Beta
HK Cap. 112BA
HK Cap. 112BA — Specification of Arrangements (Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) (Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income and Capital and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion) Order
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Specification
of
Arrangements (Government
of
the
Grand Duchy
of
Luxembourg) (Avoidance
of
Double Taxation
on Income
and Capital
and Prevention
of
Fiscal
Evasion)
Order ( Cap.
112, section
49 ) (Enacting provision omitted— E.R. 3 of 2020 ) [1 April 2008] (Format changes— E.R. 3 of 2020 ) 1. (Omitted as spent— E.R. 3 of 2020 ) 2. Declaration under section 49
(1)
For the purposes of section 49(1) of the Ordinance, it is declared— ( L.N. 68 of 2011 )
(a) that the arrangements specified in section 3(1) have been made with the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to income tax and any tax of a similar character imposed by the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; and ( L.N. 68 of 2011 )
(b) that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect.
(2)
For the purposes of section 49(1A) of the Ordinance, it is declared—
(a) that the arrangements specified in section 3(2) have been made with the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to income tax and any tax of a similar character imposed by the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; and
(b) that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect. ( L.N. 68 of 2011 ) 3. Arrangements specified
(1) The arrangements specified for the purposes of section 2(1)(a) are the arrangements in Articles 1 to 29 of the Agreement between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital done in duplicate at Hong Kong on 2 November 2007 in the English and French languages, the English text of which Articles is reproduced in Schedule 1 . ( L.N. 68 of 2011 )
(2) The arrangements specified for the purposes of section 2(2)(a) are the arrangements in Articles 1 to 5 of the protocol to the Agreement between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, done in duplicate at Hong Kong on 11 November 2010 in the English and French languages. ( L.N. 68 of 2011 )
(3) The English text of Articles 1 to 5 of the protocol referred to in subsection (2) is reproduced in Schedule 2 ; a Chinese translation of the Articles is also set out in that Schedule . ( L.N. 68 of 2011 ) Schedule
1 [ s.
3 ] ( L.N. 68 of
2011 ) Articles
1
to
29 of
the Agreement
between
the
Hong
Kong Special
Administrative Region
of
the
People’s Republic
of China
and
the
Grand Duchy
of Luxembourg
for
the Avoidance
of
Double Taxation
and
the Prevention
of
Fiscal Evasion
with
respect
to Taxes
on Income
and
on
Capital Article
1 Persons
Covered This Agreement shall apply to persons who are residents of one
or both of the Contracting
Parties. Article
2 Taxes Covered 1. This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income and on capital imposed on behalf
of a Contracting Party or of its local authorities, irrespective of the manner in
which they are levied. 2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on
total income, on total capital, or on elements of income or of capital, including
taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, taxes on the
total amounts of wages or salaries paid by enterprises, as well as taxes on capital
appreciation. 3.
The existing taxes to which the Agreement shall apply
are:
(a)
in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region:
(i) profits
tax;
(ii) salaries tax;
and
(iii) property
tax, whether or not charged under personal
assessment;
(b)
in the case of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg:
(i) the income tax on individuals (l’impôt sur le revenu des personnes
physiques);
(ii) the corporation tax (l’impôt sur le revenu des
collectivités);
(iii) the capital tax (l’impôt sur la fortune);
and
(iv) the communal trade tax (l’impôt commercial communal). 4. The Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes
that are imposed after the date of signature of the Agreement in addition to, or in
place of, the existing taxes, as well as any other taxes falling within
paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article which a Contracting
Party may impose in future. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties
shall notify each other of any significant changes that have been made in their
taxation laws. 5.
The existing taxes,
together with the taxes imposed after the signature of the Agreement, are
hereinafter referred to as “ Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region tax ” or “ Luxembourg
