18 July, 2019
The Agreement on Investment among the Governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ("AHK-IA") introduces investment protection and transfer guarantees for investments between Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand and Hong Kong from 17 June 2019.1
Hong Kong and ASEAN cross border investors will enjoy investment safeguards in the form of fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security, compensation for expropriation, and compensation for losses and damages relating to armed conflict, civil strife, revolution, or a state of emergency. Cross border transfers related to covered investments will be allowed 'freely and without delay.' In order to take advantage of the AHK-IA, party investors must receive investment approval from the appropriate authority for their investment. Covered investments include property, shares, stocks, bonds and debentures, intellectual property rights, claims to money or to any contractual performance, and business concessions with financial value. ("Investments").2
Investment protection
The AHK-IA protects Investments from discriminatory treatment as well as provides fair and equitable access to legal or administrative proceedings and full physical protection and security.3 Investors may be eligible for compensation where Investments are expropriated, or damaged by armed conflict, civil strife, revolution, or a state of emergency.4
Guarantee on investment transfers and returns
Cross border transfers related to Investments are to be made "freely and without delay" including:
i. Contributions to capital;
ii. Profits, capital gains, dividends, royalties, licence fees, technical assistance and technical and management fees, and interest;
iii. Proceeds from the total or partial sale or liquidation;
iv. Remuneration of personnel engaged from abroad;
v. Payments made under a contract, including a loan agreement; as well as
vi. Other payments, including, expropriation payments, compensations for losses and damages relating to armed conflict, civil strife, revolution, or a state of emergency; or payments arising out of the settlement of a dispute.5
Transfers shall be allowed in a freely usable currency, at the market exchange rate. However, freedom to transfer may be limited in cases involving: bankruptcy or insolvency, securities trading, criminal offences, financial regulatory oversight, on-going adjudication, taxation and social insurance, and employee severance entitlements.6
Next steps
Some terms of the AHK-IA remain undecided, in particular, guidelines applicable to investor-state dispute settlements will be determined by the parties by 17 June 2020, unless otherwise extended.7
The AHK-IA will enter into force for the remaining signatories: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines at a later date, following their respective domestic ratification process.
The AHK-IA is part of a wider process of economic integration and trade liberalisation between Hong Kong and ASEAN, as initiated by the ASEAN – Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement ("Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA "). The AHK FTA entered into force on 11 June 2019 for Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand and will reduce or eliminate customs duties across various industries, as well as permit greater market access for services.
Hong Kong is the leading foreign investor into Vietnam for 2019 with USD 5.08 billion invested from January through May of this year.8 This number is expected to grow as investors take advantage of the AHK-IA and the Hong Kong-ASEAN FTA in the years to come
For further information, please contact:
Frederick Burke, Partner, Baker McKenzie
frederick.burke@bakermckenzie.com
1 The Agreement on Investment among the Governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, signed on 12 November 2017 in Manila, Philippines.
2 Ibid, Article 1(e). Note that “investment” does not include an order or judgment entered in a judicial or administrative action or an arbitral award made in an arbitral proceeding; nor does it include claims to money that arise solely from: (i) commercial contracts for sale of goods or services; or (ii) the extension of credit in connection with such commercial contracts.
3 Ibid Article 3, 4, 5
4 Ibid Article 10 & 11.
