中华人民共和国合伙企业法中英文

中华人民共和国合伙企业法

（1997年2月23日第八届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十四次会议通过2006年8月27日第十届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十三次会议修订）

目录

第一章总则

第二章普通合伙企业

第一节合伙企业设立

第二节合伙企业财产

第三节合伙事务执行

第四节合伙企业与第三人关系

第五节入伙、退伙

第六节特殊的普通合伙企业

第三章有限合伙企业

第四章合伙企业解散、清算

第五章法律责任

第六章附则

第一章总则

第一条为了规范合伙企业的行为，保护合伙企业及其合伙人、债权人的合法权益，维护社会经济秩序，促进社会主义市场经济的发展，制定本法。

第二条本法所称合伙企业，是指自然人、法人和其他组织依照本法在中国境内设立的普通合伙企业和有限合伙企业。

普通合伙企业由普通合伙人组成，合伙人对合伙企业债务承担无限连带责任。本法对普通合伙人承担责任的形式有特别规定的，从其规定。

有限合伙企业由普通合伙人和有限合伙人组成，普通合伙人对合伙企业债务承担无限连带责任，有限合伙人以其认缴的出资额为限对合伙企业债务承担责任。

第三条国有独资公司、国有企业、上市公司以及公益性的事业单位、社会团体不得成为普通合伙人。

第四条合伙协议依法由全体合伙人协商一致、以书面形式订立。

第五条订立合伙协议、设立合伙企业，应当遵循自愿、平等、公平、诚实信用原则。

第六条合伙企业的生产经营所得和其他所得，按照国家有关税收规定，由合伙人分别缴纳所得税。

第七条合伙企业及其合伙人必须遵守法律、行政法规，遵守社会公德、商业道德，承担社会责任。

第八条合伙企业及其合伙人的合法财产及其权益受法律保护。

第九条申请设立合伙企业，应当向企业登记机关提交登记申请书、合伙协议书、合伙人身份证明等文件。

合伙企业的经营范围中有属于法律、行政法规规定在登记前须经批准的项目的，该项经营业务应当依法经过批准，并在登记时提交批准文件。

第十条申请人提交的登记申请材料齐全、符合法定形式，企业登记机关能够当场登记的，应予当场登记，发给营业执照。

除前款规定情形外，企业登记机关应当自受理申请之日起二十日内，作出是否登记的决定。予以登记的，发给营业执照；不予登记的，应当给予书面答复，并说明理由。

第十一条合伙企业的营业执照签发日期，为合伙企业成立日期。

合伙企业领取营业执照前，合伙人不得以合伙企业名义从事合伙业务。

第十二条合伙企业设立分支机构，应当向分支机构所在地的企业登记机关申请登记，领取营业执照。

第十三条合伙企业登记事项发生变更的，执行合伙事务的合伙人应当自作出变更决定或者发生变更事由之日起十五日内，向企业登记机关申请办理变更登记。

第二章普通合伙企业

第一节合伙企业设立

第十四条设立合伙企业，应当具备下列条件：

（一）有二个以上合伙人。合伙人为自然人的，应当具有完全民事行为能力；

（二）有书面合伙协议；

（三）有合伙人认缴或者实际缴付的出资；

（四）有合伙企业的名称和生产经营场所；

（五）法律、行政法规规定的其他条件。

第十五条合伙企业名称中应当标明“普通合伙”字样。

第十六条合伙人可以用货币、实物、知识产权、土地使用权或者其他财产权利出资，也可以用劳务出资。

合伙人以实物、知识产权、土地使用权或者其他财产权利出资，需要评估作价的，可以由全体合伙人协商确定，也可以由全体合伙人委托法定评估机构评估。

合伙人以劳务出资的，其评估办法由全体合伙人协商确定，并在合伙协议中载明。

第十七条合伙人应当按照合伙协议约定的出资方式、数额和缴付期限，履行出资义务。

以非货币财产出资的，依照法律、行政法规的规定，需要办理财产权转移手续的，应当依法办理。

第十八条合伙协议应当载明下列事项：

（一）合伙企业的名称和主要经营场所的地点；

（二）合伙目的和合伙经营范围；

（三）合伙人的姓名或者名称、住所；

（四）合伙人的出资方式、数额和缴付期限；

（五）利润分配、亏损分担方式；

（六）合伙事务的执行；

（七）入伙与退伙；

（八）争议解决办法；

（九）合伙企业的解散与清算；

（十）违约责任。

第十九条合伙协议经全体合伙人签名、盖章后生效。合伙人按照合伙协议享有权利，履行义务。

修改或者补充合伙协议，应当经全体合伙人一致同意；但是，合伙协议另有约定的除外。

合伙协议未约定或者约定不明确的事项，由合伙人协商决定；协商不成的，依照本法和其他有关法律、行政法规的规定处理。

第二节合伙企业财产

第二十条合伙人的出资、以合伙企业名义取得的收益和依法取得的其他财产，均为合伙企业的财产。

第二十一条合伙人在合伙企业清算前，不得请求分割合伙企业的财产；但是，本法另有规定的除外。

合伙人在合伙企业清算前私自转移或者处分合伙企业财产的，合伙企业不得以此对抗善意第三人。

第二十二条除合伙协议另有约定外，合伙人向合伙人以外的人转让其在合伙企业中的全部或者部分财产份额时，须经其他合伙人一致同意。

合伙人之间转让在合伙企业中的全部或者部分财产份额时，应当通知其他合伙人。

第二十三条合伙人向合伙人以外的人转让其在合伙企业中的财产份额的，在同等条件下，其他合伙人有优先购买权；但是，合伙协议另有约定的除外。

第二十四条合伙人以外的人依法受让合伙人在合伙企业中的财产份额的，经修改合伙协议即成为合伙企业的合伙人，依照本法和修改后的合伙协议享有权利，履行义务。

第二十五条合伙人以其在合伙企业中的财产份额出质的，须经其他合伙人一致同意；未经其他合伙人一致同意，其行为无效，由此给善意第三人造成损失的，由行为人依法承担赔偿责任。

第三节合伙事务执行

第二十六条合伙人对执行合伙事务享有同等的权利。

按照合伙协议的约定或者经全体合伙人决定，可以委托一个或者数个合伙人对外代表合伙企业，执行合伙事务。

作为合伙人的法人、其他组织执行合伙事务的，由其委派的代表执行。

第二十七条依照本法第二十六条第二款规定委托一个或者数个合伙人执行合伙事务的，其他合伙人不再执行合伙事务。

不执行合伙事务的合伙人有权监督执行事务合伙人执行合伙事务的情况。

第二十八条由一个或者数个合伙人执行合伙事务的，执行事务合伙人应当定期向其他合伙人报告事务执行情况以及合伙企业的经营和财务状况，其执行合伙事务所产生的收益归合伙企业，所产生的费用和亏损由合伙企业承担。

合伙人为了解合伙企业的经营状况和财务状况，有权查阅合伙企业会计账簿等财务资料。

第二十九条合伙人分别执行合伙事务的，执行事务合伙人可以对其他合伙人执行的事务提出异议。提出异议时，应当暂停该项事务的执行。如果发生争议，依照本法第三十条规定作出决定。