tax ”, as the context requires. Article
3 General Definitions 1.
For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a)
(i)
the term “ Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ” means
any territory where the tax laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region apply;
(ii)
the term “ Luxembourg ”
means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and, when used in a geographical sense,
means the territory of the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg;
(b)
the term “ business ” includes
the performance of professional services and of other activities of an
independent
character;
(c)
the term “ company ” means any
body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax
purposes;
(d)
the term “ competent authority ”
means:
(i) in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the
Commissioner of Inland Revenue or his authorised
representative;
(ii) in the case of Luxembourg, the Minister of Finance or his
authorised
representative;
(e)
the term “ Contracting
Party ” or “ Party ” means the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region or Luxembourg as the context
requires;
(f)
the term “ enterprise ” applies
to the carrying on of any
business;
(g)
the
terms “ enterprise of a Contracting Party ” and
“ enterprise of the other Contracting Party ”
mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting Party
and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting
Party;
(h)
the term “ international
traffic ” means any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an
enterprise of a Contracting Party, except when the ship or aircraft is operated
solely between places in the other Contracting
Party;
(i)
the term “ national ”, in relation to
Luxembourg,
means:
(i) any individual possessing the nationality of Luxembourg;
and
(ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as
such from the laws in force in
Luxembourg;
(j)
the term “ person ” includes an
individual, a company, a partnership and any other body of persons, and, in the
case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also includes a
trust;
(k)
the term “ tax ” means the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region tax or Luxembourg tax, as the context
requires. 2.
In this Agreement, the
terms “ Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax ”
and “ Luxembourg tax ” do not include any penalty or
interest imposed under the laws of either Contracting Party relating to the taxes to
which the Agreement applies by virtue of Article 2. 3. As regards the application of the Agreement at any time by a Contracting Party,
any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the
meaning that it has at that time under the law of that Party for the purposes of the
taxes to which the Agreement applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of
that Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that
Party. Article
4 Resident 1.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “ resident of a Contracting Party ”
means:
(a)
in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region,
(i) any individual who ordinarily resides in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative
Region;
(ii) any individual who stays in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region for more than 180 days during a year of assessment or for more
than 300 days in two consecutive years of assessment one of which is the
relevant year of
assessment;
(iii) a company incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region or, if incorporated outside the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region, being normally managed or controlled in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative
Region;
(iv) any other person constituted under the laws of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region or, if constituted outside the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region, being normally managed or controlled in
the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region;
(b) in the case of Luxembourg, any person who, under the laws of
Luxembourg, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence,
place of management or any other criterion of a similar nature. This term,
however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in Luxembourg in
respect only of income from sources in Luxembourg or capital situated
therein;
(c) in the case of either Contracting Party, the Government of that Party
and any local authority thereof.
2.
Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 , an individual is a
resident of both Contracting Parties, then his status shall be determined as
follows:
(a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party in which he has a
permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in
both Parties, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party with which
his personal and economic relations are closer (“centre of vital
interests”);
(b) if the Party in which he has his centre of vital interests cannot be
determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either Party,
he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the Party in which he has an
habitual abode;
(c) if he has an habitual abode in both Parties or in neither of them, he shall
be deemed to be a resident only of the Party in which he has the right of abode
(in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) or of which he is a
national (in the case of
Luxembourg);
(d) if he has the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
and is also a national of Luxembourg, or if he does not have the right of abode
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region nor is he a national of
Luxembourg, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall settle
the question by mutual agreement. 3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 , a person other
than an individual is a resident of both Contracting Parties, then it shall be
deemed to be a resident only of the Party in which its place of effective management
is situated. Article
5 Permanent Establishment 1.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “ permanent establishment ” means a fixed place of
business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried
on. 2.
The term “ permanent establishment ” includes
especially:
(a) a place of
management;
(b) a
branch;
(c) an
office;
(d) a
factory;
(e) a workshop;
and
(f) a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction
of natural resources.
3.
The term “ permanent establishment ” also
encompasses:
(a) a building site, a construction, assembly or installation project or
supervisory activities in connection therewith, but only if such site,
project or activities last more than six
months;
(b) the furnishing of services, including consultancy services, by an
enterprise directly or through employees or other personnel engaged by the
enterprise for such purpose, but only if activities of that nature continue
(for the same or a connected project) within a Contracting Party for a
period or periods aggregating more than 180 days within any twelve month
period.
4.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, the term “ permanent establishment ” shall be deemed not to
include:
(a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or
delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the
enterprise;
(b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the
enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or
delivery;
(c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the
enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another
enterprise;
(d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of
purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information, for the
enterprise;
(e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of
carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or
auxiliary
character;
(f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination
of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), provided that the
overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this
combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.
5.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 ,
where a person — other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph
6 applies — is acting in a Contracting Party on behalf of an enterprise of
the other Contracting Party, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent
establishment in the first-mentioned Contracting Party in respect of any activities
which that person undertakes for the enterprise, if such a
person:
(a) has, and habitually exercises, in the first-mentioned Contracting Party an
authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, unless the
activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph
4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not
make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions
of that paragraph;
or
(b) has no such authority, but habitually maintains in the first-mentioned
Party a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly fills orders on
behalf of the enterprise. 6. An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a
Contracting Party merely because it carries on business in that Party through a
broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status,
provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their
business. 7. The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting Party controls or
is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting Party, or
which carries on business in that other Party (whether through a permanent
establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a
permanent establishment of the other. Article
6 Income from Immovable Property 1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting Party from immovable property
(including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting
Party may be taxed in that other Party. 2.
