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Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability And Compensation) Ordinance


Published: 2014-04-10

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Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 1

Chapter: 605 BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND
COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE

Gazette Number Version Date


Long title E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014


An Ordinance to provide for-
(a) compensation in respect of damage arising from contamination caused by the discharge or escape of

bunker oil from ships or in respect of a threat of such damage;
(b) the liability of shipowners and compulsory insurance in respect of the liability; and
(c) consequential, incidental or related matters.

[22 January 2010] L.N. 235 of 2009


(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 2 of 2014)

(Originally 14 of 2009)

Part: 1 PRELIMINARY L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010




Section: 1 Short title E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014


(1) This Ordinance may be cited as the Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability and Compensation) Ordinance.
(2) (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014)

(Amended E.R. 2 of 2014)

Section: 2 Interpretation L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) In this Ordinance-
“application fee” (申請費用) means-

(a) in relation to an application for an insurance certificate to be issued by the Director, the fee prescribed
in regulations made under section 33; and

(b) in relation to an application for an insurance certificate to be issued by an authorized person, the fee
determined by the person under section 25(3);

“authorized person” (獲授權人) means a person authorized under section 25(1);
“bunker oil” (燃油), in relation to a ship, means-

(a) any hydrocarbon mineral oil used or intended to be used for the operation or propulsion of the ship; or
(b) any residue of the hydrocarbon mineral oil referred to in paragraph (a);

“Bunker Oil Convention” (《燃油公約》) means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil
Pollution Damage, 2001 done at London on 23 March 2001;

“Bunker Oil Convention place” (《燃油公約》適用地) means a place in respect of which the Bunker Oil
Convention is in force;

“competent authority” (主管當局) means a competent authority as defined in section 13(5);
“cost” (費用) includes expenses;
“Court” (法庭) means the Court of First Instance;
“damage” (損害) includes loss, but does not include loss of life or personal injury;
“Director” (處長) means the Director of Marine;
“enforcement officer” (執法人員) means the Director or any officer appointed under section 26;
“gross tonnage” (總噸位), in relation to a ship, means the gross tonnage of the ship determined in accordance with

regulation 6 of the Merchant Shipping (Registration) (Tonnage) Regulations (Cap 415 sub. leg. C);
“incident” (事故) means any occurrence, or any series of occurrences having the same origin, that-

(a) causes any discharge or escape of bunker oil from a ship; or



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 2

(b) causes any relevant threat of contamination to occur;
“insurance certificate” (保險證書) means a certificate required under section 13(1);
“place” (地方) includes-

(a) the territorial sea of a place; and
(b) any exclusive economic zone of a place established in accordance with international law or, in the

absence of such an exclusive economic zone, an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea of the
place determined in accordance with international law and extending not more than 200 nautical miles
from the baseline from which the breadth of its territorial sea is measured;

“pollution damage” (污染損害), in relation to an incident, means-
(a) if the incident causes any discharge or escape of bunker oil from a ship-

(i) any damage caused outside the ship by contamination resulting from the discharge or escape;
(ii) the cost of any preventive measures taken after the discharge or escape; or
(iii) any damage caused outside the ship by any preventive measures taken after the discharge or

escape; and
(b) if the incident causes any relevant threat of contamination to occur-

(i) the cost of any preventive measures taken after the incident; or
(ii) any damage caused outside the ship by any preventive measures taken after the incident;

“preventive measures” (預防措施), in relation to an incident, means-
(a) if the incident causes any discharge or escape of bunker oil from a ship, any reasonable measures taken

by a person to prevent or minimize any damage referred to in paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of
“pollution damage”; and

(b) if the incident causes any relevant threat of contamination to occur, any reasonable measures taken by
a person to prevent or minimize any damage caused outside a ship by contamination that might result
if there were a discharge or escape of bunker oil from the ship;

“registered owner” (註冊擁有人), in relation to a ship, means-
(a) if the ship is owned by a state and operated by a person registered in that state as the operator of the

ship, that person; and
(b) in any other case, the person registered as the owner of the ship or, if no person is registered as the

owner of the ship, the person who owns the ship;
“relevant threat of contamination” (有關的污染威脅) means a grave and imminent threat of damage caused

outside a ship by contamination that might result if there were a discharge or escape of bunker oil from the ship;
“ship” (船舶) means a sea-going vessel or seaborne craft of any type;
“shipowner” (船東), in relation to a ship, means-