受委托执行合伙事务的合伙人不按照合伙协议或者全体合伙人的决定执行事务的，其他合伙人可以决定撤销该委托。

第三十条合伙人对合伙企业有关事项作出决议，按照合伙协议约定的表决办法办理。合伙协议未约定或者约定不明确的，实行合伙人一人一票并经全体合伙人过半数通过的表决办法。

本法对合伙企业的表决办法另有规定的，从其规定。

第三十一条除合伙协议另有约定外，合伙企业的下列事项应当经全体合伙人一致同意：

（一）改变合伙企业的名称；

（二）改变合伙企业的经营范围、主要经营场所的地点；

（三）处分合伙企业的不动产；

（四）转让或者处分合伙企业的知识产权和其他财产权利；

（五）以合伙企业名义为他人提供担保；

（六）聘任合伙人以外的人担任合伙企业的经营管理人员。

第三十二条合伙人不得自营或者同他人合作经营与本合伙企业相竞争的业务。

除合伙协议另有约定或者经全体合伙人一致同意外，合伙人不得同本合伙企业进行交易。

合伙人不得从事损害本合伙企业利益的活动。

第三十三条合伙企业的利润分配、亏损分担，按照合伙协议的约定办理；合伙协议未约定或者约定不明确的，由合伙人协商决定；协商不成的，由合伙人按照实缴出资比例分配、分担；无法确定出资比例的，由合伙人平均分配、分担。

合伙协议不得约定将全部利润分配给部分合伙人或者由部分合伙人承担全部亏损。

第三十四条合伙人按照合伙协议的约定或者经全体合伙人决定，可以增加或者减少对合伙企业的出资。

第三十五条被聘任的合伙企业的经营管理人员应当在合伙企业授权范围内履行职务。

被聘任的合伙企业的经营管理人员，超越合伙企业授权范围履行职务，或者在履行职务过程中因故意或者重大过失给合伙企业造成损失的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第三十六条合伙企业应当依照法律、行政法规的规定建立企业财务、会计制度。

第四节合伙企业与第三人关系

第三十七条合伙企业对合伙人执行合伙事务以及对外代表合伙企业权利的限制，不得对抗善意第三人。

第三十八条合伙企业对其债务，应先以其全部财产进行清偿。

第三十九条合伙企业不能清偿到期债务的，合伙人承担无限连带责任。

第四十条合伙人由于承担无限连带责任，清偿数额超过本法第三十三条第一款规定的其亏损分担比例的，有权向其他合伙人追偿。

第四十一条合伙人发生与合伙企业无关的债务，相关债权人不得以其债权抵销其对合伙企业的债务；也不得代位行使合伙人在合伙企业中的权利。

第四十二条合伙人的自有财产不足清偿其与合伙企业无关的债务的，该合伙人可以以其从合伙企业中分取的收益用于清偿；债权人也可以依法请求人民法院强制执行该合伙人在合伙企业中的财产份额用于清偿。

人民法院强制执行合伙人的财产份额时，应当通知全体合伙人，其他合伙人有优先购买权；其他合伙人未购买，又不同意将该财产份额转让给他人的，依照本法第五十一条的规定为该合伙人办理退伙结算，或者办理削减该合伙人相应财产份额的结算。

第五节入伙、退伙

第四十三条新合伙人入伙，除合伙协议另有约定外，应当经全体合伙人一致同意，并依法订立书面入伙协议。

订立入伙协议时，原合伙人应当向新合伙人如实告知原合伙企业的经营状况和财务状况。

第四十四条入伙的新合伙人与原合伙人享有同等权利，承担同等责任。入伙协议另有约定的，从其约定。

新合伙人对入伙前合伙企业的债务承担无限连带责任。

第四十五条合伙协议约定合伙期限的，在合伙企业存续期间，有下列情形之一的，合伙人可以退伙：

（一）合伙协议约定的退伙事由出现；

（二）经全体合伙人一致同意；

（三）发生合伙人难以继续参加合伙的事由；

（四）其他合伙人严重违反合伙协议约定的义务。

第四十六条合伙协议未约定合伙期限的，合伙人在不给合伙企业事务执行造成不利影响的情况下，可以退伙，但应当提前三十日通知其他合伙人。

第四十七条合伙人违反本法第四十五条、第四十六条的规定退伙的，应当赔偿由此给合伙企业造

成的损失。

第四十八条合伙人有下列情形之一的，当然退伙：

（一）作为合伙人的自然人死亡或者被依法宣告死亡；

（二）个人丧失偿债能力；

（三）作为合伙人的法人或者其他组织依法被吊销营业执照、责令关闭、撤销，或者被宣告破产；

（四）法律规定或者合伙协议约定合伙人必须具有相关资格而丧失该资格；

（五）合伙人在合伙企业中的全部财产份额被人民法院强制执行。

合伙人被依法认定为无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人的，经其他合伙人一致同意，可以依法转为有限合伙人，普通合伙企业依法转为有限合伙企业。其他合伙人未能一致同意的，该无民事行为能力或者限制民事行为能力的合伙人退伙。

退伙事由实际发生之日为退伙生效日。

第四十九条合伙人有下列情形之一的，经其他合伙人一致同意，可以决议将其除名：

（一）未履行出资义务；

（二）因故意或者重大过失给合伙企业造成损失；

（三）执行合伙事务时有不正当行为；

（四）发生合伙协议约定的事由。

对合伙人的除名决议应当书面通知被除名人。被除名人接到除名通知之日，除名生效，被除名人退伙。

被除名人对除名决议有异议的，可以自接到除名通知之日起三十日内，向人民法院起诉。

第五十条合伙人死亡或者被依法宣告死亡的，对该合伙人在合伙企业中的财产份额享有合法继承权的继承人，按照合伙协议的约定或者经全体合伙人一致同意，从继承开始之日起，取得该合伙企业的合伙人资格。

有下列情形之一的，合伙企业应当向合伙人的继承人退还被继承合伙人的财产份额：

（一）继承人不愿意成为合伙人；

（二）法律规定或者合伙协议约定合伙人必须具有相关资格，而该继承人未取得该资格；

（三）合伙协议约定不能成为合伙人的其他情形。

合伙人的继承人为无民事行为能力人或者限制民事行为能力人的，经全体合伙人一致同意，可以依法成为有限合伙人，普通合伙企业依法转为有限合伙企业。全体合伙人未能一致同意的，合伙企业应当将被继承合伙人的财产份额退还该继承人。

第五十一条合伙人退伙，其他合伙人应当与该退伙人按照退伙时的合伙企业财产状况进行结算，退还退伙人的财产份额。退伙人对给合伙企业造成的损失负有赔偿责任的，相应扣减其应当赔偿的数额。