The term “ immovable
property ” shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the
Contracting Party in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in
any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment
used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law
respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to
variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to
explore for or work, mineral deposits, quarries, sources and other natural
resources; ships and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property. 3. Any property or right referred to in paragraph 2 shall be regarded
as situated where the land, standing timber, mineral deposits, quarries, sources or
natural resources, as the case may be, are situated or where the exploration or
working may take place. 4. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to income derived from the
direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property. 5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 4 shall also apply to
the income from immovable property of an enterprise. Article
7 Business Profits 1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting Party shall be taxable only in
that Party unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting Party
through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on
business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other
Party, but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent
establishment. 2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 , where an enterprise of a
Contracting Party carries on business in the other Contracting Party through a
permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting Party be
attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to
make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar
activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently
with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment. 3. In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed
as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent
establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred,
whether in the Party in which the permanent establishment is situated or
elsewhere. 4. Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting Party to determine the
profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an
apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, or on the
basis of such other method as may be prescribed by the law of that Party, nothing in
paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting Party from determining
the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment or other method; such an
apportionment or other method adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall
be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article. 5. No profits shall be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of the
mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the
enterprise. 6. For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to
the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year
unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary. 7. Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other
Articles of this Agreement, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be
affected by the provisions of this Article. Article
8 Shipping and Air Transport 1. Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting Party from the operation of ships or
aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Party. 2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to profits from the
participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating
agency. 3.
For the purposes of this Article, profits from the operation of ships or
aircraft in international traffic shall include in
particular:
(a)
revenues and gross receipts from the operation of ships or aircraft for the
transport of persons, livestock, goods, mail or merchandise in international
traffic
including:
(i) income derived from the lease of ships or aircraft on a bareboat
charter basis where such lease is incidental to the operation of ships or
aircraft in international
traffic;
(ii) income derived from the sale of tickets and the provision of services
connected with such transport whether for the enterprise itself or for any
other enterprise, provided that in the case of provision of services, such
provision is incidental to the operation of ships and aircraft in
international
traffic;
(b) interest on funds directly connected with the operation of ships or
aircraft in international
traffic;
(c) profits from the lease of containers by the enterprise, when such lease is
incidental to the operation of ships or aircraft in international
traffic. Article
9 Associated Enterprises 1.
Where:
(a) an enterprise of a Contracting Party participates directly or indirectly in
the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting
Party; or
(b) the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management,
control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting Party and an enterprise of
the other Contracting
Party, and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises
in their commercial or financial relations which differ from those which would be
made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but for those
conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those
conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise
and taxed accordingly. 2. Where a Contracting Party includes in the profits of an enterprise of that
Party — and taxes accordingly — profits on which an enterprise of the other
Contracting Party has been charged to tax in that other Party and the profits so
included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the
first-mentioned Party if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been
those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other
Party shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein
on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the
other provisions of this Agreement and the competent authorities of the Contracting
Parties shall if necessary consult each other. Article
10 Dividends 1. Dividends paid by a company which is a resident of a Contracting Party to a
resident of the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party. 2.
However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting Party of which the
company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that Party,
but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting
Party, the tax so charged shall not
exceed:
(a) 0 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is
a company (other than a partnership) which holds directly at least 10 per cent
of the capital of the company paying the dividends or a participation with an
acquisition cost of at least EUR 1.2 million in the company paying the
dividends;
(b) 10 per cent of the gross amount of the dividends in all other
cases. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall by mutual
agreement settle the mode of application of these
limitations. This paragraph
shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the profits out of which
the dividends are paid. 3.