(a) the bareboat charterer of the ship;
(b) the manager of the ship;
(c) the registered owner of the ship; or
(d) any other person who is the owner or the operator of the ship;

“specified certificate” (指明證書) means a specified certificate as defined in section 13(5).
(2) For the purposes of this Part, if more than one discharge or escape results from the same occurrence or from

a series of occurrences having the same origin-
(a) the discharges or escapes together are to be treated as a single discharge or escape; and
(b) any measures taken after any of those discharges or escapes are to be treated as having been taken after

the single discharge or escape.
(3) For the purposes of this Part, if any relevant threat of contamination results from an incident that consists of

a series of occurrences having the same origin, any measures taken after any of those occurrences are to be treated as
having been taken after the incident.

(4) In this Part, a reference to a discharge or escape of any bunker oil from a ship is a reference to a discharge
or escape of any bunker oil from the ship, regardless of whether the discharge or escape occurs in Hong Kong or any
other place.

(5) In this Part and Part 2, a reference to the shipowner of a ship is a reference to-
(a) in relation to any pollution damage resulting from a discharge or escape of bunker oil from the ship-

(i) the shipowner of the ship at the time of the occurrence resulting in the discharge or escape; or
(ii) if the discharge or escape resulted from a series of occurrences having the same origin, the



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 3

shipowner of the ship at the time of the first of those occurrences; and
(b) in relation to any pollution damage resulting from a relevant threat of contamination-

(i) the shipowner of the ship at the time of the occurrence resulting in the threat; or
(ii) if the threat occurs as a result of a series of occurrences having the same origin, the shipowner of

the ship at the time of the first of those occurrences.
(6) For the purposes of Part 3, if the gross tonnage of a ship is not a whole number, decimals are to be rounded

off downwards.
(7) In this Ordinance-

(a) a reference to a ship owned or operated by a state includes-
(i) a ship owned or operated by the government of a state; and
(ii) a ship owned or operated by the government of a territory within a state (including the HKSAR);

(b) a reference to a ship owned by a state includes-
(i) a ship owned by the government of a state; and
(ii) a ship owned by the government of a territory within a state (including the HKSAR); and

(c) in relation to a ship owned by the government mentioned in paragraph (b)(i) or (ii), the reference to a
certificate issued by the state in the definition of “specified certificate” in section 13(5) is a
reference to a certificate issued by the government that owns the ship.


Section: 3 Application of Ordinance L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Ordinance applies to any ship, whether or not within the waters of
Hong Kong, including a ship owned or operated by the Government.

(2) This Ordinance does not apply to-
(a) any warship;
(b) any naval auxiliary; or
(c) any other ship that is owned or operated by a state and for the time being used by it only on

government non-commercial service.
(3) This Ordinance does not apply in relation to any pollution damage to which the Liability Convention

applies.
(4) Neither the Government, nor any public officer in the officer’s capacity as such, is liable to be prosecuted

for an offence against this Ordinance.
(5) In subsection (3), “Liability Convention” (《法律責任公約》) means the International Convention on

Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992, as modified by Resolution LEG. 1(82) adopted by the Legal
Committee of the International Maritime Organization on 18 October 2000.

Part: 2 LIABILITY FOR POLLUTION DAMAGE L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010




Section: 4 Application of this Part L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


This Part does not apply in relation to any occurrence that took place before the commencement of this Part or, if
there is a series of occurrences having the same origin and the first of those occurrences took place before the
commencement, any of those occurrences.

Section: 5 Liability of shipowners of ships for pollution damage L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) If, as a result of an incident, any pollution damage is caused in Hong Kong, the shipowner of the ship
concerned is liable for the damage caused.

(2) If-
(a) a liability arises under subsection (1); and
(b) the incident also causes any pollution damage in any other Bunker Oil Convention place,

the shipowner of the ship concerned is also liable for the damage caused, and a claim against the shipowner’s
liability under this subsection may be brought in the Court as if the damage were caused in Hong Kong.