退伙时有未了结的合伙企业事务的，待该事务了结后进行结算。

第五十二条退伙人在合伙企业中财产份额的退还办法，由合伙协议约定或者由全体合伙人决定，可以退还货币，也可以退还实物。

第五十三条退伙人对基于其退伙前的原因发生的合伙企业债务，承担无限连带责任。

第五十四条合伙人退伙时，合伙企业财产少于合伙企业债务的，退伙人应当依照本法第三十三条第一款的规定分担亏损。

第六节特殊的普通合伙企业

第五十五条以专业知识和专门技能为客户提供有偿服务的专业服务机构，可以设立为特殊的普通合伙企业。

特殊的普通合伙企业是指合伙人依照本法第五十七条的规定承担责任的普通合伙企业。

特殊的普通合伙企业适用本节规定；本节未作规定的，适用本章第一节至第五节的规定。

第五十六条特殊的普通合伙企业名称中应当标明“特殊普通合伙”字样。

第五十七条一个合伙人或者数个合伙人在执业活动中因故意或者重大过失造成合伙企业债务的，应当承担无限责任或者无限连带责任，其他合伙人以其在合伙企业中的财产份额为限承担责任。

合伙人在执业活动中非因故意或者重大过失造成的合伙企业债务以及合伙企业的其他债务，由全体合伙人承担无限连带责任。

第五十八条合伙人执业活动中因故意或者重大过失造成的合伙企业债务，以合伙企业财产对外承担责任后，该合伙人应当按照合伙协议的约定对给合伙企业造成的损失承担赔偿责任。

第五十九条特殊的普通合伙企业应当建立执业风险基金、办理职业保险。

执业风险基金用于偿付合伙人执业活动造成的债务。执业风险基金应当单独立户管理。具体管理办法由国务院规定。

第三章有限合伙企业

第六十条有限合伙企业及其合伙人适用本章规定；本章未作规定的，适用本法第二章第一节至第五节关于普通合伙企业及其合伙人的规定。

第六十一条有限合伙企业由二个以上五十个以下合伙人设立；但是，法律另有规定的除外。

有限合伙企业至少应当有一个普通合伙人。

第六十二条有限合伙企业名称中应当标明“有限合伙”字样。

第六十三条合伙协议除符合本法第十八条的规定外，还应当载明下列事项：

（一）普通合伙人和有限合伙人的姓名或者名称、住所；

（二）执行事务合伙人应具备的条件和选择程序；

（三）执行事务合伙人权限与违约处理办法；

（四）执行事务合伙人的除名条件和更换程序；

（五）有限合伙人入伙、退伙的条件、程序以及相关责任；

（六）有限合伙人和普通合伙人相互转变程序。

第六十四条有限合伙人可以用货币、实物、知识产权、土地使用权或者其他财产权利作价出资。

有限合伙人不得以劳务出资。

第六十五条有限合伙人应当按照合伙协议的约定按期足额缴纳出资；未按期足额缴纳的，应当承担补缴义务，并对其他合伙人承担违约责任。

第六十六条有限合伙企业登记事项中应当载明有限合伙人的姓名或者名称及认缴的出资数额。

第六十七条有限合伙企业由普通合伙人执行合伙事务。执行事务合伙人可以要求在合伙协议中确定执行事务的报酬及报酬提取方式。

第六十八条有限合伙人不执行合伙事务，不得对外代表有限合伙企业。

有限合伙人的下列行为，不视为执行合伙事务：

（一）参与决定普通合伙人入伙、退伙；

（二）对企业的经营管理提出建议；

（三）参与选择承办有限合伙企业审计业务的会计师事务所；

（四）获取经审计的有限合伙企业财务会计报告；

（五）对涉及自身利益的情况，查阅有限合伙企业财务会计账簿等财务资料；

（六）在有限合伙企业中的利益受到侵害时，向有责任的合伙人主张权利或者提起诉讼；

（七）执行事务合伙人怠于行使权利时，督促其行使权利或者为了本企业的利益以自己的名义提起诉讼；

（八）依法为本企业提供担保。

第六十九条有限合伙企业不得将全部利润分配给部分合伙人；但是，合伙协议另有约定的除外。

第七十条有限合伙人可以同本有限合伙企业进行交易；但是，合伙协议另有约定的除外。

第七十一条有限合伙人可以自营或者同他人合作经营与本有限合伙企业相竞争的业务；但是，合伙协议另有约定的除外。

第七十二条有限合伙人可以将其在有限合伙企业中的财产份额出质；但是，合伙协议另有约定的除外。

第七十三条有限合伙人可以按照合伙协议的约定向合伙人以外的人转让其在有限合伙企业中的财产份额，但应当提前三十日通知其他合伙人。

第七十四条有限合伙人的自有财产不足清偿其与合伙企业无关的债务的，该合伙人可以以其从有限合伙企业中分取的收益用于清偿；债权人也可以依法请求人民法院强制执行该合伙人在有限合伙企业中的财产份额用于清偿。

人民法院强制执行有限合伙人的财产份额时，应当通知全体合伙人。在同等条件下，其他合伙人有优先购买权。

第七十五条有限合伙企业仅剩有限合伙人的，应当解散；有限合伙企业仅剩普通合伙人的，转为普通合伙企业。

第七十六条第三人有理由相信有限合伙人为普通合伙人并与其交易的，该有限合伙人对该笔交易承担与普通合伙人同样的责任。

有限合伙人未经授权以有限合伙企业名义与他人进行交易，给有限合伙企业或者其他合伙人造成损失的，该有限合伙人应当承担赔偿责任。

第七十七条新入伙的有限合伙人对入伙前有限合伙企业的债务，以其认缴的出资额为限承担责任。

第七十八条有限合伙人有本法第四十八条第一款第一项、第三项至第五项所列情形之一的，当然退伙。

第七十九条作为有限合伙人的自然人在有限合伙企业存续期间丧失民事行为能力的，其他合伙人不得因此要求其退伙。

第八十条作为有限合伙人的自然人死亡、被依法宣告死亡或者作为有限合伙人的法人及其他组织终止时，其继承人或者权利承受人可以依法取得该有限合伙人在有限合伙企业中的资格。

第八十一条有限合伙人退伙后，对基于其退伙前的原因发生的有限合伙企业债务，以其退伙时从有限合伙企业中取回的财产承担责任。

第八十二条除合伙协议另有约定外，普通合伙人转变为有限合伙人，或者有限合伙人转变为普通合伙人，应当经全体合伙人一致同意。

第八十三条有限合伙人转变为普通合伙人的，对其作为有限合伙人期间有限合伙企业发生的债务承担无限连带责任。

第八十四条普通合伙人转变为有限合伙人的，对其作为普通合伙人期间合伙企业发生的债务承担无限连带责任。

第四章合伙企业解散、清算

第八十五条合伙企业有下列情形之一的，应当解散：

（一）合伙期限届满，合伙人决定不再经营；

（二）合伙协议约定的解散事由出现；

（三）全体合伙人决定解散；

（四）合伙人已不具备法定人数满三十天；

（五）合伙协议约定的合伙目的已经实现或者无法实现；

（六）依法被吊销营业执照、责令关闭或者被撤销；

（七）法律、行政法规规定的其他原因。

第八十六条合伙企业解散，应当由清算人进行清算。

清算人由全体合伙人担任；经全体合伙人过半数同意，可以自合伙企业解散事由出现后十五日内指定一个或者数个合伙人，或者委托第三人，担任清算人。

自合伙企业解散事由出现之日起十五日内未确定清算人的，合伙人或者其他利害关系人可以申请人民法院指定清算人。

第八十七条清算人在清算期间执行下列事务：

（一）清理合伙企业财产，分别编制资产负债表和财产清单；

（二）处理与清算有关的合伙企业未了结事务；

（三）清缴所欠税款；

（四）清理债权、债务；

（五）处理合伙企业清偿债务后的剩余财产；

（六）代表合伙企业参加诉讼或者仲裁活动。

第八十八条清算人自被确定之日起十日内将合伙企业解散事项通知债权人，并于六十日内在报纸上公告。债权人应当自接到通知书之日起三十日内，未接到通知书的自公告之日起四十五日内，向清算人申报债权。