The term “ dividends ” as used in
this Article means income from shares, “jouissance” shares or “jouissance” rights,
mining shares, founders’ shares or other rights, not being debt-claims,
participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is
subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the
Party of which the company making the distribution is a resident, and in the case of
Luxembourg the investor’s share of the profit in a commercial, industrial, mining or
craft undertaking, paid proportionally to the profits and by virtue of his capital
outlay, as well as interest and payments on bonds, where, over and above the fixed
rate of interest, a right of assignment is granted for supplementary interest
varying according to the unretained earnings. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if
the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting Party,
carries on business in the other Contracting Party of which the company paying the
dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the
holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with
such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall
apply. 5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting Party derives profits or
income from the other Contracting Party, that other Party may not impose any tax on
the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a
resident of that other Party or insofar as the holding in respect of which the
dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment situated
in that other Party, nor subject the company’s undistributed profits to a tax on the
company’s undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed
profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other
Party. Article
11 Interest 1. Interest arising in a Contracting Party and paid to a resident of the other
Contracting Party shall be taxable only in that other Party if such resident is the
beneficial owner of the interest. 2.
The term “ interest ” as used in this
Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by
mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor’s profits,
and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or
debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or
debentures. However, the term “interest” shall not include income referred to in
Article 10. Penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for
the purpose of this Article. 3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply if the beneficial
owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting Party, carries on business
in the other Contracting Party in which the interest arises, through a permanent
establishment situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest
is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the
provisions of Article 7 shall apply. 4. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial
owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest
exceeds, for whatever reasons, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the
payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions
of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the
excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each
Contracting Party, due regard being had to the other provisions of this
Agreement. Article
12 Royalties 1. Royalties arising in a Contracting Party and paid to a resident of the other
Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party. 2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting Party in which
they arise and according to the laws of that Party, but if the beneficial owner of
the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting Party, the tax so charged shall
not exceed 3 per cent of the gross amount of the
royalties. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall by mutual agreement
settle the mode of application of this limitation. 3.
The term “ royalties ” as used in
this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of,
or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work
including cinematograph films, or films or tapes used for radio or television
broadcasting, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or
process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial, or
scientific equipment or for information concerning industrial, commercial or
scientific experience. 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if
the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting Party,
carries on business in the other Contracting Party in which the royalties arise,
through a permanent establishment situated therein, and the right or property in
respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent
establishment. In such case the provisions of Article 7 shall apply. 5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting Party when the payer is a
resident of that Party. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he
is a resident of a Contracting Party or not, has in a Contracting Party a permanent
establishment in connection with which the liability to pay the royalties was
incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment, then such
royalties shall be deemed to arise in the Party in which the permanent establishment
is situated. 6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial
owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties
exceeds, for whatever reasons, the amount which would have been agreed upon by the
payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions
of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the
excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each
Contracting Party, due regard being had to the other provisions of this
Agreement. Article
13 Capital Gains 1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting Party from the alienation of
immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting
Party may be taxed in that other Party. 2. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business
property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting Party has
in the other Contracting Party, including such gains from the alienation of such a
permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise), may be taxed in that
other Party. 3. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting Party from the alienation of
ships or aircraft operated in international traffic or movable property pertaining
to the operation of such ships or aircraft shall be taxable only in that
Party. 4.
Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting Party from the alienation of shares
of a company deriving more than 50 per cent of its asset value directly or
indirectly from immovable property situated in the other Contracting Party may be
taxed in that other Party. However, this paragraph does not apply to gains derived
from the alienation of
shares:
(a) quoted on such stock exchange as may be agreed between the Parties;
or
(b) alienated or exchanged in the framework of a reorganisation of a company, a
merger, a division or a similar operation;
or
(c) in a company deriving more than 50 per cent of its asset value from
immovable property in which it carries on its business. 5. Gains from the alienation of any property, other than that referred to in
paragraphs 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 , shall be
taxable only in the Contracting Party of which the alienator is a
resident. Article
14 Income from Employment 1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 15, 17 and 18, salaries, wages and other
similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting Party in respect of an
employment shall be taxable only in that Party unless the employment is exercised in
the other Contracting Party. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as
is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other Party. 2.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 , remuneration derived
by a resident of a Contracting Party in respect of an employment exercised in the
other Contracting Party shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned Party
if:
(a) the recipient is present in the other Party for a period or periods not
exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or
ending in the fiscal year concerned,
and
(b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a
resident of the other Party,
and
(c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment which the
employer has in the other Party. 3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived
in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in
international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting Party shall be taxable only
in that Party. Article
15 Directors’
Fees Directors’ fees and other similar payments derived by a resident
of a Contracting Party in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a
company which is a resident of the other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other
Party. Article
16 Artistes and Sportsmen 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7 and 14, income derived by a
resident of a Contracting Party as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion
picture, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his
personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting Party, may be taxed
in that other Party. 2. Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a
sportsman in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsman
himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of
Articles 7 and 14, be taxed in the Contracting Party in which the activities of the
entertainer or sportsman are exercised. Article
17 Pensions, Alimony and Maintenance
Payment 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 18, pensions and
other similar remuneration (including a lump sum payment) paid to a resident of a
Contracting Party in consideration of past employment or self-employment shall be
taxable only in that Party. 2.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 , pensions and other
similar remuneration (including a lump sum payment) paid
under:
(a) a public scheme which is part of the social security system of a
Contracting Party;
or
(b) a scheme in which individuals may participate to secure retirement benefits
and which is recognised for tax purposes in a Contracting Party;
or
(c) the social security legislation of a Contracting
Party, shall be taxable only in that Contracting Party. 3. Alimony or other maintenance payment paid by a resident of a Contracting Party
to a resident of the other Contracting Party shall, to the extent it is not
allowable as a deduction to the payer in the first-mentioned Party, be taxable only
