Administration of Representative Offices in China of Foreign Insurance Institutions Procedures
外国保险机构驻华代表机构管理办法
Repealing its 1999 predecessor, the new Procedures improve upon the 'foreign insurance institutions' definition, administrative examination and approval, and prudential regulations.
Repealed on July 12 2006: http://www.chinalawandpractice.com/Article/1690367/Measures-for-the-Administration-of-Resident-Representative.html
(Promulgated by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission on January 15 2004 and effective as of March 1 2004.)
PART ONE: GENERAL PROVISIONS
(中国保险监督管理委员会於二零零四年一月十五日发布，自二零零四年三月一日起施行。)
第一章总则
Article 1: These Procedures have been formulated in accordance with the PRC Insurance Law, in order to strengthen the administration of Representative Offices of foreign insurance institutions in China (hereafter, Representative Offices), and to accommodate the requirements of China's opening up of its insurance market.
第一条为了加强对外国保险机构驻华代表机构(以下简称“代表机构”)的管理，适应中国保险市场对外开放的需要，根据《中华人民共和国保险法》，制定本办法。
Article 2: For the purposes of these Procedures, the term "foreign insurance institutions" means foreign insurance companies, reinsurance companies, insurance intermediaries, insurance associations and other insurance organizations registered outside China.
第二条本办法所称外国保险机构，是指在中国境外注册的保险公司、再保险公司、保险中介机构、保险协会及其它保险组织。
"Representative Offices" means Representative Offices or general Representative Offices of foreign insurance institutions approved to be established in China to conduct non-business activities such as liaison, market research, etc.
本办法所称代表机构，是指外国保险机构在中国境内获准设立并从事联络、市场调查等非经营性活动的代表处、总代表处。
"Chief representative" means the principal responsible person of a Representative Office; and "general representative" means the principal responsible person of a general Representative Office.
本办法所称首席代表，是指代表处的主要负责人；本办法所称总代表，是指总代表处的主要负责人。
Article 3: Representative Offices shall comply with the laws and regulations of China, and relevant provisions of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (hereafter, the CIRC).
第三条代表机构必须遵守中国法律、法规和中国保险监督管理委员会(以下简称“中国保监会”)的有关规定。
The lawful rights and interests of Representative Offices are protected by the laws of China.
代表机构的合法权益受中国法律保护。
Article 4: The CIRC is authorized by law and the State Council to perform regulatory duties over Representative Offices.
第四条中国保监会根据法律和国务院授权，对代表机构履行监管职责。
Branches of the CIRC shall, within the scope authorized by the CIRC, carry out day-to-day regulation of Representative Offices within their jurisdiction on behalf of the CIRC.
中国保监会派出机构，在中国保监会授权范围内，代表中国保监会对本辖区的代表机构实施日常监管。
PART TWO: APPLICATION AND ESTABLISHMENT
第二章申请与设立
Article 5: Foreign insurance institutions applying to establish Representative Offices (hereafter, "Applicants") shall comply with the following conditions:
第五条申请设立代表处的外国保险机构(以下简称“申请者”)应当具备下列条件:
(1) good business performance;
(一) 经营状况良好；
(2) no record of any grave violations of laws or regulations in the three years prior to the application date; and
(二) 申请之日前3年内无重大违法违规记录；
(3) other prudential conditions as stipulated by the CIRC.
(三) 中国保监会规定的其他审慎性条件。
Article 6: The official application form for the establishment of Representative Offices shall be provided by the CIRC.