(3) The shipowner of a ship is not liable under subsection (1) or (2) for any damage attributable to the



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 4

impairment of the environment unless the damage is-
(a) loss of profits from the impairment of the environment; or
(b) cost of any reasonable measures of reinstatement of the environment actually taken or to be taken.


Section: 6 Liability of shipowners of ships—joint and several L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) If a liability is incurred under section 5 and the ship concerned has more than one shipowner, the
shipowners are liable jointly and severally with each other.

(2) If a liability is incurred under section 5 by the shipowner of each of 2 or more ships, and the pollution
damage for which each of the shipowners of those ships would, apart from this subsection, be liable cannot reasonably
be separated from that for which the other shipowner or shipowners would be liable, the shipowners of all those ships
are liable jointly and severally with each other for the whole of the damage.

(3) If a person is liable under section 5 for any pollution damage that is not due to the person’s fault, then
despite the fact that the damage is not due to the person’s fault, section 21 of the Law Amendment and Reform
(Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap 23) applies in relation to the damage as if it were due to the person’s fault.

Section: 7 Exemptions from liability under section 5 L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


The shipowner of a ship is not liable under section 5 in respect of any damage resulting from an incident if the
shipowner proves that the incident-

(a) resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war, insurrection or an exceptional, inevitable and
irresistible natural phenomenon;

(b) was due wholly to anything done or omitted to be done by any other person, not being a servant or
agent of the shipowner, with intent to cause damage;

(c) was due wholly to the negligence of the person who suffered the damage; or
(d) was due wholly to the negligence or wrongful act of a government or any other authority in exercising

its function of maintaining lights or other navigational aids for the maintenance of which it was
responsible.


Section: 8 Limitation of liability of shipowners of ships L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


If the shipowner of a ship has incurred or is alleged to have incurred a liability under section 5-
(a) the shipowner may bring an action in the Court to limit the shipowner’s liability under Part III of the

Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) Ordinance (Cap 434); and
(b) the liability of the shipowner is, for the purposes of paragraph (a), to be treated as a liability in respect

of damage to property mentioned in paragraph 1(a) of Article 2 of the Convention on Limitation of
Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 set out in Schedule 2 to that Ordinance.


Section: 9 Liability of persons other than shipowners of ships L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) If an incident occurs, whether or not the shipowner of the ship concerned incurs a liability under section 5, a
specified person is not liable for any damage referred to in that section resulting from any act done or omitted to be
done by the person, unless the person-

(a) did the act or omitted to do the act with intent to cause the damage; or
(b) recklessly did the act or omitted to do the act knowing that the damage would probably be caused.

(2) In subsection (1), “specified person” (指明人士) means-
(a) any servant or agent of the shipowner of the ship;
(b) any person who does not fall within the description in paragraph (a) but is employed or engaged in any

capacity on board the ship or to perform any services for the ship;
(c) any person who performs salvage operations with the consent of the shipowner of the ship or on the

instructions of a public authority who is vested with the power to issue the instructions;
(d) any person who takes preventive measures; or
(e) any servant or agent of a person mentioned in paragraph (c) or (d).





Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 5

Section: 10 Rights of third parties against insurers L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) If it is alleged that-
(a) as a result of an incident the shipowner of a ship has incurred a liability under section 5; and
(b) while the incident occurred, there was in force a contract of insurance or other security to which an

insurance certificate in respect of the ship relates,
legal proceedings to enforce a claim in respect of the liability may be brought against the person who provided the
insurance or other security (an “insurer”).

(2) If a claim is brought against an insurer under this section-
(a) the insurer may bring an action in the Court under section 8 to limit the insurer’s liability under Part

III of the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) Ordinance (Cap 434) as if the
insurer were the shipowner of the ship; and

(b) the fact that the shipowner of the ship may not be or is not entitled to limit the shipowner’s liability
under Part III of that Ordinance does not affect the right of the insurer to limit the insurer’s liability
under that Part.

(3) In any legal proceedings brought against an insurer under this section-
(a) the insurer is entitled to invoke any defence that the shipowner of the ship would have been entitled to

invoke in relation to a claim against the shipowner under section 5; and
(b) it is a defence, in addition to any defence affecting the liability of the shipowner, for the insurer to

prove that the incident was due to the wilful misconduct of the shipowner,
but the insurer is not entitled to invoke any other defence that the insurer might have been entitled to invoke in legal
proceedings brought by the shipowner against the insurer.

