### Defamation Ordinance 《誹謗條例》

19. Consolidation of actions
(1) It shall be competent for the Court of First Instance, on an application by or on behalf of 2 or more defendants in actions in respect to the same, or substantially the same, libel brought by one and the same person, to make an order for the consolidation of such actions; and after such order has been made, and before the trial of the said actions, the defendants in any new actions instituted in respect to the same, or substantially the same, libel shall also be entitled to be joined in a common action on a joint application being made by such new defendants and the defendants in the actions already consolidated. (Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)
(2) In such consolidated action the jury shall assess the whole amount of the damages, if any, in one sum, but a separate verdict shall be taken for or against each defendant in the same way as if the actions had been tried separately; and if the jury have found a verdict against the defendant or defendants in more than one of the actions so consolidated, they shall proceed to apportion the amount of damages which they have so found between and against the said last-mentioned defendants; and similar provisions shall apply if the trial is before a judge without a jury. The judge at the trial, if he awards to the plaintiff the costs of the action, shall thereupon make such order as he may deem just for the apportionment of such costs between and against such defendants.
(3) This section shall apply to actions for slander and to actions for slander of title, slander of goods or other malicious falsehood as it applies to actions for libel; and references to the same, or substantially the same, libel shall be construed accordingly. (Added 33 of 1961 s. 10) [cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 13 U.K.]
(9 of 1901 s. 5 incorporated)[cf. 1888 c. 64 s. 5 U.K.]

21. Words imputing unchastity to woman or girl per se actionable
Words spoken and published which impute unchastity or adultery to any woman or girl shall not require special damage to render them actionable:
Provided that, in any action for words spoken and made actionable by this Ordinance, a plaintiff shall not recover more costs than damages, unless the judge at the trial certifies that there was reasonable ground for bringing the action.(9 of 1901 s. 10 incorporated. Amended 29 of 1901 s. 14; 50 of 1911 s. 4) [cf. 1891 c. 51 s. 1 U.K.]

### Defamation Ordinance 《誹謗條例》

22. Broadcast statements
For the purposes of the law of libel and slander, the broadcasting of words shall be treated as publication in permanent form.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11)[cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 1 U.K.]

23. Slander affecting official, professional or business reputation
In an action for slander in respect of words calculated to disparage the plaintiff in any office, profession, calling, trade or business held or carried on by him at the time of the publication, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove special damage, whether or not the words are spoken of the plaintiff in the way of his office, profession, calling, trade or business.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11)[cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 2 U.K.]

24. Slander of title, etc.
(1) In an action for slander of title, slander of goods or other malicious falsehood, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove special damage—
(a) if the words upon which the action is founded are calculated to cause pecuniary damage to the plaintiff and are published in writing or other permanent form; or
(b) if the said words are calculated to cause pecuniary damage to the plaintiff in respect of any office, profession, calling, trade or business held or carried on by him at the time of the publication.
(2) Section 22 shall apply for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of the law of libel and slander.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11)[cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 3 U.K.]

### Defamation Ordinance 《誹謗條例》

26. Justification
In an action for libel or slander in respect of words containing 2 or more distinct charges against the plaintiff, a defence of justification shall not fail by reason only that the truth of every charge is not proved if the words not proved to be true do not materially injure the plaintiff’s reputation having regard to the truth of the remaining charges.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11)[cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 5 U.K.]

27. Fair comment
In an action for libel or slander in respect of words consisting partly of allegations of fact and partly of expression of opinion, a defence of fair comment shall not fail by reason only that the truth of every allegation of fact is not proved if the expression of opinion is fair comment having regard to such of the facts alleged or referred to in the words complained of as are proved.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11)[cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 6 U.K.]

28. Limitation on privilege at elections
A defamatory statement published by or on behalf of a candidate in any election to the Legislative Council or to a District Council shall not be deemed to be published on a privileged occasion on the ground that it is material to a question in issue in the election, whether or not the person by whom it is published is qualified to vote at the election.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11. Amended 39 of 1985 s. 60; 23 of 1986 s. 3; 8 of 1999 s. 89; 78 of 1999 s. 7) [cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 10 U.K.]

29. Agreements for indemnity
An agreement for indemnifying any person against civil liability for libel in respect of the publication of any matter shall not be unlawful unless at the time of the publication that person knows that the matter is defamatory, and does not reasonably believe there is a good defence to any action brought upon it.
(Added 33 of 1961 s. 11)[cf. 1952 c. 66 s. 11 U.K.]

### Bills of Sale (Fees) Regulations 《賣據 (費用) 規例》

1. Citation
These regulations may be cited as the Bills of Sale (Fees) Regulations.

2. Fees
The fees to be taken by the Registrar under the Ordinance shall be as follows—            $  (a) On filing a bill of sale and affidavit therewith   440  (b) For an official certificate of the result of a search in one name in any register or index under the custody of the Registrar  210  (c) For every additional name, if included in the same certificate  110  (d) For a duplicate copy or certificate, for each page or part thereof  28  (e) For a continuation search if made within 14 days of the date of the official certificate (the result to be endorsed on such certificate)  110  (f) For a search of the register   18  (g) For an inspection of each bill of sale   18 

(L.N. 199 of 1993; L.N. 239 of 1994; L.N. 334 of 2000; L.N. 22 of 2001)

### Bills of Sale Ordinance 《賣據條例》

1. Short title
This Ordinance may be cited as the Bills of Sale Ordinance.
(Amended 5 of 1924 s. 6)