Hong Kong Ordinances

INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES ORDINANCE - SECT 10B

Construction of Ordinances in both official languages

(1) The English language text and the Chinese language text of an Ordinance
shall be equally authentic, and the Ordinance shall be construed accordingly.

(2) The provisions of an Ordinance are presumed to have the same meaning in
each authentic text.

(3) Where a comparison of the authentic texts of an Ordinance discloses a
difference of meaning which the rules of statutory interpretation ordinarily
applicable do not resolve, the meaning which best reconciles the texts, having
regard to the object and purposes of the Ordinance, shall be adopted. (Amended
L.N.46 of 1991)