I. An imperfect improvement: The new conflict of laws act of the people's republic of China

International and Comparative Law Quarterly

Volumn 60, Issue 4, 2011, Pages 1065-1093

  Huo, Zhengxin ^a  

^a University of Political Science and Law (CUPL)   (China)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 85016075275     PISSN: 00205893     EISSN: 14716895     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0020589311000534     Document Type: Review

References (108)

1. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheheguo Shewai Minshi Falvguanxi Shiyongfa, Act on the Application of Laws over Foreign-related Civil Relationships (2010) (PRC);
2. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Zhuxi Ling, Order of the President of The People’s Republic of China, No 36, available at .
3. See also Z. HUO, ‘China’s Codification of Conflicts Law: Latest Efforts’ (2010) 51 Seoul LJ 279, 283.
4. See J. Basedow, ‘The Recent Development of the Conflict of Laws: Some Comparative Observations’ in J Basedow and others (eds), Japanese and European Private International Law in Comparative Perspective (Mohr Siebeck 2008).
5. T.P. Chen, ‘Private International Law of the People’s Republic of China: An Overview’ (1987) 35 Am J Comp L 445.
6. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Haishangfa [Maritime Act] (1993) (PRC).
7. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Minyong Hangkongfa [Civil Aviation Act] (1996) (PRC).
8. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Hetongfa [Contract Act] (1999) (PRC).
9. For detailed discussion see W. CHEN, ‘The Necessity of Codification of China’s Private International Law and Arguments for a Statute on the Application of Laws as the Legislative Model’ .;
10. X. Zhao (ed), Guoji Sifa [Private International Law] (Press of China University of Political Science and Law 2011) 56.
11. See D. Han (ed), Guoji Sifa [Private International Law] (China Higher Education Press 2001) 17;
12. Chinese Society of Private International Law, ‘Model Law of Private International Law of the People’s Republic of China’ in P Sarczvic and P Volken (eds), Yearbook of Private International Law (Kluwer 2001).
13. See F. Lin, Constitutional Law in China (Sweet & Maxwell 2000) 63–64;
14. H. Zhengxin, ‘A Tiger without Teeth: The Antitrust Law of The People’s Republic of China’ (2008) 10 Asian Pac Law Pol J 36.
15. See W. Zhu, ‘China’s Codification of the Conflict of Laws’ (2008) 3 Journal of Private International Law 283, 306.
16. See Li Fafa [Law on Legislation] (promulgated by the Standing Comm Natl People’s Cong. 15 March 2000, effective 1 July 2000) arts 40, 41 (PRC).
17. See Law on Legislation (n 13) arts 40, 41.
18. See Law Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Science (ed), Faxue Cidian [Law Dictionary] (China Law Press 2004) 425, 646.
19. See HAN (n 10) 18.
20. Chinese Society of Private International Law (n 10) 349–390.
21. See Y. Xiao and Z. Huo, ‘Ordre Public in China’s Private International Law’ (2005) 53 Am J Comp L 653, 675.
22. See Zhu (n 12) 306.
23. See Zhu 284; .
24. See X.X. Kahn-Freund, The Growth of Internationalism in English Private International Law (Magnes Press 1960) 155. GPCL (n 5) arts 142 and 150. Zhu(n12)284.
25. Z. Huo, Private International Law in China (China Law Press 2010) 55.
26. See S. Yu, Y. Xiao, and B. Wang, ‘The Closest Connection Doctrine in the Conflict of Laws in China’ (2009) 8 Chinese J of Intl L 423–439. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 2.
27. Such as art 194 of ‘Guidelines of the Supreme People’s Court on Implementing the GPCL’ stipulates: ‘The litigant’s act to evade the compulsory or prohibitory legal norm of this country shall not take effect to apply to the foreign laws.’
28. See S. Li, Guoji Sifa [Private International Law] (Wuhan University Press 2001) 37.