(4) In any legal proceedings brought against an insurer under this section, the insurer may require the
shipowner of the ship to join in the proceedings as a party.

(5) The Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Ordinance (Cap 273) does not apply in relation to any contract
of insurance to which an insurance certificate relates.

Section: 11 Whether shipowners of ships would be liable for pollution

damage etc. otherwise than under section 5
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



If an incident occurs, whether or not the shipowner of a ship is liable under section 5, the shipowner is not liable
under any other law of Hong Kong for any pollution damage referred to in that section.

Part: 3 COMPULSORY INSURANCE OF LIABILITY L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010




Section: 12 Application of this Part L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) This Part applies to a ship having a gross tonnage of more than 1000, but does not apply to a local vessel
that operates exclusively within the river trade limits.

(2) In subsection (1)-
“local vessel” (本地船隻) has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels)

Ordinance (Cap 548);
“river trade limits” (內河航限) has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Shipping and Port Control Ordinance

(Cap 313).

Section: 13 Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution

damage
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) Subject to subsection (3), a ship is not allowed to enter or leave the waters of Hong Kong unless there is in
force a certificate-

(a) complying with the requirements in paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 7 of the Bunker Oil Convention; and
(b) certifying that there is in force in respect of the ship a contract of insurance or other security satisfying



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 6

the requirements of Article 7 of the Convention.
(2) A certificate required under subsection (1) must be issued by a competent authority.
(3) A ship that is owned by a state may enter or leave the waters of Hong Kong without a certificate required

under subsection (1), if there is in force in respect of the ship a specified certificate.
(4) If subsection (1) is contravened, the master and the registered owner of the ship each commits an offence

and is liable-
(a) on conviction on indictment to a fine of $500000; or
(b) on summary conviction to a fine at level 6.

(5) In this section-
“competent authority” (主管當局) means-

(a) in relation to a ship registered in Hong Kong-
(i) the Director; or
(ii) an authorized person;

(b) in relation to a ship registered in any other Bunker Oil Convention place-
(i) the government of that other place; or
(ii) a person authorized by the government of that other place; and

(c) in relation to any other ship-
(i) the Director;
(ii) an authorized person;
(iii) the government of a Bunker Oil Convention place other than Hong Kong; or
(iv) a person authorized by the government of a Bunker Oil Convention place other than Hong Kong;

“specified certificate” (指明證書), in relation to a ship owned by a state, means a certificate issued by the state and
certifying that-

(a) the ship is owned by the state; and
(b) the liability for pollution damage as defined in Article 1 of the Bunker Oil Convention will be met up

to the limit determined under paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Convention.

Section: 14 Duty of masters of ships to keep insurance certificates or

specified certificates on ships
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) The master of a ship, other than a ship registered in Hong Kong, must ensure that an insurance certificate or
a specified certificate (as the case requires) that is in force in respect of the ship is kept at all times on the ship when
the ship is within the waters of Hong Kong.

(2) The master of a ship registered in Hong Kong must ensure that an insurance certificate or a specified
certificate (as the case requires) that is in force in respect of the ship is kept at all times on the ship, whether or not the
ship is within the waters of Hong Kong.

(3) The master of a ship within the waters of Hong Kong must produce for inspection, on request by an
enforcement officer in the performance of their functions under this Ordinance, the insurance certificate or the
specified certificate referred to in subsection (1).

(4) If a ship registered in Hong Kong is within the waters of any other Bunker Oil Convention place, the master
of the ship must produce for inspection, on request by a person duly authorized for that purpose by the government of
that other place, the insurance certificate or the specified certificate referred to in subsection (2).

(5) A person who contravenes subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a
fine at level 3.

(6) This section does not apply in relation to a ship if-
(a) there is in force in respect of the ship an insurance certificate or a specified certificate;
(b) the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization has been notified under paragraph 13

of Article 7 of the Bunker Oil Convention of the maintenance of a record in electronic form that attests
to the existence of the certificate; and

(c) the record is accessible to the Director.

