COVID-19: Force Majeure under PRC, HK SAR and English law

• Author: Wilson Antoon,Paul Starr,Mike Wang
• Published date: 25/02/2020
• Citation: jd0060
• Date: 25 February 2020
• Subject Matter: Dispute Resolution

2020/10/20 COVID-19: Force Majeure under PRC, HK SAR and English law | China Law Insight

https://www.chinalawinsight.com/2020/02/articles/dispute-resolution/COVID-19-force-majeure-under-prc-hk-sar-and-english-law/ 1/10

CHINA LAW INSIGHT

COVID-19: Force Majeure under PRC, HK SAR and

English law

By King & Wood Mallesons on February 25, 2020

By Wilson Antoon Paul Starr Mike Wang

Introduction

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has affected major cities and numerous towns in the

PRC and around the world. On 30 January 2020, the Director General of the World Health

Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a “public health emergency of

international concern”. As the situation continues to evolve rapidly, the coronavirus

outbreak presents not only a public health crisis but also disruptions to businesses and

their supply chains. We see clients faced with challenging questions concerning their

exposure to liability under contracts of different governing laws entered with Chinese and