in that Party. Article
18 Government Service 1.
(a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid
by the Government of a Contracting Party or a local authority thereof to an
individual in respect of services rendered to that Party or authority shall be
taxable only in that
Party.
(b)
However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be
taxable only in the other Contracting Party if the services are rendered in that
Party and the individual is a resident of that Party
who:
(i) in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has the
right of abode therein and in the case of Luxembourg, is a national of
Luxembourg;
or
(ii) did not become a resident of that Party solely for the purpose of
rendering the services. 2. Any pension (including a lump sum payment) paid by, or paid out of funds
created or contributed by, the Government of a Contracting Party or a local
authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that Party or
authority shall be taxable only in that Party. 3. The provisions of Articles 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall apply to salaries, wages,
pensions (including a lump sum payment) and other similar remuneration in respect of
services rendered in connection with a business carried on by the Government of a
Contracting Party or a local authority thereof. Article
19 Students Payments which a student who is or was immediately before
visiting a Contracting Party a resident of the other Contracting Party and who is
present in the first-mentioned Party solely for the purpose of his education receives
for the purpose of his maintenance or education shall not be taxed in that Party,
provided that such payments arise from sources outside that
Party. Article
20 Other Income 1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting Party, wherever arising, not
dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable only in that
Party. 2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than
income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if
the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting Party, carries on
business in the other Contracting Party through a permanent establishment situated
therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is
effectively connected with such permanent establishment. In such case the provisions
of Article 7 shall apply. Article
21 Capital 1. Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Article 6, owned by a
resident of a Contracting Party and situated in the other Contracting Party, may be
taxed in that other Party. 2. Capital represented by movable property forming part of the business property
of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting Party has in the
other Contracting Party may be taxed in that other Party. 3. Capital represented by ships and aircraft operated in international traffic by
an enterprise of a Contracting Party, and by movable property pertaining to the
operation of such ships and aircraft, shall be taxable only in that Party. 4. All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting Party shall be
taxable only in that
Party. Article
22 Methods for Elimination of Double
Taxation 1. Subject to the provisions of the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region relating to the allowance of a credit against Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region tax of tax paid in a jurisdiction outside the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (which shall not affect the general principle of this
Article), Luxembourg tax paid under the laws of Luxembourg and in accordance with
this Agreement, whether directly or by deduction, in respect of income derived by a
person who is a resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from sources
in Luxembourg, shall be allowed as a credit against Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region tax payable in respect of that income, provided that the credit so allowed
does not exceed the amount of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax
computed in respect of that income in accordance with the tax laws of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region. 2.
Subject to the provisions of the law of Luxembourg regarding the elimination of
double taxation which shall not affect the general principle hereof, double taxation
shall be eliminated as
follows:
(a) Where a resident of Luxembourg derives income or owns capital which, in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, may be taxed in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region, Luxembourg shall, subject to the provisions of
sub-paragraphs (b) and (c), exempt such income or capital from tax, but may, in
order to calculate the amount of tax on the remaining income or capital of the
resident, apply the same rates of tax as if the income or capital had not been
exempted.
