested by any other unit or individual, except where otherwise provided
for by law. 

Article 31 Commercial banks shall determine the interest rates on deposits in accordance with the upper and lower limits interest
rates on deposits specified by the People’s Bank of China and make them known  to the public. 

Article 32 Commercial banks shall place a deposit reserve with the People’s Bank of China and maintain sufficient provision for payment,
in accordance with the regulations of the People’s Bank of China. 

Article 33 Commercial banks shall guaranty, and may not delay or refuse, payment of the principal of deposits and the interest thereon. 

Chapter IV 

Basic Rules for Loans and Other Business Operations 

Article 34 Commercial banks shall conduct their business of lending in accordance with the needs of the national economic and social
development and under the guidance of the industrial policies of the State. 

Article 35 Before granting a loan, commercial banks shall strictly examine the borrower’s purpose for the loan, ability to repay
the loan, method of repayment, etc. 

When granting a loan, commercial banks shall implement the system of separating the examination of a loan from the actual provision
of the loan and the system of examination and approval at different levels. 

Article 36 To obtain a loan from a commercial bank, a borrower shall provide a guaranty. The commercial bank shall strictly examine
the surety’s ability to repay the loan, the ownership and value of the mortgage or the collateral and the feasibility of realizing
the right of mortgage or  right of pledge. 

If, after examination and appraisal by a commercial bank, a borrower’s credit is found to be good, and the borrower is deemed truly
able to repay the loan, the borrower need not provide a guaranty . 

Article 37 For granting a loan, the commercial bank shall conclude a written contract with the borrower. The contract shall stipulate
the type, purpose, amount and interest rate of the loan, the time limit for repayment, the method of repayment, liability for breach
of contract and other matters deemed necessary by the parties. 

Article 38 Commercial banks shall determine loan interest rate in accordance with the upper and lower limits for loan interest rates
prescribed by the People’s Bank of China. 

Article 39 When granting a loan, commercial banks shall abide by the following provisions on the control of assets-liabilities ratios: 

(1) the capital adequacy ratio may not be lower than 8 percent; 

(2) the ratio of the outstanding of loans to the outstanding of deposits may not exceed 75 percent; 

(3) the ratio of the balance of floating assets to the balance of floating liabilities may not be lower than 25 percent; 

(4) the ratio of the outstanding of loans granted to the same borrower to the balance of the capital of the commercial bank may not
exceed 10 percent; and 

(5) other provisions of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council concerning the control of assets-liabilities ratios. 

If, after the implementation of this Law, the assets-liabilities ratios of a commercial bank established prior to the implementation
of this Law are found not in conformity with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the bank shall make it conform to the provisions
of the preceding paragraph within a certain time limit. The specific measures therefor shall be formulated by the State Council. 

Article 40 Commercial banks may not grant fiduciary loans to their connections. The conditions for granting secured loans to their
connections may not be more preferential than those for granting  the same type of loans to other borrowers. 

For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, the term “connections” means: 

(1) directors, supervisors, administrators and loan officers of the commercial bank and close relatives of such persons; 

(2) companies, enterprises and other economic organizations in which the persons mentioned in the preceding paragraph have invested
or in which they hold senior administrative positions. 

Article 41 No unit or individual may forcibly demand a commercial bank to grant a loan or to provide a guaranty. Commercial banks
shall have the right to refuse to grant a loan or to provide a guaranty forcibly demanded by any unit or individual. 

Article 42 Borrowers shall repay the loan principal and the interest thereon on schedule. 

If a borrower fails to repay a secured loan upon maturity, the commercial bank shall lawfully have the right to require the surety
to repay the loan principal and the interest thereon or the right to preferential compensation in respect of the collateral. Immovable
property or stock rights obtained by a commercial bank through the exercise of the right of mortgage or the right of pledge shall
be disposed of by it within two years from the date it obtains the same. 