第六条拟设代表处的正式申请表由中国保监会提供。
Article 7: The Applicant shall submit the following material:
第七条申请者应当提交下列材料:
(1) official application form;
(一) 正式申请表；
(2) application letter addressed to the chairman of the CIRC, and signed by the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager;
(二) 由董事长或者总经理签署的致中国保监会主席的申请书；
(3) photocopy of the business licence or lawful proof of commencement of business or proof of registration issued by the relevant competent authority of the Applicant's home country or region;
(三) 所在国家或者地区有关主管当局核发的营业执照或者合法开业证明或者注册登记证明的复印件；
(4) articles of association, and lists of members of the board of directors, management personnel or major partners;
(四) 机构章程，董事会成员名单、管理层人员名单或者主要合伙人名单；
(5) annual reports for the three years prior to the application date;
(五) 申请之日前3年的年报；
(6) opinion issued by the relevant competent authority of the Applicant's home country or region regarding the Applicant's establishment of a Representative Office in China, or letter of recommendation issued by the relevant industry association. Such opinion or letter of recommendation shall refer to the Applicant's record of penalties received for the three years prior to the date of issue of the opinion or letter of recommendation;
(六) 所在国家或者地区有关主管当局出具的对申请者在中国境内设立代表处的意见书，或者由所在行业协会出具的推荐信，意见书或者推荐信应当陈述申请者在出具意见书或者推荐信之日前3年受处罚的记录；
(7) power of attorney of the chief representative signed by the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager;
(七) 由董事长或者总经理签署的首席代表授权书；
(8) r¨¦sum¨¦ and relevant supporting documents of the proposed chief representative; and
(八) 拟任首席代表的简历以及相关证明材料；
(9) other material as stipulated by the CIRC for submission.
(九) 中国保监会规定提交的其他资料。
The photocopies of the "business licence", "lawful proof of commencement of business" and "proof of registration" shall have been notarized by a lawfully established notary public in the Applicant's home country or region, or authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in the said country or region.
“营业执照”、“合法开业证明”和“注册登记证明”的复印件必须经其所在国家或者地区依法设立的公证机构公证或者经中国驻该国使、领馆认证。
Article 8: The Applicant shall submit the application material to the CIRC. The CIRC shall handle different applications for proposed establishment of Representative Offices according to the following circumstances:
第八条申请者应当向中国保监会提交申请材料。对拟设代表处的申请，中国保监会应当根据下列情况分别处理:
(1) if a mistake in the application material may be corrected on the spot, the Applicant shall be permitted to correct the mistake on the spot;
(一) 申请材料存在可以当场更正的错误的，应当允许申请人当场更正；
(2) if the application material is incomplete or does not comply with statutory formats, the Applicant shall be notified at one time of all the required corrections on the spot or within five days. If the Applicant has not been notified within the above period, the application shall be deemed accepted for review on the day the application material is received; or
(二) 申请材料不齐全或者不符合法定形式的，应当当场或者在5日内一次告知申请人需要补正的全部内容，逾期不告知的，自收到申请材料之日起即为受理；
(3) if the application material is complete and complies with statutory formats, or where the Applicant has subsequently submitted and corrected all the application material in accordance with relevant requirements, the application shall be accepted for review.
(三) 申请材料齐全、符合法定形式，或者申请人按照要求提交全部补正申请材料的，应当受理申请。
The CIRC shall issue a written verification document, with its designated seal affixed and date indicated, on whether or not to accept the application for review.
中国保监会受理或者不予受理申请，应当出具加盖专用印章和注明日期的书面凭证。
Article 9: Within 20 days of the acceptance for review of the application, the CIRC shall render a decision on whether or not to approve the application. If such decision cannot be rendered within the said 20 days, with the approval of the chairman of the CIRC, the said period may be extended for 10 days and the Applicant shall be notified of the reason for the extension.
第九条中国保监会应当自受理申请之日起20日内，作出批准或者不予批准的决定。20日内不能作出决定的，经中国保监会主席批准，可以延长10日，并应当将延长期限的理由告知申请人。
If the application is approved, an approval letter shall be issued. If the application is not approved, a written explanation shall be provided.
决定批准的，颁发批准书；决定不予批准的，应当书面说明理由。
Article 10: Upon receipt of the approval letter, the Representative Office shall, in accordance with relevant stipulations, carry out industry and commerce registration.