(b) Where a resident of Luxembourg derives income which, in accordance with the
provisions of Articles 10, 12 and 16 may be taxed in the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, Luxembourg shall allow as a deduction from the income tax
on individuals or from the corporation tax of that resident an amount equal to
the tax paid in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Such deduction
shall not, however, exceed that part of the tax, as computed before the
deduction is given, which is attributable to such items of income derived from
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
(c) The provisions of sub-paragraph (a) shall not apply to income derived or
capital owned by a resident of Luxembourg where the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region applies the provisions of this Agreement to exempt such
income or capital from tax or applies the provisions of paragraph 2
of Articles 10 or 12 to such income. Article
23 Non-Discrimination 1. Persons who, in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, have
the right of abode or are incorporated or otherwise constituted therein, and, in the
case of Luxembourg, are nationals of Luxembourg, shall not be subjected in the other
Contracting Party to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is
other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which
persons who have the right of abode or are incorporated or otherwise constituted in
that other Party (where that other Party is the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region) or nationals of that other Party (where that other Party is Luxembourg) in
the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be
subjected. 2. Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting Party shall not be
subjected in either Contracting Party to any taxation or any requirement connected
therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected
requirements to which persons who have the right of abode in the Party (where the
Party is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) or nationals of the Party
(where the Party is Luxembourg) in the same circumstances, in particular with
respect to residence, are or may be subjected. 3. The taxation on a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting
Party has in the other Contracting Party shall not be less favourably levied in that
other Party than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other Party carrying on
the same activities. 4. Except where the provisions of paragraph l of Article 9, paragraph 4
of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply, interest, royalties
and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting Party to a resident
of the other Contracting Party shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable
profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had
been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned Party. Similarly, any debts of an
enterprise of a Contracting Party to a resident of the other Contracting Party
shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable capital of such enterprise, be
deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of
the first-mentioned Party. 5. Enterprises of a Contracting Party, the capital of which is wholly or partly
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other
Contracting Party, shall not be subjected in the first-mentioned Party to any
taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome
than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of
the first-mentioned Party are or may be subjected. 6. Nothing contained in this Article shall be construed as obliging a Contracting
Party to grant to residents of the other Contracting Party any personal allowances,
reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family
responsibilities which it grants to its own residents. Article
24 Mutual Agreement Procedure 1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting
Parties result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the
domestic law of those Parties, present his case to the competent authority of the
Contracting Party of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under
paragraph 1 of Article 23, to that of the Contracting Party in which
he has the right of abode or is incorporated or otherwise constituted (in the case
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) or of which he is a national (in the
case of Luxembourg). The case must be presented within three years from the first
notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the
provisions of the Agreement. 2. The competent authority shall endeavour, if the objection appears to it to be
justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to
resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other
Contracting Party, with a view to the avoidance of taxation which is not in
accordance with the Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented
notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting
Parties. 3. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to resolve
by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or
application of the Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of
double taxation in cases not provided for in the Agreement. 4. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties may communicate with each
other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or
their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the
preceding paragraphs. Article
25 Exchange of Information 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall exchange such
information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or of
the domestic laws of the Contracting Parties concerning taxes covered by the
Agreement insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. Any
information received by a Contracting Party shall be treated as secret in the same
manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that Party and shall be
disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative
bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or
prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes
covered by the Agreement. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only
for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or
in judicial decisions, including, in the case of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, the decisions of the Board of Review. Information shall not
be disclosed to any third jurisdiction for any purpose without the consent of the
Contracting Party originally furnishing the information. 2.
In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to
impose on a Contracting Party the
obligation:
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and
administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting
Party;
(b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the
normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting
Party;
(c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial,
commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the
disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public). Article
26 Members of Government
Missions Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the fiscal privileges of
members of government missions, including consular posts, under the general rules of
international law or under the provisions of special
agreements. Article
27 Miscellaneous Rules 1. Nothing in this Agreement shall prejudice the right of each Contracting Party
to apply its domestic laws and measures concerning tax avoidance, whether or not
described as such. 2. All communications between the competent authorities in relation to matters
covered by the Agreement shall be in English or, if not in English, be accompanied
by a translation into English (except for annexes provided by third
parties). Article
28 Entry into Force 1. Each of the Contracting Parties shall notify the other in writing of the
completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this
Agreement. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later of these
notifications. 2.
The provisions of the Agreement shall thereupon have
effect:
(a)
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region: in respect of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax, for any year
of assessment beginning on or after 1 April
2008;
(b)
in
Luxembourg:
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income derived on or after 1
January
2008;
(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes
chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January
2008. Article
29 Termination This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a
Contracting Party. Either Contracting Party may terminate the Agreement by giving the
other Contracting Party written notice of termination at least six months before the end
of any calendar year beginning after the expiration of a period of five years from the
date of its entry into force. In such event, the Agreement shall cease to have
effect:
(a) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region: in respect of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax, for any year of
assessment beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following
that in which the notice is
given;
(b)
in
Luxembourg:
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to income derived on or after 1
January in the calendar year next following the year in which the notice is
given;
(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes on capital, to taxes
chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1 January in the
calendar year next following the year in which the notice is
given. Schedule 2 [ s.