债权人申报债权，应当说明债权的有关事项，并提供证明材料。清算人应当对债权进行登记。

清算期间，合伙企业存续，但不得开展与清算无关的经营活动。

第八十九条合伙企业财产在支付清算费用和职工工资、社会保险费用、法定补偿金以及缴纳所欠税款、清偿债务后的剩余财产，依照本法第三十三条第一款的规定进行分配。

第九十条清算结束，清算人应当编制清算报告，经全体合伙人签名、盖章后，在十五日内向企业登记机关报送清算报告，申请办理合伙企业注销登记。

第九十一条合伙企业注销后，原普通合伙人对合伙企业存续期间的债务仍应承担无限连带责任。

第九十二条合伙企业不能清偿到期债务的，债权人可以依法向人民法院提出破产清算申请，也可以要求普通合伙人清偿。

合伙企业依法被宣告破产的，普通合伙人对合伙企业债务仍应承担无限连带责任。

第五章法律责任

第九十三条违反本法规定，提交虚假文件或者采取其他欺骗手段，取得合伙企业登记的，由企业登记机关责令改正，处以五千元以上五万元以下的罚款；情节严重的，撤销企业登记，并处以五万元以上二十万元以下的罚款。

第九十四条违反本法规定，合伙企业未在其名称中标明“普通合伙”、“特殊普通合伙”或者“有限合伙”字样的，由企业登记机关责令限期改正，处以二千元以上一万元以下的罚款。

第九十五条违反本法规定，未领取营业执照，而以合伙企业或者合伙企业分支机构名义从事合伙业务的，由企业登记机关责令停止，处以五千元以上五万元以下的罚款。

合伙企业登记事项发生变更时，未依照本法规定办理变更登记的，由企业登记机关责令限期登记；逾期不登记的，处以二千元以上二万元以下的罚款。

合伙企业登记事项发生变更，执行合伙事务的合伙人未按期申请办理变更登记的，应当赔偿由此给合伙企业、其他合伙人或者善意第三人造成的损失。

第九十六条合伙人执行合伙事务，或者合伙企业从业人员利用职务上的便利，将应当归合伙企业的利益据为己有的，或者采取其他手段侵占合伙企业财产的，应当将该利益和财产退还合伙企业；给合伙企业或者其他合伙人造成损失的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第九十七条合伙人对本法规定或者合伙协议约定必须经全体合伙人一致同意始得执行的事务擅自处理，给合伙企业或者其他合伙人造成损失的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第九十八条不具有事务执行权的合伙人擅自执行合伙事务，给合伙企业或者其他合伙人造成损失的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第九十九条合伙人违反本法规定或者合伙协议的约定，从事与本合伙企业相竞争的业务或者与本合伙企业进行交易的，该收益归合伙企业所有；给合伙企业或者其他合伙人造成损失的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第一百条清算人未依照本法规定向企业登记机关报送清算报告，或者报送清算报告隐瞒重要事实，或者有重大遗漏的，由企业登记机关责令改正。由此产生的费用和损失，由清算人承担和赔偿。

第一百零一条清算人执行清算事务，牟取非法收入或者侵占合伙企业财产的，应当将该收入和侵占的财产退还合伙企业；给合伙企业或者其他合伙人造成损失的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第一百零二条清算人违反本法规定，隐匿、转移合伙企业财产，对资产负债表或者财产清单作虚假记载，或者在未清偿债务前分配财产，损害债权人利益的，依法承担赔偿责任。

第一百零三条合伙人违反合伙协议的，应当依法承担违约责任。

合伙人履行合伙协议发生争议的，合伙人可以通过协商或者调解解决。不愿通过协商、调解解决或者协商、调解不成的，可以按照合伙协议约定的仲裁条款或者事后达成的书面仲裁协议，向仲裁机构申请仲裁。合伙协议中未订立仲裁条款，事后又没有达成书面仲裁协议的，可以向人民法院起诉。

第一百零四条有关行政管理机关的工作人员违反本法规定，滥用职权、徇私舞弊、收受贿赂、侵害合伙企业合法权益的，依法给予行政处分。

第一百零五条违反本法规定，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。

第一百零六条违反本法规定，应当承担民事赔偿责任和缴纳罚款、罚金，其财产不足以同时支付的，先承担民事赔偿责任。

第六章附则

第一百零七条非企业专业服务机构依据有关法律采取合伙制的，其合伙人承担责任的形式可以适用本法关于特殊的普通合伙企业合伙人承担责任的规定。

第一百零八条外国企业或者个人在中国境内设立合伙企业的管理办法由国务院规定。

第一百零九条本法自2007年6月1日起施行。

Law of the People's Republic of China on Partnerships

（Adopted at the 24th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People's Congress on February 23, 1997 and amended at the 23rd Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress on August 27, 2006）

Contents

Chapter I General Provisions

Chapter II General Partnerships

Section 1 Establishment of a Partnership

Section 2 Property of a Partnership

Section 3 Management of Partnership Affairs

Section 4 Relationship of a Partnership to a Third Party

Section 5 Entering into and Retiring from a Partnership

Section 6 Specialized General Partnerships

Chapter III Limited Liability Partnerships

Chapter IV Dissolution and Liquidation of a Partnership

Chapter V Legal Liability

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted in order to regulate the behavior of partnerships, to protect the lawful rights and interests of partnerships and the partners and creditors therein, to maintain social and economic order, and to promote the development of the socialist market economy.

Article 2 For the purposes of this Law, “partnerships” refer to both general partnerships and limited liability partnerships, both of which are established according to this Law by natural persons, legal persons or other organizations within the territory of China.

A general partnership is composed of general partners who bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of the partnership. Where there are special provisions in this Law on the forms of liability borne by general partners, those provisions shall prevail.

A limited liability partnership is composed of general partners and limited partners, with the former bearing unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of the partnership and the latter bearing liability for such debts respectively within the limits of the capital contributions subscribed for.

Article 3 A wholly State-owned company, a State-owned enterprise, a listed company, or a public welfare undertaking or public organization shall not become a general partner.

Article 4 A partnership agreement shall be lawfully concluded, in written form, on the basis of agreement reached by all the partners through consultation.

Article 5 The principles of free will, equality, fairness and good faith shall be observed in concluding a partnership agreement and establishing a partnership.

Article 6 The partners of a partnership shall, according to the tax regulations of the State, respectively pay taxes on the partnership's incomes derived from production, business operation and other sources.

Article 7 A partnership and its partners shall abide by laws and administrative regulations, observe social and business ethics and shoulder social responsibility.

Article 8 The lawful property and rights and interests of a partnership and the partners therein shall be protected by law.