If a borrower fails to repay a fiduciary loan upon maturity, he shall bear liability in accordance with the provisions of the contract. 

Article 43 No commercial banks may, within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, engage in trust investment or securities
business, or invest in immovable property which is not for private use, in non-banking financial institutions or in enterprises,
except where otherwise provided for in the regulations of the State. 

Article 44 When handling matters of settlement such as acceptance or remittance of negotiable instruments or entrusted receipt of
payment, etc., commercial banks shall encash the instruments  and enter receipts and expenditures in their accounts within the
specified time limits, and may not deliberately delay or withhold payment of bills and negotiable instruments or reject negotiable
instruments in violation of regulations. Regulations relating to the time limits for encashing of instruments  and  entering
of receipts and expenditures in the accounts shall be  announced. 

Article 45  To issue financial bonds or to raise loans from outside the People’s Republic of China, commercial banks shall first
submit applications  for approval in accordance with the provisions of laws and administrative rules and regulations. 

Article 46 Inter-bank lending shall be carried out in adherence to the regulations of the People’s Bank of China. It is forbidden
to use such loans for granting fixed assets loans or making investment. 

Funds lent under such loans shall be limited to idle funds that remain after a sufficient reserve against deposit has been retained,
sufficient provision for payment has been made and matured loans from the People’s Bank of China have been repaid. Funds borrowed
under such loans shall be used to make up deficiencies in the settlement of negotiable instruments and in the funds available for
covering remittance differences with correspondent banks and to meet the temporary need for working capital. 

Article 47 Commercial banks may not raise or lower interest rates in violation of regulations or use other improper means to take
in deposits or grant loans. 

Article 48 Enterprises and institutions may select for themselves the place of business of a commercial bank where to open a basic
account for the day-to-day settlement of account transfers and for cash receipts and payments. They may not open more than one basic
account. 

No unit or individual may open an account in the name of an individual to deposit the funds of a unit therein. 

Article 49 The business hours of commercial banks shall be such as to be convenient to clients and shall be announced. Commercial
banks shall carry out business during announced business hours; they may not suspend business or shorten their business hours without
authorization. 

Article 50 In carrying out business operations and providing services, commercial banks shall charge commissions in accordance with
relevant regulations. The items and rates for such commissions shall be specified by the banking regulatory authority under the State
Council and the People’s Bank of China based on their division of responsibilities, in conjunction with the department of pricing
under the State Council respectively.      

Article 51 Commercial banks shall preserve their financial and accounting statements, business contracts and other materials in accordance
with relevant regulations of the State. 

Article 52 Employees of commercial banks shall abide by laws and administrative rules and regulations and all other regulations for
the control of business operations; they may not: 

(1) use their positions to demand, receive or accept bribes, or receive or accept rebates or commissions of any description in violation
of State regulations; 

(2) use their positions to embezzle, misappropriate or seize money belonging to the bank or any client; 

(3) practise favoritism towards relatives or friends in granting loans or providing guaranty in violation of regulations; 

(4) hold a concurrent position in another economic organization; or 

(5) commit other acts in violation of laws, administrative rules and regulations or other regulations for the control of business
operations. 

Article 53 No employees of commercial banks may disclose State or business secrets that they come to know during their employment. 

Chapter V 

Financial Affairs and Accounting 

Article 54 Commercial banks shall establish and perfect their own financial and accounting systems in accordance with laws, the uniform
accounting system of the State and the relevant regulations of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council.    
 

Article 55 Commercial banks shall, in accordance with relevant State regulations, truthfully record and give a complete account of
their business activities and financial position, draw up annual financial and accounting reports and, without delay, submit them
to the banking regulatory authority under the State Council, the People’s Bank of China and the department of finance under the State
Council. Commercial banks may not establish any account books in addition to statutory account books.      

Article 56 Within three months after the end of every fiscal year, commercial banks shall announce their business results and audit
reports for that year in accordance with the regulations of the banking regulatory authority under the State Council. 