Section: 15 Application for insurance certificates etc. L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) The shipowner of a ship registered in Hong Kong or of any other ship, other than a ship registered in any



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 7

other Bunker Oil Convention place, may apply to the Director or an authorized person for an insurance certificate for
the ship.

(2) The application must-
(a) be made in writing;
(b) be in a form specified by the Director; and
(c) be accompanied by-

(i) a contract of insurance or other security relating to the ship; and
(ii) any document or information that the Director or the authorized person may reasonably require

for the purpose of considering the application.

Section: 16 Power of Director or authorized persons to issue insurance

certificates etc.
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) If, on an application made under section 15 and on payment of the application fee, the Director or the
authorized person is satisfied that the condition in subsection (2) is fulfilled, the Director or the authorized person may
issue an insurance certificate for the ship.

(2) The condition is that there will be in force in respect of the ship, throughout the period for which the
insurance certificate is to be issued, a contract of insurance or other security satisfying the requirements in paragraphs
1 and 6 of Article 7 of the Bunker Oil Convention.

(3) The Director or the authorized person may refuse to issue an insurance certificate for a ship if the Director
or the authorized person is of the opinion that there is doubt as to-

(a) whether the person providing the insurance or other security will be able to meet the person’s
obligations under the insurance or other security; or

(b) whether the insurance or other security will satisfy the requirements in paragraphs 1 and 6 of Article 7
of the Bunker Oil Convention.

(4) An insurance certificate issued under subsection (1) may be subject to any condition that the Director or the
authorized person may impose.

(5) The Director must keep a copy of each certificate issued by the Director or an authorized person under this
section and make it available for public inspection.

Section: 17 Cancellation and delivery up of insurance certificates

issued by Director or authorized persons
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) If, at any time while a certificate issued under section 16 is in force in respect of a ship, a person ceases to
be the registered owner of the ship, the certificate is to be treated as cancelled once the person ceases to be the
registered owner.

(2) If, at any time while a certificate issued under section 16 is in force in respect of a ship, it is established in
any legal proceedings that the contract of insurance or other security to which the certificate relates is invalid or may
be treated as invalid, the issuing authority may cancel the certificate.

(3) If, at any time after a certificate is issued under section 16 in respect of a ship, any circumstances arise in
relation to an insurer or guarantor named in the certificate such that the issuing authority is of the opinion that there is
doubt as to-

(a) whether the person providing the insurance or other security will be able to meet the person’s
obligations under the insurance or other security; or

(b) whether the insurance or other security will cover the liability of the shipowner of the ship under this
Ordinance in all circumstances,

the issuing authority may cancel the certificate.
(4) If a certificate issued under section 16 is cancelled under this section, the person to whom the certificate is

issued must as soon as reasonably practicable deliver up the certificate to the issuing authority.
(5) A person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (4) commits an offence and is liable on

conviction to a fine at level 2.
(6) In this section, “issuing authority” (發證當局), in relation to a certificate issued under section 16,

means-
(a) if the certificate is issued by the Director, the Director; and



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 8

(b) if the certificate is issued by an authorized person, the authorized person.
(7) This section does not operate so as to affect section 46 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance

(Cap 1).

Part: 4 JURISDICTION OF HONG KONG COURTS TO

ENFORCE CLAIMS AND ENFORCEMENT IN HONG
KONG OF JUDGMENTS GIVEN BY COURTS OF
OTHER PLACES, ETC.

L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010





Section: 18 Jurisdiction of Hong Kong courts to enforce claims arising
from pollution damage in Hong Kong and in any other
Bunker Oil Convention places

L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) For the purposes of Part 2, if as a result of an incident, any pollution damage is caused in Hong Kong, an
action may be brought in the Court to enforce a claim arising from the pollution damage.

(2) For the purposes of Part 2, if as a result of an incident, any pollution damage is caused in a Bunker Oil
Convention place other than Hong Kong, no action may be brought in any court of Hong Kong to enforce a claim
arising from the pollution damage.

(3) Despite subsection (2), a claim arising from the pollution damage may be enforced in the Court if the
incident also results in any pollution damage in Hong Kong.