Article 9 For the application for establishment of a partnership, such documents as a written application for registration, a partnership agreement and the identity papers of the partners shall be submitted to the enterprise registration authority.

Where within the business scope of a partnership there is any item for which approval is required prior to registration of the partnership, as provided for by laws or administrative regulations, such approval shall be obtained according to law and the approval document shall be submitted when applying for registration.

Article 10 Where the application materials submitted for registration by an applicant are complete and conform to the statutory form, the enterprise registration authority shall, if it can, grant the registration on the spot and issue a business license.

In the absence of what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the enterprise registration authority shall, within 20 days from the date it receives an application for registration, decide whether or not to grant registration. If it decides to grant registration, it shall issue a business license; otherwise, it shall give a written reply and state the reasons.

Article 11 The date of issuance of the business license to a partnership shall be the date of establishment of the partnership.

Before a partnership obtains the business license, no partner therein shall engage in any partnership activities in the name of the partnership.

Article 12 Where a partnership intends to set up a branch, it shall apply for registration to the enterprise registration authority at the place where the branch is to be located, in order to obtain a business license.

Article 13 Where a registered item of a partnership needs to be altered, the managing partner shall, within 15 days from the date a decision on alteration is made or the cause for alteration arises, apply to the enterprise registration authority for registration of alteration.

Chapter II General Partnerships

Section 1 Establishment of a Partnership

Article 14 For establishment of a partnership, the following conditions shall be met:

（1）having two or more partners. If a partner is a natural person, he shall have full capacity for civil conduct;

（2）having a written partnership agreement;

（3）having capital subscribed for or actually contributed by partners;

（4）having a name for the partnership as well as production and business premises; and （5）other conditions provided for by laws and administrative regulations.

Article 15 The words “general partnership” shall be clearly indicated in the name of a partnership.

Article 16 A partner may make capital contributions in cash or in kind, or in the form of intellectual property rights, land-use right or other property rights, or labor services.

Where a partner makes capital contributions in kind or in the form of intellectual property rights, land-use right or other property rights, the value of which needs to be assessed, the value may be determined by all the partners through consultation, or be assessed by a statutory assessment institution authorized by all the partners.

Where a partner makes capital contributions in the form of labor services, the method of assessment shall be determined by all the partners through consultation and be clearly stated in the partnership agreement.

Article 17 A partner shall fulfill the obligation of capital contributions in compliance with the form, amount and time limit for contribution, as are specified in the partnership agreement.

Where capital contributions are made with non-monetary property and, according to the provisions of laws or administrative regulations, formalities for transfer of the said property need to be completed, such formalities shall be completed according to law.

Article 18 In a partnership agreement, the following items shall be stated clearly:

（1）the name of the partnership and the location of its principal premises for business;

（2）the objectives of partnership and the scope of business of the partnership;

（3）the names or titles, and domiciles of the partners;

（4）the form, amount and time limit for capital contributions to be made by the partners;

（5）the way of distributing profits and sharing losses;

（6）the management of partnership affairs;

（7）the entering into and retiring from the partnership;

（8）the method of dispute settlement;

（9）the dissolution and liquidation of the partnership; and

（10）the liability for breech of agreement.

Article 19 A partnership agreement shall become effective after all the partners have signed or affixed their seals to it. A partner shall enjoy rights and undertake liabilities in accordance with the partnership agreement.

Amendment and supplement to the partnership agreement shall be subject to agreement reached by all the partners, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

For a matter which is not included in the partnership agreement or which is not clearly stated in the agreement, it shall be decided on by the partners through consultation; where consultation fails, it shall be handled according to the provisions of this Law and of other laws or administrative regulations.

Section 2 Property of a Partnership

Article 20 All the capital contributions made by the partners, the incomes derived, and other property lawfully obtained, in the name of the partnership constitute the property of the partnership.

Article 21 Prior to liquidation of a partnership, no partner may request to divide the property of the partnership, unless otherwise provided for in this Law.

Where, prior to liquidation of a partnership, a partner privately transfers or disposes of the property of the partnership, the partnership shall not set it up against a bona fide third party.

Article 22 When a partner intends to assign all or part of his shares of the partnership property to anyone other than the partners therein, he shall obtain consent of all the other partners, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

When a partner intends to assign all or part of his shares of the partnership property to another partner, he shall notify the rest of the partners.

Article 23 Where a partner assigns his shares of the partnership property to anyone other than the partners therein, the other partners shall, under equal conditions, enjoy first priority in purchasing his shares, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Article 24 When anyone other than the partners lawfully obtains a partner's assigned shares of property of a partnership, he shall, upon amendment made to the partnership agreement, become a partner in the partnership, and enjoy the rights and undertake the liabilities in accordance with this Law and the amended partnership agreement.

Article 25 Where a partner intends to put his shares of property in a partnership to pledge, he shall obtain consent of all the other partners; without such consent, his act in question shall be invalid and, if losses are caused to a bona fide third party, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Section 3 Management of Partnership Affairs

Article 26 All partners shall enjoy equal right in the management of partnership affairs.

One or more partners may, in accordance with the partnership agreement or through decision by all the partners, be authorized to represent the partnership in its relations with people outside the partnership and to manage partnership affairs.

Where a legal person or any other organization manages partnership affairs in the capacity of a partner, it shall send its representative to manage such affairs.

Article 27 Where one or more partners are authorized to manage partnership affairs, as provided for in the second paragraph of Article 26 of this Law, no other partners shall manage such affairs.

The partners not managing partnership affairs shall have the right to supervise the management of such affairs by the managing partners.

Article 28 Where partnership affairs are managed by one or more partners, the managing partner（s）shall, at regular intervals, report to the other partners the state of management and business operations and the financial status of the partnership and the incomes derived from management of partnership affairs shall belong to the partnership and the expenses or losses entailed shall be borne by the partnership.

Partners shall have the right to consult such financial data as the accounting books of the partnership in order to become acquainted with the state of business operations and the financial status of the partnership.

Article 29 Where partners manage partnership affairs separately, one managing partner may raise objections to the management done by another. In that event, management of the affairs in question shall be suspended. If any dispute arises, a decision on the matter may be made according to the provisions in Article 30 of this Law.

Where a partner authorized to manage partnership affairs fails to do it according to the partnership agreement or the decision made by all the partners, the other partners may decide to revoke the authorization.

Article 30 Where the partners intend to adopt a resolution on a matter relating to the partnership, the method of vote stipulated in the partnership agreement shall be used. Where no such method is stipulated or clearly stipulated in the partnership agreement, the method whereby one person has one vote and a resolution is adopted by a majority vote of all the partners shall be used.

Where this Law provides otherwise with respect to the method of vote for a partnership, such provisions shall prevail.

Article 31 Unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement, the following matters relating to a partnership shall be subject to consent of all the partners:

（1）alteration of the name of the partnership;

（2）alteration of the business scope or the main business premises of the partnership;

（3）disposal of the immovables of the partnership;

（4）assignment or disposal of the intellectual property rights or other property rights of the partnership;

（5）provision of guaranty for another person in the name of the partnership; and

（6）appointment of persons other than the partners as managers of the partnership.

Article 32 No partner may, by himself or through cooperation with another person, engage in business in competition with the partnership in which he is a partner.