Article 57 Commercial banks shall, in accordance with relevant State regulations make allocations to a doubtful account reserve,
in order to set off doubtful accounts. 

Article 58 The fiscal year of commercial banks shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31 of the Gregorian calendar. 

Chapter VI 

Supervision and Control 

Article 59 Commercial banks shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, formulate their own operating rules, and establish and
perfect their systems for risk management and internal control.     

Article 60 Commercial banks shall establish and perfect their own systems for examination and inspection of deposits, loans, settlements,
doubtful accounts, etc. 

Commercial banks shall conduct routine examination, inspection and supervision with respect to their branches. 

Article 61 Commercial banks shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, submit to the banking regulatory authority under the
State Council and the People’s Bank of China their balance sheets, profit accounts and other financial, accounting and statistical
statements and information. 

Article 62 The banking regulatory authority under the State Council shall have the right at any time to carry out inspection of and
exercise supervision over the deposits, loans, settlements, doubtful accounts, etc. of commercial banks, in accordance with the provisions
of Chapters III, IV and V of this Law. When carrying out inspection and supervision, the inspectors and supervisors shall produce
their lawful identification papers. Commercial banks shall provide financial and accounting information, business contracts and other
information concerning operation and management in compliance with the requirements of the banking regulatory authority under the
State Council. 

The People’s Bank of China shall have the power to inspect and supervise the commercial banks in accordance with the provisions of
Articles 32 and 34 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on People’s Bank of China. 

Article 63 Commercial banks shall, according to law, accept supervision by audit institutions through auditing. 

Chapter VII 

Assumption of Control and Termination 

Article 64 When a commercial bank has suffered or will possibly suffer, credit crisis, thereby seriously affecting the interests
of the depositors, the banking regulatory authority under the State Council may assume control over the bank. 

The purposes of assumption of control are, through taking such measures as are necessary in respect of the commercial bank over which
control is assumed, to protect the interests of the depositors and to enable the commercial bank to resume normal business. The debtor-creditor
relationship with regard to a commercial bank over which control is assumed shall not change as a result of the assumption of control. 

Article 65 The assumption of control shall be decided upon, and its implementation shall be a

OPINIONS OF THE CHINA SECURITIES REGULATORY COMMISSION ABOUT TIGHTENING SEVERAL INTERNAL CONTROL MEASURES FOR THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENTS OF SECURITIES COMPANIES

China Securities Regulatory Commission

Opinions of the China Securities Regulatory Commission about Tightening Several Internal Control Measures for the Business Departments
of Securities Companies

ZhengJianJiGouZi [2003] No. 261

December 15th, 2003

All securities companies:

With a view to regulating the brokerage of securities companies, strengthening the management of the securities business departments,
preventing risks effectively and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the investors, in accordance with the relevant
provisions in the Securities Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Guide to the Internal Control of Securities Companies,
it is hereby to put forward the opinions about tightening the internal control of the securities business departments as the following:

I.

To strengthen the personnel management of the securities business department

1.

The responsible persons of the securities business department, the computer section of the securities business department and the
section of finance shall be directly appointed and administered by the head office, and a direct and effective channel shall be established
between the head office and the aforesaid persons.

2.

The responsible persons of the finance section and the computer section of a securities business department shall be liable for supervising
and controlling the legal operations of the securities business department. A securities company shall intensify the annual evaluations
of the responsible persons of the securities business departments, the computer sections and the section of finance of the securities
business departments, and shall report the results to the institutions dispatched by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (hereinafter
referred to as CSRC) where the securities business departments are located for archival purposes before the end of April of the next
year.

3.

