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International
Service Up-date Hong Kong
Process Service Network
specializes in legal service in Hong Kong and is one of the few firms that
handles international service of process and offers competitive rates. The
following is a summary of the methods available for service in Hong Kong as well
as a specific proposal for process service. Our job is to cut through the bureaucracy and red tape to get the service completed with as little delay as possible. We have been in business since 1978 and have developed close working relationships with key individuals in most countries throughout the world. The founder and CEO of Process Service Network was a Political Science major in college with a focus on international relations and is actively involved in a worldwide organization through which he has developed business and personal relationships in over 80 nations worldwide. He is also an International Circle member of the World Affairs Council. FORMAL SERVICE: Many
countries are signatories to The Hague Service Convention (treaty) that
governs service of process to be effected between participating nations. Service
of non-discovery documents in Hong
Kong
must be made by this method. Service is made by formal service through the
Central Authority which itself arranges for service by methods prescribed in
that province. Documents to be
served in accordance with this method must be translated into the
official language of the country where the documents will be served.
However, ENGLISH is still the official language of Hong Kong.
The time frame can range from 1 to 4 months (recently 2 months). Advantage:
Enforceable judgment and cost. INFORMAL SERVICE: Officially Hong Kong forbids service by the informal method since they are a province of mainland China where such service is not allowed. However, we have an agent (an employee of the government) who has legal permission to serve in Hong Kong. The turnaround time is less than one month but the cost is significant (see below). LETTERS ROGATORY:
Letters Rogatory is a request from a court in the United States to
a court in a foreign country requesting international judicial assistance
related to service of a Subpoena. This method is time consuming, cumbersome, and should
be used only when other options are not available.
Under Section 75 of the Hong Kong Evidence Ordinance and Part VIII of
Rule 70 of the Rules of the Supreme Court, the letter of request is sent to the
Hong Kong Central Authority who will arrange for local service. Note:
Use for taking deposition or obtaining evidence.
Disadvantage: Cost. TRANSLATIONS:
At this time, the official language of Hong Kong is English.
Therefore, no translation is needed. COSTS:
declarations:
We
provide any necessary formal Declarations, under penalty of perjury, that the
Court may require as to the progress and status of the service (at no
additional cost). WARNING: Beware
of companies that quote suspiciously low rates.
They often come back later with an excuse for an additional charge.
Our rates are firm for one address quoted.
Other companies are actually brokerage firms or website developers, not
process service agencies, who farm out assignments to secondary companies that
are not knowledgeable or qualified on international service of process. DISCLAIMER:
The information
contained herein is provided for general information only and may not be
accurate at the time of service in a particular case or country. Questions involving specific services should be directed to
our office. Care should be
exercised in choosing the method of service (formal/informal) if eventual
enforcement of a U.S. judgment is anticipated in the country where the documents
are to be served. No legal advice
is intended in the statements contained herein.
Assignments for international service of process are accepted on the
basis that the assigning law firm has researched all applicable laws.
Process Service Network
and its agents assume no liability for its actions in the course of any phase of
the service of process assignment. | |||||||||||||||
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