3 ] Articles 1 to 5 of the
Protocol to the Agreement
between
the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region
of the People’s Republic of China and the
Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg for the Avoidance
of
Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal
Evasion
with respect to Taxes on Income and
on
Capital ARTICLE
1 Paragraph 5 of Article 5 (Permanent Establishment) of
the Agreement shall be deleted and replaced by the following: “5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs
1 and 2 , where a person - other than an agent of an independent
status to whom paragraph 6 applies - is acting on behalf of an enterprise
and has, and habitually exercises, in a Contracting Party an authority to conclude
contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a
permanent establishment in that Party in respect of any activities which that person
undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to
those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place
of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment
under the provisions of that paragraph.” ARTICLE
2 A paragraph 5 shall be added in Article 24 (Mutual
Agreement Procedure) of the Agreement: “5. Where, (a) under paragraph 1 , a person has presented a
case to the competent authority of a Contracting Party on the basis that the actions
of one or both of the Contracting Parties have resulted for that person in taxation
not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the competent authorities are unable to reach an
agreement to resolve that case pursuant to paragraph 2 within two years
from the presentation of the case to the competent authority of the other
Contracting Party, any unresolved issues arising from the case
shall be submitted to arbitration if the person so requests. These unresolved issues
shall not, however, be submitted to arbitration if a decision on these issues has
already been rendered by a court or administrative tribunal of either Party. Unless a
person directly affected by the case does not accept the mutual agreement that
implements the arbitration decision, that decision shall be binding on both Contracting
Parties and shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic laws of
these Parties. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall by mutual
agreement settle the mode of application of this
paragraph.” ARTICLE
3 Article 25 (Exchange of Information) of the Agreement shall be
deleted and replaced by the
following: “Article
25 Exchange of
Information 1. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties
shall exchange such information as is foreseeably relevant for carrying out the
provisions of this Agreement or to the administration or enforcement of the domestic
laws of the Contracting Parties concerning taxes covered by this Agreement, insofar
as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Agreement. The exchange of
information is not restricted by Article 1. 2. Any information received under paragraph 1
by a Contracting Party shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information
obtained under the domestic laws of that Party and shall be disclosed only to
persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) concerned with
the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or
the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in paragraph
1 . Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such
purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in
judicial decisions. Information shall not be disclosed to any third jurisdiction for
any purpose. 3.
In no case shall the provisions of paragraphs
1 and 2 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting Party the
obligation:
(a) to carry out administrative measures at variance
with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting
Party;
(b) to supply information which is not obtainable under
the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other
Contracting
Party;