Section: 19 Submission of Bunker Oil Convention States to

jurisdiction of Court
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) For the purposes of any legal proceedings brought in the Court to enforce a claim under Part 2-
(a) a Bunker Oil Convention State is to be treated as having submitted to the jurisdiction of the Court; and
(b) rules of court may provide for the manner in which those proceedings are to be commenced and

carried on.
(2) Subsection (1) is not to be construed as authorizing the issue of execution against the property of a state.
(3) In this section, “Bunker Oil Convention State” (《燃油公約》國) means a state that is a party to the

Bunker Oil Convention.

Section: 20 Time limit for legal proceedings etc. L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


No legal proceedings to enforce a claim under Part 2 may be instituted unless the proceedings are commenced-
(a) not later than 3 years after the claim arises; and
(b) not later than 6 years after-

(i) the incident that causes the pollution damage; or
(ii) if the incident consists of a series of occurrences having the same origin, the first of those

occurrences.

Section: 21 Enforcement of foreign judgments L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) The Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap 319), except sections 3, 5(2), 6(2) and
(3), 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, applies to a judgment given on or after the commencement of Part 2 by a court of a Bunker
Oil Convention place, other than a place in the People’s Republic of China, to enforce a claim in respect of a liability
incurred under any law corresponding to section 5.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a reference to “a judgment to which the provisions of this Ordinance
apply” in sections 4(1), 6(1) and 8 of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap 319)
includes a judgment to which that subsection applies.

(3) Subsection (1) applies only if-
(a) the judgment is final and conclusive between the parties to it; and
(b) the judgment orders the payment of a sum of money, other than a sum payable in respect of taxes or



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 9

other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty.
(4) A judgment is final and conclusive between the parties to it, despite the fact that an appeal is pending

against it, or that it may still be subject to appeal, in any court of the place in which the court that gives the judgment
is situated.

Section: 22 Limitation on amount of judgment (other than Hong Kong

court judgment) enforceable in Hong Kong
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) If, on or after the commencement of Part 2-
(a) a court of a place, other than a Bunker Oil Convention place, gives a judgment in respect of any

liability in that place for any pollution damage in relation to which the Bunker Oil Convention applies;
and

(b) the judgment may be recognized or enforced in Hong Kong under any law of Hong Kong relating to
recognition and enforcement of judgments given in a place outside Hong Kong,

then despite the fact that that law may provide otherwise, the judgment may be recognized or enforced by a court of
Hong Kong only up to the limit of liability prescribed in Part III of the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners
Liability) Ordinance (Cap 434).

(2) Subsection (1) applies only if the liability is incurred by-
(a) the shipowner of a ship; or
(b) a person, other than the shipowner of a ship, who is entitled to limit their liability under Part III of the

Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) Ordinance (Cap 434).

Part: 5 MISCELLANEOUS L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010




Section: 23 Director may grant exemptions L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) The Director may, in a particular case, exempt in writing any person or ship from the application of
any provision of section 13 or 14.

(2) An exemption under this section may be granted subject to any condition that the Director may
impose.


Section: 24 Notification of decisions of Director etc. L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) If the Director or an authorized person decides to refuse to issue an insurance certificate under section 16,
the Director or the authorized person must, by notice in writing served on the applicant, inform the applicant of the
decision and the reasons for the decision.

(2) If the Director or an authorized person decides to cancel an insurance certificate under section 17, the
Director or the authorized person must, by notice in writing served on the holder of the certificate, inform the holder
of the decision and the reasons for the decision.

(3) If the Director decides to refuse to grant an exemption under section 23, the Director must, by notice in
writing served on the person by whom the exemption is sought, inform the person of the decision and the reasons for
the decision.

Section: 25 Power of Director to authorize certain persons as

authorized persons
L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



(1) The Director may authorize any person, other than a public officer, as an authorized person.
(2) An authorized person is not an agent or servant of the Government.
(3) An authorized person may determine the fee to be paid on an application to the person for an insurance

certificate to be issued by the person.




Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 10

Section: 26 Power of Director to appoint persons to be enforcement
officers

L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010



The Director may, for the purposes of sections 13 and 14, appoint any officer of the Marine Department to be an
enforcement officer.