No partner may conduct business transactions with the partnership in which he is a partner, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement or consented by all the partners.

No person may engage in any activities that harm the interests of the partnership in which he is a partner.

Article 33 The profits or losses of a partnership shall be distributed among or borne by the partners according to the partnership agreement; where such matter is not stipulated or not clearly stipulated in the partnership agreement, it shall be decided on by the partners through consultation; where consultation fails, the profits or losses shall be shared pro rata by all the partners on the basis of their actual capital contributions; where the proportions of the capital contributions made by the partners cannot be determined, the profits or losses shall be equally shared by all of them.

A partnership agreement may not stipulate that all the profits are distributed among part of the partners or all the losses are borne by part of the partners.

Article 34 A partner may, in conformity with the partnership agreement or the decision by all the partners, increase or reduce his capital contributions to the partnership.

Article 35 A manager appointed by a partnership shall fulfill his duties within the scope of power authorized by the partnership.

Where a manager appointed by a partnership causes losses to the partnership by performing his duties beyond the scope of power authorized by the partnership, or by intentional acts or through gross negligence in the course of performance of his duties, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Article 36 A partnership shall establish its financial and accounting systems in accordance with the provisions of laws and administrative regulations.

Section 4 Relationship of a Partnership to a Third Party

Article 37 A partnership may not use restrictions, which it places on the rights of the partners in managing partnership affairs and representing the partnership in its relations with people outside the partnership, against a bona fide third party.

Article 38 A partnership shall first pay off its debts with all of its property.

Article 39 Where a partnership cannot cover its debts due, the partners shall bear unlimited joint and several liability.

Article 40 Where the amount of debts paid off by a partner, due to his unlimited joint and several liability, exceeds the proportion of the losses he should bear as prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 33 of this Law, he shall have the right to claim recovery from the other partners.

Article 41 Where a partner happens to owe debts which are unrelated to the partnership, the creditor concerned may not use his claim against the said partner to offset the debts he owes to the partnership, nor may he exercise in subrogation the rights enjoyed by the said partner in the partnership.

Article 42 Where a partner's personal property is not sufficient to pay off his debts unrelated to the partnership, he may use the proceeds distributed to him by the partnership to clear off his debts; and the creditor, on his part, may, according to law, apply to a people's court for compulsory execution of the partner's share of property in the partnership for the purpose.

Before a people's court puts into compulsory execution of the share of property of a partner, it shall notify all the other partners of the matter, who shall enjoy first priority in purchasing the partner's share of property. Where the other partners do not want to purchase such property and

object to its assignment to another person, they shall, according to the provisions in Article 51 of this Law, settle accounts with the said partner for his retirement from the partnership or do so by appropriately deducting his share of property in the partnership.

Section 5 Entering into and Retiring from a Partnership

Article 43 To enter into an existing partnership, a person shall have to obtain consent of all the partners and, according to law, conclude a written agreement for entering into the partnership, unless otherwise stipulated in the existing partnership agreement.

When concluding an agreement with a person for his entering into the partnership, the existing partners shall truthfully make known to the new partner the state of business operations and the financial status of the partnership.

Article 44 The new partner shall enjoy the same rights and bear the same liability as the old partners, where the agreement for entering into the partnership stipulates otherwise, such stipulations shall prevail.

The new partner shall bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of the partnership incurred before he enters into the partnership.

Article 45 Where the period of time for partnership is specified in a partnership agreement, a partner may, during the existence of the partnership, retire from the partnership under any of the following situations:

（1）The cause for retiring stipulated in the partnership agreement arises;

（2）Consent of all the partners is obtained;

（3）The situation in which the partner finds it difficult to remain in the partnership arises; or （4）Other partners seriously violate the partnership agreement in terms of their obligations.

Article 46 Where the period of time for partnership is not specified in a partnership agreement, a partner may retire from the partnership provided that his retirement will not adversely affect the management of the partnership's affairs, however, he shall notify the other partners 30 days in advance.

Article 47 If a partner retires from the partnership against the provisions in Articles 45 and 46 of this Law, he shall compensate for the losses thus caused to the partnership.

Article 48 A partner shall, under any of the following situations, naturally retire from the partnership:

（1）As a natural person in the partnership, he is deceased or is legally declared dead;

（2）He becomes unable to clear off his debts;

（3）As a legal person or other organization in the partnership, its business license is revoked, or it is ordered to close down or dissolve, or is declared bankrupt;

（4）He or it no longer possesses the qualifications which a partner is required to possess by law or the partnership agreement; or

（5）All the partner's share of property in the partnership is compulsorily executed by a people's court.

Where a partner is legally recognized as a person without the capacity or with limited capacity for civil conduct, upon consent of all the other partners, he may become a limited partner according to law and the general partnership shall be transformed into a limited liability partnership according to law. Where the other partners fail to reach a consensus on the matter, the partner in question shall retire from the partnership.

The retirement shall take effect as of the date the cause for retiring actually arises.

Article 49 A partner may, under any of the following conditions, be expelled by a resolution unanimously adopted by the other partners:

（1）He fails to fulfill his obligations to make capital contributions;

（2）He causes losses to the partnership through intentional acts or gross negligence;

（3）He resorts to irregular practices in managing partnership affairs; or

（4）The cause stipulated in the partnership agreement arises.

The partner to be expelled shall be notified in writing of the resolution on his expulsion. The expulsion shall take effect on the date the person in question receives the notification, and he shall retire from the partnership thereupon.

If the person expelled has objections to the resolution on his expulsion, he may bring a lawsuit in a people's court within 30 days from the date he receives the notification for his expulsion.

Article 50 Where a partner is deceased or is legally declared dead, the successor enjoying the lawful right to inheritance of the partner's share of property in the partnership shall, in accordance with the partnership agreement or with consent of all the partners, acquire the status of a partner in the said partnership from the date succession commences.

A partnership shall, under any of the following conditions, return to the successor the share of property of the deceased partner in the partnership:

（1）The successor is not willing to become a partner;

（2）The successor does not have the qualifications of a partner, as is required by laws or the partnership agreement; or

（3）Other conditions under which a successor cannot become a partner, as is stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Where the successor to a deceased partner is a person without the capacity or with limited capacity for civil conduct, upon consent of all the other partners, he may become a limited partner according to law, and the general partnership shall be transformed into a limited liability partnership according to law. Where the other partners fail to reach a consensus on the matter, the partnership shall return to the successor in question the share of property of the deceased partner.

Article 51 Where a partner retires from a partnership, the other partners shall settle accounts with him in light of the property status of the partnership at the time of his retiring and return his share of property to him. Where the retiring partner is liable for the losses caused to the partnership, the amount for the compensation payable shall be deducted from his share of property.

If there are partnership affairs still outstanding at the time of his retiring, the accounts shall be settled afterwards.

Article 52 The method for return of the retiring partner's share of property in the partnership shall be specified in the partnership agreement or determined by all the partners. It may be returned in cash or in kind.

Article 53 The retiring partner shall bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts the partnership comes to owe due to causes that arise prior to his retirement.

Article 54 Where the property of a partnership is less than its debts at the time when a partner retires, the retiring partner shall share the losses in accordance with the provisions in the first paragraph of Article 33 of this Law.