The posts of the responsible persons of the securities business departments, the computer sections of the securities business departments
and the sections of finance shall be regularly shifted within the range of a securities company, and the shift period shall not exceed
3 years at most. As for a securities business department that has already adopted the way of centralized transactions, the shift
period may be appropriately extended to 5 years upon the approval of the institution dispatched by the CSRC where the securities
department is located. The other important posts of the securities business department shall, according to the specific circumstances,
be shifted within the range of the securities business department in a planned way. The first to-be-shifted posts shall be taken
by the persons who have already been on the aforesaid posts for more than 3 years.

For a securities company that really has difficulties to shift the posts among the trans-province and trans-district securities business
departments, it may refrain from shifting the posts, but it shall conduct on-the-spot audit on each of the relevant securities business
departments every year, and shall submit an audit report for archival purpose to the head office and the institution dispatched by
the CBRC where the securities business departments is located.

4.

Where the responsible person of a securities business department or the responsible person of the finance section of the securities
business department leaves his (her) post, the head office of the securities company shall conduct audit on him (her). The audited
person shall not leave his (her) post, before the audit is completed. The audit shall include, but not be limited to, the information
about whether the securities business department has ever misappropriated the bonds of its clients or not, whether it has illegal
financing or not, whether it has operations beyond its business scope or not, the complaints of its clients and the treatments, and
the responsibilities of the to-be-audited person in these regards.

5.

A securities company shall adopt the mandatory holiday system to the responsible persons of the securities business departments, the
computer sections of the securities business departments, the finance sections and the sections of clients. During the period of
mandatory holidays, the supervision and inspection department of the securities company may conduct on-the-spot audit on the work
they are liable for. For the securities business departments under no post shift system, they shall combine the mandatory holiday
system with the on-the-spot audit.

6.

A securities company shall strengthen the management of the foreign affairs archives involving the persons who take the key posts
of the responsible persons of the securities business departments. The copies of the passports and identity cards held by the responsible
persons of the securities business departments, the computer sections of the securities business departments, the finance sections
and the sections of clients shall be submitted to the institution dispatched by the CSRC where the securities business department
is located for archival purposes. Their contact information (including but not limited to the mobile phone numbers, fixed telephone
numbers and e-mails), family address and other information shall be submitted to the institution dispatched by the CSRC where the
securities business department is located for archival purposes as well.

II.

To specify the setup of posts and the responsibilities of the securities business departments

1.

A securities company shall establish perfect the post responsibility system and normative business operation procedures for the securities
business departments. It shall specify the tasks, grant each post with corresponding responsibilities and functions and build a working
relationship of cooperating with one another, supervising one another and restricting one another.

2.

A securities company shall actively develop the mode of centralized transactions to control the internal risks of the securities business
departments and decrease the posts that need direct human intermediaries. The key posts of a securities business department shall
establish two-person responsibility system. The posts directly involving the fund, portfolio, important blank vouchers, seals and
safety technologies of information system shall establish two-person responsibility system. The posts involving the clients’ depositing
and drawing money, the transfer of the clients’ transaction settlement fund, depository trust and cancellation of designated transactions
shall establish the two-person responsibility system, that is to say, one shall be liable for the handling of the aforesaid operations
and the other for re-examination.

3.

The securities business department shall adopt a reasonable system of separate responsibilities. The keeping of cash and portfolios
shall be separate from the record keeping of accounts.

(a)

The preservation of important blank vouchers, blank contracts, blank letters of authorization and significant seals shall be separated
from the register and use of them. No seal may be affixed to any blank voucher, contract or letter of authorization in advance, the
head office of a securities company shall regularly check the securities business department about its using, registering and managing
of documents. The securities company shall specify the power and procedures for the use of various kinds of seals, and shall perfect
the responsibility system for the preservation, use and register of seals.

(b)

A securities business department’s front office transactions shall be separated from its back office settlements;

(c)

The confirmation of faults and losses shall be separated from that of cancellation after verification;

(d)

The duties of the computer personnel, the accounting personnel and other operating personnel shall not be overlapped.

III.

Strengthening the centralized management of the clients’ transaction settlement funds

1.

Each securities business department may only open not more than 5 special savings accounts for clients’ transaction funds;

2.