第十条代表处领取批准书后，应当按有关规定办理工商登记。
Within three months of the receipt of the approval letter, the Representative Office shall settle in permanent office premises. If the Representative Office has not settled in permanent office premises after the said three-month period, the original approval letter shall automatically become void.
代表处应当自领取批准书之日起3个月内迁入固定的办公场所；超过3个月仍未迁入固定办公场所的，原批准书自动失效。
Article 11: Foreign insurance institutions that have established more than two Representative Offices in China may apply to the CIRC to designate one of these Representative Offices as the general Representative Office.
第十一条在中国境内已设立2个以上代表处的外国保险机构，可以向中国保监会提出申请，指定其中一个代表处为总代表处。
Article 12: Foreign insurance institutions that apply for designation of a general Representative Office shall submit an application letter addressed to the chairman of the CIRC and signed by the chairman of the board of directors or the general manager.
第十二条外国保险机构申请指定总代表处，应当提交由董事长或者总经理签署的致中国保监会主席的申请书。
The procedure for the establishment of general Representative Offices shall be the same as that for the establishment of Representative Offices.
总代表处的设立程序与代表处的设立程序相同。
PART THREE: REGULATION
第三章监督管理
Article 13: The name of a Representative Office shall contain, in order, the following contents: "name of the foreign insurance institution", "name of the city where it is located" and "Representative Office". The name of a general Representative Office shall contain, in order, the following contents: "name of the foreign insurance institution" and "general Representative Office in China".
第十三条代表处的名称应当依次由下列内容组成:“外国保险机构名称”、“所在城市名称”和“代表处”；总代表处的名称应当依次由下列内容组成:“外国保险机构名称”和“驻中国总代表处”。
Article 14: Except for the principal responsible person, other major employees of a Representative Office shall be known as "representative" or "vice representative".
第十四条代表机构除主要负责人外，其他主要工作人员应当称“代表”、”副代表”。
Article 15: Employees of a Representative Office shall comply with the laws and regulations of China, be of good conduct, and have a clean record.
第十五条代表机构工作人员应当遵守中国的法律法规，品行良好，无不良记录。
Article 16: A general representative shall have at least eight years of work experience, and be at least an associate degree holder. A chief representative shall have at least five years of work experience, and be at least an associate degree holder.
第十六条总代表应当具备8年以上工作经历、大学专科以上学历；首席代表应当具备5年以上工作经历、大学专科以上学历。
Where the general representative and chief representative do not hold at least an associate degree, they shall have at least 10 years of work experience in the insurance business.
总代表和首席代表不具备大学专科以上学历的，应当具备10年以上保险从业经历。
Article 17: Each Representative Office shall have not more than three employees who are of foreign nationality.
第十七条每个代表机构的外籍工作人员最多不得超过3人。
Article 18: Representative offices and their employees shall not sign any agreements or contracts with any legal or natural persons, which agreements or contracts may result in income for the Representative Offices or the foreign insurance institutions they represent, nor shall they engage in any business activities.
第十八条代表机构及其工作人员，不得与任何法人或者自然人签订可能给代表机构或者所代表的外国保险机构带来收入的协议或者契约，也不得参与任何经营性活动。
Article 19: Representative offices shall have independent and permanent office premises, and full-time employees.
第十九条代表机构应当有独立、固定的办公场所和专职的工作人员。
Article 20: General representatives or chief representatives shall not be employed in two or more Representative Offices, nor shall they be employed by any business organizations in China.
第二十条总代表或首席代表不得在2个以上代表机构中任职；也不得在中国境内任何经营性机构中任职。
Article 21: The general representative or chief representative shall ordinarily be at the Representative Office to direct day-to-day work. If the general representative or chief representative is away from the Representative Office continuously for one month or more, he shall designate another person to carry out his duties and a written report shall be submitted to the CIRC branch office at the locality.