Section 6 Specialized General Partnerships

Article 55 A professional entity that provides paid services to its clients with specialized knowledge and skills may form a specialized general partnership.

A specialized general partnership is a general partnership whose partners bear liability according to the provisions in Article 57 of this Law.

The provisions in this Section shall be applicable to specialized general partnerships; where for matters there are no provisions in this Section to govern, the provisions from Section 1 through 5 of this Chapter shall be applicable.

Article 56 Th e words “specialized general partnership” shall be included in the name of a specialized general partnership.

Article 57 Where a partnership incurs debts through the intentional acts or gross negligence on the part of one or more partners in business activities, he or they shall bear unlimited liability or unlimited joint and several liability, and the other partners shall bear limited liability based on the share of property they each have in the partnership.

All the partners of a partnership shall bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts the partnership incurs not through the intentional acts or gross negligence on the part of a partner in his business activities and for the other debts incurred by the partnership.

Article 58 Where a partnership incurs debts due to a partner's intentional acts or gross negligence in his business activities, after the debts are paid off with the property of the partnership, the said partner shall, in accordance with what is stipulated in the partnership agreement, be liable for the losses of the partnership.

Article 59 A specialized general partnership shall set up a fund against malpractice risks and purchase professional liability insurance.

The fund against malpractice risks shall be used for paying the debts incurred by partners in their business activities. A separate account for such fund shall be opened and be managed separately. The specific management measures shall be formulated by the State Council.

Chapter III Limited Liability Partnerships

Article 60 The provisions of this Chapter shall be applicable to limited liability partnerships and their partners; where for matters there are no provisions in this Chapter to govern, the provisions governing general partnerships and their partners from Section 1 through 5 of Chapter II of this Law shall be applicable.

Article 61 A limited liability partnership shall be formed by not less than two but not more than fifty partners, unless otherwise provided for by law.

There shall be at least one general partner in a limited liability partnership.

Article 62 The words “limited liability partnership” shall be indicated in the name of a limited liability partnership.

Article 63 Apart from the ones proscribed in Article 18 of this Law, the partnership agreement shall include the following items:

（1）the names or titles and domiciles of the general partners and limited partners;

（2）the qualifications for the managing partners and the procedure for their selection;

（3）the limits of power of the managing partners and method for disposition of breaches of partnership agreement;

（4）the conditions for expelling a managing partner and the procedure for replacement;

（5）the conditions and procedure for entering into and retiring from the limited liability partnership, and the related liabilities; and

（6）the procedure for a limited partner to become a general partner, and vice versa.

Article 64 A limited partner may make capital contributions in cash or in kind, with intellectual property rights, land-use right, or other property rights, the values of which are assessed.

A limited partner shall not make capital contributions in the form of labor services.

Article 65 A limited partner shall make his capital contributions in full and on schedule, as are agreed upon in the partnership agreement; if he fails to do so, he shall be obligated to make up the difference and bear liability to the other partners for breach of agreement.

Article 66 Among the items to be registered by a limited liability partnership shall be included the names or titles of the limited partners and the amount of capital contributions subscribed for by each of them.

Article 67 The affairs of a limited liability partnership shall be managed by the general partners of the partnership. The managing partners may demand that payment for management of affairs and the way of drawing such payment be stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Article 68 A limited partner of a limited liability partnership shall not manage partnership affairs or represent the partnership in its relations with people outside the partnership.

The following acts of a limited partner shall not be deemed to be management of partnership affairs:

（1）to participate in deciding on a general partner's entering into or retiring from the partnership;

（2）to raise suggestions concerning the operation and management of the partnership;

（3）to participate in the selection of a public accounting firm responsible for providing auditing services to the partnership;

（4）to obtain the audited financial statements of the partnership;

（5）where his personal interests are involved, to consult the financial materials of the partnership such as the accounting books;

（6）when his interests in the partnership are infringed upon, to claim his rights from the partners who are liable or to initiate a lawsuit;

（7）when the managing partners neglect to exercise their rights, to urge them to do so, or to initiate a lawsuit in his own name for the benefit of the partnership; and

（8）to provide guaranty for the partnership according to law.

Article 69 A limited liability partnership shall not distribute all the profits to part of the partners, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Article 70 A limited partner of a limited liability partnership may conduct transactions with the partnership, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Article 71 A limited partner of a limited liability partnership may, by himself or in cooperation with others, engage in business in competition with the partnership, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Article 72 A limited partner may pledge his share of property in the limited liability partnership, unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement.

Article 73 A limited partner may, in accordance with the partnership agreement, assign his share of property in the limited liability partnership to persons other than the partners of the partnership, provided that he notifies the other partners 30 day in advance.

Article 74 Where a limited partner's personal property is insufficient to pay off his debts unrelated to the limited liability partnership, he may use his share of income from the limited liability partnership to pay off such debts; and the creditor may, according to law, request the people's court to compulsorily execute the partner's share of property in the limited liability partnership for payment.

Where a people's court compulsorily executes the share of property of a limited partner in a limited liability partnership, it shall notify all the partners. Under equal conditions, the other partners shall have first priority to purchase the property in question.

Article 75 A limited liability partnership shall be dissolved when there are only limited partners left in the partnership; and it shall be transformed into a general partnership when there are only general partners left.

Article 76 Where a third party is justified in believing that a limited partner is a general partner and transacts a deal with him, the limited partner in question shall bear the same liability for the deal as a general partner does.

Where without authorization a limited partner transacts a deal with another person in the name of the limited liability partnership and thus causes losses to the partnership or other partners, the said partner shall be liable for the losses.

Article 77 A new limited partner shall, within the amount of the capital contributions subscribed for by him, be liable for the debts the limited liability partnership incurs prior to his entering into the partnership.

Article 78 A limited partner shall naturally retire from the partnership under any of the situations prescribed in Subparagraphs （1）and （3）through （5）of the first paragraph in Article 48 of this Law.

Article 79 When during the existence of a limited liability partnership, a limited partner who is a natural person loses the capacity for civil conduct, the other partners shall not demand that he retire from the partnership for that reason.

Article 80 When a limited partner who is a natural person is deceased or legally declared dead, or a limited partner which is a legal person or other organization is terminated, the successor or the successor in title may obtain the status of the aforementioned limited partner in the partnership according to law.

Article 81 After a limited partner retires from a limited liability partnership, he shall be liable, with the property he takes back from the limited liability partnership upon his retirement, for the

debts the partnership comes to owe due to causes that arise prior to his retirement from the partnership.

Article 82 Unless otherwise stipulated in the partnership agreement, a general partner to become a limited partner or vice versa shall be subject to consent of all the partners.

Article 83 Where a limited partner becomes a general partner, he shall bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts the partnership incurs during the period he is a limited partner.

Article 84 Where a general partner becomes a limited partner, he shall bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts the partnership incurs during the period he is a general partner.