29. The GPCL has confirmed the principle of the superiority of international convention. Art 142(2) of the GPCL provides as follows: ‘If any international treaty concluded or acceded to by the People’s Republic of China contains provisions differing from those in the civil laws of the People’s Republic of China, the provisions of the international treaty shall apply, unless the provisions are ones on which the People’s Republic of China has announced reservations.’ GPCL (n 6) art 142(2)
30. See Xiao and Huo (n 25) 672–674.
31. GPCL (n 5) art 142.
32. Xiao and Huo (n 25) 676–677.
33. Zuigao Renmin Fayuan Guanyu Shiyong Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Minfatongze Ruogan Wenti de Yijian [Supreme People’s Court, Opinions on Application of the General Principle of Civil Law of the People’s Republic of China], 92 Zuigao Renmin Fayuan Gongbao 22 [Bulletin of Supreme People’s Court] (1988) (PRC) [‘Opinions on GPCL’].
34. L. Collins (ed), Dicey & Morris on the Conflict of Laws (13th edn, Sweet & Maxwell 1999) 73.
35. This is also the standpoint shared by most Chinese scholars, see Han (n 10) 127;
36. Li (n 41) 60.
37. See K.H. Suk, ‘The New Conflict of Laws Act of the Republic of Korea’ in P Sarczvic and P Volken (eds), Yearbook of Private International Law (Kluwer 2003).
38. Chinese Society of Private International Law (n 10) 349–390; Huo (n 2) 281.
39. See G. Panagopoulous, Restitution in Private International Law (Hart 2000) 33.
40. Opinions on GPCL (n 47) art 195.
41. See Panagopoulous (n 51) 30.
42. see Zhu (n 13) 288.
43. Q. Kong & M. Hu, ‘The Chinese Practice of Private International Law’ (2002) 3 Melbourne J of Intl L 204.
44. eg Opinions on GPCL (n 47) 193(1).
45. Huo (n 2) 293–294.
46. F.A. Gabor, ‘A Socialist Approach to Codification of Private International Law in Hungry: Comments and Translation’ (1980) 35 Tul LR 63, 75.
47. E. Rabel, The Conflict of Laws, A Comparative Study vol 1 (University of Michigan Law School 1958) 200.
48. Conflicts Act (n 1) arts 11, 12, 13, 15
49. Chinese Society of Private International Law (n 10) 123.
50. K.H. Suk, ‘Some Observations on the Chinese Private International Law Act: Korean Law Perspective’ (in English) in Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ed), Guojifa Luntan [Forum of International Law] 7 (unpublished 2010).
51. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Xintuofa [Trust Act] (2001) (PRC).
52. TMT Trading Ltd v Guangdong Light Industrial Products Import-Export (Group) Co Zuigao Renmin Fayuan Gongbao 4 [Bulletin of Supreme People’s Court] 130–134 (2000) (PRC).
53. See Zhu (n 12) 293.
54. J. Harris, The Hague Trusts Convention: Scope, Application and Preliminary Issues (Hart 2001) 166–169.
55. The Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition, art 7 (1992). Huo(n 2)314.
56. For detailed discussion, see Y. Xiao and Z. Huo, ‘Family Issues in China’s Private International Law’ (2009) 4 Journal of Cambridge Studies 56–71.
57. See Zhu (n 12) 301.
58. GPCL (n 6) art 147.
59. See F.K. Juenger, Choice of Law and Multistate Justice (Special edn, Transnational 2000) 62.
60. Conflicts Act (n 1) arts 26, 27.
61. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 23
62. See Huo (n 2) 302.
63. See eg Li (n 41) 683.
64. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Shouyangfa [Adoption Act of the People’s Republic of China] art 21 (1992, revised in 1998) (PRC).
65. Waiguoren zai Zhongguo Shouyang Zinü Dengjibanfa [Measures of the Registration for Foreigners to Adopt Children in the People’s Republic of China], dated 25 May 1999.
66. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 30.
67. Huo (n 2) 304.
68. Zhonghua Renmin Gobngheguo Jichengfa [Succession Act] art 32(1984) (PRC);
69. cf GPCL (n 6) art 149.
70. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 31.