A securities business department shall transfer to the head office of the securities company at least 70% of the clients’ transaction
settlement funds;

3.

The head office of the securities company shall regularly and irregularly check the clients” transaction settlement funds of a securities
business department, and shall make pressure tests by transferring the total amount of the clients’ transaction settlement funds
of a securities business department to the head office of the securities for the time being. For the securities business departments
without adopting the post-shifting system, the securities company shall conduct at least one pressure test every month.

IV.

To establish perfect securities business department audit system and to tighten the audit

1.

A securities company shall establish a real-time monitoring system and a risk pre-warning system, which shall be able to monitor the
activities involving large sums of money and the transactions, and be able to give warnings in the event of abnormal fund flow and
transactions.

2.

The audit section of a securities company shall in principle conduct one on-the-spot audit to the operations of the securities business
department every year (or every two years at most, but shall conduct at least one to the securities business departments without
adopting the post-shifting system). The institutions dispatched by the CSRC may require the securities companies to increase the
number of audits according to their legal operations.

3.

A securities company shall submit the issues discovered in auditing securities business departments to the institution dispatched
by the CSRC where the securities business department is located, shall submit the audit reports on all business departments to the
head office of the securities company for archival purposes, and shall, by the end of April of each year, submit the overall audit
information about the securities business departments in the previous year and the main issues found by it to the institution dispatched
by the CSRC where the securities company is located.

4.

The securities company shall combine the audit results with personnel evaluations to establish a corresponding punishment system,
and shall severely punish various illegal acts in violation of the laws and regulations.

V.

Other requirements

1.

A securities company shall establish a fast response mechanism to the serious emergencies arising in a securities business department.
In the case of a serious accident, if a securities business department is unable to do normal transactions because of technological
failure, natural disaster, difficulties to honor the fund or any other reasons, it shall immediately report to the head office of
securities company and the institution dispatched by the CSRC where the securities business department is located and shall report
to the relevant department of the local government. After the accident is completely handled, a report on the handling of the accident
shall be submitted to the aforesaid departments.

2.

The head office of a securities company shall establish a special department to pay regular return visits to the important clients.

3.

A securities business department shall hang its Securities Operating Institution Operation License and Business License in an eye-catching
place. It shall clearly express in the risk disclosure statement and the contract texts given to the investors that it has no right
to sign any business contract with an investor beyond the operation scope of the Securities Operating Institution Operation License,
and the investor shall sign its name for confirmation.

4.

A securities business department shall put the complaint telephone number, fax, e-mail of the head office of the securities company
and other relevant information in an eye-catching place of its business office so that the complaints of the investors can be reflected
and handled in time.

5.

A securities company shall set down specific securities business department internal control system according to its own actual circumstances,
which shall be submitted to the institutions dispatched by the CSRC where the securities company is registered and where the securities
business department is located.

6.

Where the securities operating institutions fail to complete the business separation, they shall carry out by referring to the requirements
of the present Opinions.

7.

With regard to the requirements for the internal control of the securities business departments subordinated to a securities company
with an overall centralized transaction system, the CSRC shall formulate separately.

Before February 29th, 2004, each securities company shall, in light of the present Opinions, make a post-shifting plan and submit
the plan to the institution dispatched by the CSRC where the registration place is located. In case the institution dispatched by
the CSRC where the registration place is located raises no objection upon examination and approves the plan, the securities company
shall, before March 31st, 2004, submit its post-shifting system and plan to the supervision department of the CSRC for archival purposes,
and shall send a copy to the institution dispatched by the CSRC where each of its securities business departments is located. The
Securities companies shall earnestly carry out the post-shifting system and plan.

 
China Securities Regulatory Commission
2003-12-15

 




CONSTITUTION ACT, 1982 – page 22

NOTES (1) The enacting clause was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act, 1893, 56-57 Vict., c. 14 (U.K.). It read as...