Chapter IV Dissolution and Liquidation of a Partnership

Article 85 A partnership shall be dissolved in one of the following situations:

（1）At the expiration of the period of time for partnership, the partners decide not to continue operation;

（2）The cause for dissolution specified in the partnership agreement arises;

（3）All the partners decide to dissolve;

（4）The number of partners does not meet the statutory requirement for 30 days;

（5）The objectives of partnership specified in the partnership agreement have been achieved or it is impossible to achieve them;

（6）Its business license is revoked, or it is ordered to close down or is dissolved, according to law; or

（7）Other reasons provided for by laws or administrative regulations arise.

Article 86 Where a partnership is dissolved, it shall be liquidated by liquidators.

All of the partners shall serve as liquidators or, upon agreement by the majority of all the partners, one or more partners may be designated, or a third person may be authorized, to act as liquidators within 15 days after the cause for dissolution of the partnership arises.

Where no liquidators are decided on within 15 days after the cause for dissolution of the partnership arises, the partners or other interested parties may apply to a people's court for designation of liquidators.

Article 87 During liquidation, a liquidator shall manage the following affairs:

（1）checking up on the property of the partnership and prepare a statement of assets and liabilities and an inventory of the property separately;

（2）dealing with the outstanding partnership affairs which are relevant to liquidation;

（3）paying off the taxes owed by the partnership;

（4）clearing up claims and debts;

（5）disposing of the residual property of the partnership after paying off the debts; and （6）participating in proceedings or arbitrations on behalf of the partnership.

Article 88 A liquidator shall, within 10 days from the date a decision is made on his serving as such, notify the creditors of the intended dissolution of the partnership and shall make an announcement in a newspaper within 60 days. The creditors shall, within 30 days from the date they receive the notice, file their claims to the liquidator, and the creditors who fail to receive the notice shall do so within 45 days from the date the announcement is made.

When a creditor files a claim, he shall specify the matters related to the claim and provide the relevant document of proof. The liquidator shall register such a claim.

During the period of liquidation, the partnership shall remain in existence, however, it shall not engage in any business activities unrelated to liquidation.

Article 89 After payment with the partnership property of the liquidation expenses, the wages, social insurance premiums and statutory compensation of the employees and the taxes due and debts owed by the partnership, the residual property shall be distributed according to the provisions in the first paragraph of Article 33 of this Law.

Article 90 Upon conclusion of liquidation, the liquidator shall prepare a liquidation report and shall, after having it signed by, and affixed with the seals of, all the partners, submit it to the

enterprise registration authority within 15 days and apply for cancellation of the registration of the partnership.

Article 91 After the registration of a partnership is cancelled, the former general partners shall still bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts the partnership incurs during the period of its existence.

Article 92 Where a partnership is unable to pay off the debts due, its creditors may, according to law, apply to a people's court for bankruptcy liquidation of the partnership, or demand that the general partners pay off such debts.

Where a partnership is declared bankrupt according to law, its general partners shall still bear unlimited joint and several liability for the debts of the partnership.

Chapter V Legal Liability

Article 93 Where a partnership, in violation of the provisions of this Law, obtains its registration by submitting falsified documents or resorting to other fraudulent means, it shall be ordered by the enterprise registration authority to make rectification and be fined not less than RMB 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan; if the circumstances are serious, the registration of the partnership shall be revoked and it shall, in addition, be fined not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan.

Article 94 Where a partnership, in violation of the provisions of this Law, fails to include in its name such words as “general partnership” ,“specialized general partnership” or “limited liability partnership”, it shall be ordered by the enterprise registration authority to make rectification within a time limit and be fined not less than 2,000 yuan but not more than 10,000 yuan.

Article 95 Where an entity, in violation of the provisions of this Law, engages in partnership business in the name of a partnership or its branch without obtaining a business license, it shall be ordered by the enterprise registration authority to discontinue the business activities and be fined not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan.

Where a partnership fails to go through the procedures for altering its registration according to law when the registered items are altered, it shall be ordered by the enterprise registration authority to have the alterations registered within a time limit; if it fails to do so before the expiration of the prescribed time limit, it shall be fined not less than 2,000 yuan but not more than 20,000 yuan.

Where the managing partner of a partnership fails to apply on time for registering the alterations made by the partnership in its registered items, he shall be liable for the losses thus caused to the partnership, the other partners or a bona fide third party.

Article 96 Where a partner, when managing partnership affairs, or an employee of a partnership, by taking advantage of his position, takes into his own possession the interests that should go to the partnership or takes illegal possession of the property of the partnership by other means, he shall return such interests or property to the partnership; where he causes losses to the partnership or the other partners, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Article 97 Where a partner, without authorization, disposes of the affairs which may be managed by a partner only with the consent of all the partners as provided for in this Law or in the partnership agreement and thus causes losses to the partnership or the other partners, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Article 98 Where a partner who does not have the power to manage partnership affairs manages the affairs without authorization and thus causes losses to the partnership or the other partners, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Article 99 Where a partner, in violation of the provisions of this Law or of the partnership agreement, engages in business in competition with the partnership in which he is a partner or conduct business transactions with the said partnership, the income derived therefrom shall belong to the partnership; if he causes losses to the partnership or the other partners, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Article 100 Where a liquidator fails to submit a liquidation report to the enterprise registration authority according to the provisions of this Law, or conceals important facts or omits major

information in the liquidation report submitted, he shall be ordered by the enterprise registration authority to make rectification. The expenses and losses thus entailed shall be borne by the liquidator.

Article 101 Where a liquidator, in managing the affairs of liquidation, obtains unlawful incomes or takes illegal possession of the property of the partnership, he shall return such incomes or property to the partnership; if he causes losses to the partnership or the other partners, he shall be liable for the losses according to law.

Article 102 Where a liquidator, in violation of the provisions of this Law, conceals or transfers the property of a partnership, or makes false records in the statement of assets and liabilities or the inventory of property, or distributes the partnership's property before clearing off the debts, thus harming the interests of creditors, he shall be liable for compensation according to law.

Article 103 Where a partner violates the partnership agreement, he shall bear the liability for breach of agreement according law.

Where a dispute arises among the partners over the execution of the partnership agreement, the partners may settle it through consultation or mediation. If they are unwilling to do so or if consultation or mediation proves unsuccessful, they may apply to an arbitration agency for arbitration in accordance with the arbitration clause contained in the partnership agreement or a written arbitration agreement concluded afterwards. If no arbitration clause is contained in the partnership agreement and no written arbitration agreement is concluded afterwards, they may bring a lawsuit in a people's court.

Article 104 Where, in violation of the provisions of this Law, a staff member of an administrative department concerned abuses his power, engages in malpractices for selfish ends, receives or accepts bribes or infringes the lawful rights and interests of a partnership, he shall be given an administrative sanction according to law.

Article 105 Where a violation of the provisions of this Law constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be investigated according to law.

Article 106 A person who violates the provisions of this Law and should bear civil liability for compensation and pay a fine or penalty and whose property is insufficient to pay the compensation and the fine or penalty at the same time, he shall bear civil liability for compensation first.

Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions

Article 107 Where a specialized service entity which is not an enterprise adopts the system of partnership according to relevant laws, the provisions of this Law governing the liability to be borne by the partners of a specialized general partnership may be applied to the partners of such entity.

Article 108 The measures for administration of partnerships established within the territory of China by foreign enterprises or individuals shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 109 This Law shall go into effect as of June 1, 2007.