71. It should be noted that conflict rules for interpretation of a will is also included in the previous drafts, however, it fails to surface in the latest draft. Huo (n 2) 304.
72. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 32
73. This art provides that in disputes involving the ownership of immvoables, the law of the place where the property is situated shall apply. GPCL (n 1) art 144.
74. This chapter doe not provide an article to regulate the law governing the means of transportation. This is mainly because the Maritime Act and the Civil Aviation Act contain such articles, see Maritime Act (n 6) arts 270, 271, 272;
75. Civil Aviation Act (n 7) arts 185, 186, 187.
76. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 36
77. Switzerland’s Federal Code on Private International Law (‘SFCPIL’) art 104(1) (1987).
78. See, inter alia, GPCL (n 5) art 145;
79. Contract Act (n 8) art 126;
80. Opinion on GPCL (n 47) art 194;
81. Zuigao Renmin Fayuan Guanyu Shenli Shewai Minshi huo Shangshi Hetong Jiuefen Anjian Falv Shiyong Ruogan Wenti de Guiding [Supreme People’s Court, Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Laws in Hearing the Cases Involving Foreign-related Civil or Commercial Contractual Disputes (‘Opinions of 2007) 1429 Zuigao Renmin Fayuan Gongbao 14 [Bulletin of Supreme People’s Court] art 6 (2007) (PRC).
82. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 41(1).
83. See Huo (n 31) 181–184.
84. (9) other contracts to which the laws of the People’s Republic of China shall apply under the provisions of the laws and administrative regulations of the People’s Republic of China. Opinions of 2007 (n 108) art 8.
85. GPCL (n 1) art 150.
86. Opinions of 2007 (n 108) art 6.
87. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 41.
88. See Collins (n 48) 1235.
89. See SFCPIL (n 101) art 117.
90. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 42.
91. See P.A. Karrer (trs), Switzerland’s Private International Law (Springer 1994) 115.
92. See Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Gonghuifa [Trade Union Act] (1992) (PRC).
93. SFCPIL (n 101) art 121.
94. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Laodong Hetongfa [Act on Employment Contracts] arts 58, 59 (2007) (PRC).
95. GPCL (n 5) art 146.
96. Detailed discussion, see Z. Huo, ‘Choice of Law in Torts: A Chinese Approach’ (2009) 4 Journal of Cambridge Studies 82–97.
97. According to it, the law of the place of a tortious act covers the law of the executive place of a tortious act and the law of the place of the result of tort. The People’s Court may select the applicable law in case of the discrepancy of the two laws. Opinion on GPCL (n 47) art 273.
98. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 44(2).
99. Conflicts Act (n 1) art 45
100. Maritime Act (n 6) art 273;
101. Civil Aviation Act (n 7) art 189.
102. Z. Huo, Budangdeli de Guojisifa Wenti [Unjust Enrichment in Private International Law] (Wuhan University Press 2006) 1.
103. Medium and Small-Sized Enterprise Bank (South Korea) v Yangzhou Yingmaijie Clothing Co. Ltd (China), (2003) Ning Minwu Chuzi 15 [No 15 Civil Judgment of the Intermediate People’s Court of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 2003].
104. Bantian Co. Ltd (Japan) v Import & Export Company of Jinan City and Qingdao Jincheng Transportation Co. Ltd (China), (2003) Ji Minsi Shuzi 41 [No 41, Civil Judgment of the Intermediate People’s Court of Jinan, Shandong Province, 2003].
105. Dynamic Services International Inc. (U.S.A.) v Suzhou Dixun Software C. Ltd (China), (2002) Minsan Chuzi 23 [No 23, Civil Judgment of the Intermediate People’s Court of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 2002].
106. Zhu (n 12) 296.
107. Maritime Act (n 7) arts 270, 271, 272.
108. Civil Aviation Act (n 8) arts 185, 186, 187.