(c) to supply information which would disclose any
trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process,
or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy
( ordre public ). 4. If information is requested by a Contracting Party in
accordance with this Article, the other Contracting Party shall use its information
gathering measures to obtain the requested information, even though that other Party
may not need such information for its own tax purposes. The obligation contained in
the preceding sentence is subject to the limitations of paragraph 3 but
in no case shall such limitations be construed to permit a Contracting Party to
decline to supply information solely because it has no domestic interest in such
information. 5. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph
3 be construed to permit a Contracting Party to decline to supply
information solely because the information is held by a bank, other financial
institution, nominee or person acting in an agency or a fiduciary capacity or
because it relates to ownership interests in a person.” ARTICLE
4 Each of the Contracting Parties shall notify the other
Contracting Party in writing of the completion of the procedures required by its law for
the bringing into force of this Protocol. The Protocol shall enter into force on the
date of the later of these notifications and its provisions shall have
effect:
(a) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region: in respect of Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region tax, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April in the
calendar year next following that in which the Protocol enters into
force;
(b)
in
Luxembourg:
(i) in respect of taxes withheld at source, to
income derived on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following
that in which the Protocol enters into
force;
(ii) in respect of other taxes on income, and taxes
on capital, to taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after 1
January in the calendar year next following that in which the Protocol
enters into force. ARTICLE
5 This Protocol, which shall form an integral part of the
Agreement, shall remain in force as long as the Agreement remains in force and shall
apply as long as the Agreement itself is applicable unless otherwise agreed by the
Contracting Parties. (Chinese
Translation) 第一條 刪去本協定第五條(常設機構)第5款,代以: “5. 儘管有第1及2款的規定,如某人(第6款適用的具獨立地位的代理人除外)代表某企業行事,而該人在某締約方擁有以該企業名義簽訂合約的權限,並慣常在該締約方行使該權限,則該企業須當作就該人為該企業所進行的任何活動在該締約方設有常設機構;但如該人的活動局限於第4款所述的活動(該等活動即使透過固定營業場所進行也不會令該固定營業場所根據該款的規定成為常設機構),則屬例外。” 第二條 於本協定第二十四條(雙方協商程序)加入第5款︰ “5. 凡, (a) 任何人根據第1款,以某締約方或締約雙方的行動已導致對該人作出不符合本協定規定的課稅為理由,將案件呈交某締約方的主管當局,而 (b) 在案件呈交予另一締約方的主管當局的兩年之內,締約雙方的主管當局未能依據第2款達成協議解決該個案, 則如該人要求,因該個案而產生的任何尚未解決的爭議點須提交仲裁。但如已有任何締約方的法院或行政審裁處就該等尚未解決的爭議點作出裁定,該等爭議點不得提交仲裁。除非某名直接受該個案影響的人不接受實施有關仲裁裁定的共同協議,否則該裁定對締約雙方均具約束力,而儘管在締約雙方的當地法律中有任何時限,該裁定須予以實施。締約雙方的主管當局須藉共同協議,確定施行本款的方式。” 第三條 刪去本協定第二十五條(資料交換),代以︰ “第二十五條 資料交換 1. 凡資料屬可預見攸關實施本協定的規定或施行或強制執行締約雙方關乎本協定所涵蓋的稅項的當地法律(但以根據該等法律作出的課稅不違反本協定者為限),締約雙方的主管當局須交換該等資料。該等資料交換不受第一條的規定所限制。 2. 某締約方根據第1款收到的任何資料,均須保密處理,其方式須等同於處理根據該方的當地法律而取得的資料,該資料只可向以下人員或當局披露:與第1款所提述的稅項的評估或徵收、執行或檢控有關,或與關乎該等稅項的上訴的裁決有關的人員或當局(包括法院及行政機關)。該等人員或當局只可為該等目的使用該資料。他們可在公眾法庭的法律程序中或在司法裁定中披露該資料。不得為任何目的將資料向任何第三司法管轄區披露。 3.
在任何情況下,第1及2款的規定均不得解釋為向某締約方施加作出以下作為的責任:
(a) 實施有悖於該締約方或另一締約方的法律及行政慣例的行政措施;
(b) 提供根據該締約方或另一締約方的法律或在該締約方或另一締約方的正常行政運作過程中不能獲取的資料;
(c) 提供會披露任何貿易、業務、工業、商業或專業秘密或貿易程序的資料,或提供若遭披露即屬違反公共政策的資料。 4. 如某締約方按照本條請求提供資料,則另一締約方即使未必為其本身的稅務目的而需要該資料,仍須以其收集資料措施取得所請求的資料。前述句子所載的責任,受第3款的限制所規限,但在任何情況下,該等限制不得解釋為容許某締約方純粹因資料無關其本土利益而拒絕提供該資料。 5. 在任何情況下,第3款的規定均不得解釋為容許某締約方純粹因以下理由而拒絕提供該資料:該資料是由某銀行、其他金融機構、代名人或以代理人或受信人身分行事的人所持有,或該資料關乎某人的擁有權權益。” 第四條 每一締約方均須以書面通知另一締約方已完成其法律規定的使本議定書生效的程序。本議定書自上述通知的較後一份的日期起生效,其條文︰
(a) 在香港特別行政區︰ 就香港特別行政區稅項而言,對在本議定書生效的公曆年的翌年4月1日或之後開始的任何課稅年度具有效力︰
(b)
在盧森堡大公國︰
(i) 就在來源預扣的稅項而言,對在本議定書生效的公曆年的翌年1月1日或之後取得的收入具有效力︰
(ii) 就其他收入稅項及資本稅項而言,對就於本議定書生效的公曆年的翌年1月1日或之後開始的任何課稅年度而須徵收的稅項具有效力。 第五條 本議定書構成本協定整體的一部分,除非締約雙方另有協議,否則本議定書在本協定有效期間有效,並在本協定適用期間適用。 ( Schedule
2 added L.N. 68 of
2011 )