Section: 27 Powers of enforcement officers E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014


(1) For the purposes of ascertaining whether section 13 or 14 is complied with, an enforcement officer may
exercise one or more of the following powers-

(a) board a ship;
(b) request the master of a ship to which Part 3 applies to produce for the officer’s inspection the

insurance certificate or the specified certificate relating to the ship;
(c) request the master of a ship to produce for the officer’s inspection any other document relating to the

ship and to provide any information relating to the ship;
(d) make or take any copy of any document produced to the officer under paragraph (b) or (c).

(2) A person who wilfully obstructs an enforcement officer in the exercise of the officer’s power under
subsection (1)(a) or (d) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3 and to imprisonment for 6
months.

(3) A person who fails to comply with a request made by an enforcement officer under subsection (1)(c)
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3.

(Amended E.R. 2 of 2014)

Section: 28 Provision of false information etc. L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) A person commits an offence if the person, in purported compliance with a requirement imposed under
section 15 or a request made under section 27-

(a) produces any document or provides any information that the person knows to be false or misleading in
a material respect; or

(b) produces any document or provides any information that the person ought reasonably to have known to
be false or misleading in a material respect.

(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b) is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3
and to imprisonment for 6 months.

Section: 29 Appeals L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


(1) A person who is aggrieved by any of the following decisions may appeal to the Administrative Appeals
Board against the decision-

(a) a decision of the Director or an authorized person to refuse to issue an insurance certificate under
section 16;

(b) a decision of the Director or an authorized person to impose any condition under section 16;
(c) a decision of the Director or an authorized person to cancel an insurance certificate under section 17;
(d) a decision of the Director to refuse to grant an exemption under section 23;
(e) a decision of the Director to impose any condition under section 23.

(2) An appeal under subsection (1) does not suspend the decision appealed against.

Section: 30 Service of notice etc. L.N. 163 of 2013 03/03/2014


A notice or other document (however described) required or permitted to be served or sent (however described)
under this Ordinance is to be regarded as having been duly served or sent if-

(a) for the Director-
(i) it is addressed to the Director and delivered to the Director’s principal office; or
(ii) it is sent to the Director by registered post addressed to the Director at the Director’s principal

office;



Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 11

(b) for an individual-
(i) it is addressed to the individual and delivered to the individual by personal service; or
(ii) it is sent to the individual by registered post addressed to the individual at the individual’s last

known address;
(c) for a company as defined in section 2(1) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap 622)- (Amended 28 of

2012 ss. 912 & 920)
(i) it is addressed to the company and delivered to any officer of the company by hand; or
(ii) it is left at, or sent by post to, the company’s registered office in Hong Kong; (Amended 28 of

2012 ss. 912 & 920)
(d) for a body corporate (other than a company described in paragraph (c))-

(i) it is addressed to the body and delivered to any place in Hong Kong at which the body carries on
business and given to a person apparently concerned in the management of, or apparently
employed by, the body; or

(ii) it is sent to the body by registered post addressed to the body at the body’s last known address;
or

(e) for a partnership-
(i) it is addressed to the partnership and delivered to any place in Hong Kong at which the

partnership carries on business and given to a person apparently concerned in the management
of, or apparently employed by, the partnership; or

(ii) it is sent to the partnership by registered post addressed to the partnership at the partnership’s
last known address.


Section: 31 Saving for recourse actions L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


This Ordinance does not affect any claim, or the enforcement of any claim, that a person who incurs a liability
under this Ordinance may have against another person in respect of the liability.

Section: 32 Offences by bodies corporate L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


If a person by whom an offence under this Ordinance is committed is a body corporate, and it is proved that the
offence-

(a) was committed with the consent or connivance of a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer
of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any of those capacities; or

(b) was due to any neglect on the part of a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body
corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any of those capacities,

the director, manager, secretary, officer or the person, as well as the body corporate, commits that offence and is liable
to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Section: 33 Power to make regulations L.N. 235 of 2009 22/01/2010


The Financial Secretary may by regulations prescribe the fee to be paid on an application to the Director for an
insurance certificate to be issued by the Director.

Part: 6 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014




Section: 34 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014




Section: 35 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014






Cap 605 - BUNKER OIL POLLUTION (LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE 12

Section: 36 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014




Section: 37 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014




Section: 38 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014




Section: 39 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014




Section: 40 (Omitted as spent—E.R. 2 of 2014) E.R. 2 of 2014 10/04/2014