### Co-operative Societies Ordinance 《合作社條例》

49. Settlement of disputes
(1) If any dispute touching the business of a registered society arises—
(a) among members, past members and persons claiming through members, past members and deceased members; or
(b) between a member, past member, or person claiming through a member, past member or deceased member, and the society, its committee, or any officer of the society; or
(c) between the society or its committee and any officer of the society; or
(d) between the society and any other registered society, (Amended E.R. 1 of 2022)
such dispute shall be referred to the Registrar for decision. A claim by a registered society for any debt or demand due to it from a member, past member or the nominee, heir or legal representative of a deceased member, shall be deemed to be a dispute touching the business of the society within the meaning of this subsection.
(2) The Registrar may, on receipt of a reference under subsection (1)—
(a) decide the dispute himself; or
(b) refer it for disposal to an arbitrator or arbitrators.
(3) Any party aggrieved by the award of the arbitrator or arbitrators may appeal therefrom to the Registrar within one month after the award is given by lodging notice in writing with the Registrar. (Amended 21 of 1976 s. 5)
(4) A decision of the Registrar under subsection (2) or in appeal under subsection (3) shall be final and shall not be called in question in any civil court.
(5) The award of the arbitrator or arbitrators under subsection (2) shall, if no appeal is preferred to the Registrar under subsection (3), or if any such appeal is abandoned or withdrawn, be final and shall not be called in question in any civil court and shall be enforced in the same manner as if the award had been a judgment of a civil court.

50. Case stated on question of law
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 49, the Registrar at any time when proceeding to a decision under this Ordinance, or the Chief Executive at any time when an appeal has been preferred to him against any decision of the Registrar under this Ordinance, may refer any question of law arising out of such decision for the ruling of the court. (Amended 61 of 2000 s. 3)
(2) Such judge or judges as the Chief Judge of the High Court may direct, may consider and determine any question of law so referred and the ruling given on such question shall be final and conclusive. (Amended 79 of 1995 s. 50; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

### Co-operative Societies Ordinance 《合作社條例》

52. Recovery of sums due to Government
(1) All sums due from a registered society or from an officer or member or past member of a registered society as such to the Government may be recovered in the manner provided for the recovery of debts due to the Government under the law for the time being in force.
(2) Sums due from a registered society to the Government and recoverable under subsection (1) may be recovered first, from the property of the society; secondly, in the case of a society of which the liability of members is limited, from members, subject to the limit of their liability; and thirdly, in the case of other societies, from the members.

53. Special power of Chief Executive to exempt any society from requirements as to registration
(Amended 61 of 2000 s. 3)Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance the Chief Executive may by special order in each case and subject to such conditions as he may impose, exempt any society from any of the requirements of this Ordinance as to registration.
(Amended 61 of 2000 s. 3)

54. Special power of Chief Executive to exempt societies from provisions of Ordinance
(Amended 61 of 2000 s. 3)The Chief Executive may by general or special order exempt any registered society or class of societies from any of the provisions of this Ordinance, or may direct that such provisions shall apply to any society or class of societies with effect from such date or with such modifications as may be specified in the order.
(Amended 61 of 2000 s. 3)

55. Power to remit registration fees
The Chief Executive by notification in the Gazette may, in the case of any registered society or class of registered societies, remit any fee payable under the law of registration for the time being in force, and any such notification in respect of any registered society may provide for the revocation thereof in respect of such registered society.
(Replaced 31 of 1981 s. 65. Amended 61 of 2000 s. 3)

### Co-operative Societies Ordinance 《合作社條例》

56. Prohibition of the use of the word “co-operative”
(1)  No person other than a registered society shall trade or carry on business under any name or title of which the word “co-operative” or “合作社” is part without the sanction of the Chief Executive: (Amended 80 of 1997 s. 107; 61 of 2000 s. 3)
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to the use by any person or his successor in interest of any name or title under which he traded or carried on business at the commencement* of this Ordinance. 
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine at level 1 and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine of $20 for each day during which the offence continues. (Amended E.R. 1 of 2022)

Editorial Note:
* Commencement date: 15 February 1951.

57. Certain legislation not to apply to registered societies
The provisions of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) and the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32), and of any law relating to trade unions, shall not apply to societies registered under this Ordinance.
(Amended 28 of 2012 ss. 912 & 920)

58. Penalty for non-compliance with Ordinance
(a) Any registered society or an officer or a member thereof, wilfully neglecting or refusing to do any act or to furnish any information required for the purposes of this Ordinance by the Registrar or other persons duly authorized by him in this behalf; and
(b) any person wilfully or without any reasonable excuse disobeying any summons, requisition or lawful written order issued under the provisions of this Ordinance, or failing to furnish any information lawfully required from him by a person authorized to do so under the provisions of this Ordinance,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to a fine at level 1.
(Amended E.R. 1 of 2022)

### Co-operative Societies Ordinance 《合作社條例》

59. Punishment of fraud or misappropriation
If any person obtains possession by false representation or imposition of any property of a society, or having it in his possession withholds or misapplies it, or wilfully applies any part thereof to purposes other than those expressed or directed in the by-laws of the society, and authorized by this Ordinance, he shall, on the complaint of the society, or of any member authorized by the society, or the committee thereof, or of the Registrar, be liable to a fine of two thousand dollars, and to be ordered to deliver up all such property or to repay all monies applied improperly, and, in default of such delivery or repayment, or of the payment of such fine to be imprisoned for twelve months.
(Added 53 of 1956 s. 2. Amended 21 of 1976 s. 6)[cf. 1893 c. 39 s. 64 U.K.]