第二十一条总代表或者首席代表应当常驻代表机构主持日常工作，离开代表机构连续1个月以上的，应当指定专人代行其职，并书面报告当地中国保监会派出机构。
Article 22: Representative offices shall, before the end of February each year, submit a work report of the previous year in duplicate to the CIRC branch office at the locality. The CIRC branch office shall then submit such report to the CIRC.
第二十二条代表机构应当在每年2月底前向当地中国保监会派出机构报送上一年度的工作报告一式两份，由中国保监会派出机构转报中国保监会。
The work report shall be filled in according to the format as stipulated by the CIRC.
工作报告应当按中国保监会规定的格式填写。
Article 23: Each year, Representative Offices shall, within six months following the end of the financial year of the foreign insurance institutions they represent, submit the annual report of the previous year of the foreign insurance institutions they represent to the CIRC and the CIRC branch office at the locality separately.
第二十三条代表机构每年在其代表的外国保险机构会计年度结束后的6个月内，应当分别向中国保监会和当地中国保监会派出机构报送其所代表的外国保险机构上一年度的年报。
Article 24: Where any of the following circumstances applies to the foreign insurance institution that a Representative Office represents, the Representative Office shall, within 10 days of the occurrence of the event, submit a written report to the CIRC and at the same time copy such report to the CIRC branch office at the locality:
第二十四条代表机构代表的外国保险机构有下列情形之一的，代表机构应当自事件发生之日起10日内，向中国保监会提交书面报告，同时抄报当地中国保监会派出机构:
(1) changes to company articles of association, registered capital or registered address;
(一) 公司章程、注册资本或者注册地址变更；
(2) division or merger, or changes in major responsible persons;
(二) 分立、合并或者主要负责人变动；
(3) serious business loss;
(三) 经营严重亏损；
(4) penalties as a result of violations of laws and regulations;
(四) 因违法、违规行为受到处罚；
(5) serious regulatory measures are imposed on the foreign insurance institution by the relevant competent authority of its home country or region; or
(五) 外国保险机构所在国家或者地区的有关主管当局对其实施重大监管措施；
(6) other matters that will have a material effect on the business.
(六) 对经营有重大影响的其他事项。
Article 25: Where there is an alteration in the general representative or chief representative, the Representative Office shall submit an application to the CIRC, together with the following material:
第二十五条代表机构更换总代表或者首席代表的，应当向中国保监会申请，并提交下列材料:
(1) application letter addressed to the chairman of the CIRC and signed by the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of the foreign insurance institution it represents;
(一) 由其代表的外国保险机构董事长或者总经理签署的致中国保监会主席的申请书；
(2) power of attorney of the proposed general representative or chief representative signed by the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of the foreign insurance institution it represents; and
(二) 由其代表的外国保险机构董事长或者总经理签署的拟任总代表或者首席代表的授权书；
(3) proof of identification, proof of academic qualifications and r¨¦sum¨¦ of the proposed general representative or chief representative.
(三) 拟任总代表或者首席代表的身份证明、学历证明和简历。
Article 26: To cancel a Representative Office, an application shall be made to the CIRC by the Representative Office, and the Representative Office shall submit an application letter addressed to the chairman of the CIRC and signed by the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of the foreign insurance institution it represents.
第二十六条代表机构撤销的，应当由代表机构向中国保监会申请，并提交由其所代表的外国保险机构董事长或者总经理签署的致中国保监会主席的申请书。
Article 27: In the event of a change of name of the Representative Office, an application shall be made to the CIRC, and an application letter addressed to the chairman of the CIRC and signed by the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of the foreign insurance institution that the Representative Office represents, together with relevant evidence pertaining to the change of name shall be submitted.
第二十七条代表机构变更名称，应当向中国保监会申请，并提交由其所代表的外国保险机构董事长或者总经理签署的致中国保监会主席的申请书以及相关更名证明。
Article 28: Where a Representative Office submits applications to the CIRC under any of the circumstances stipulated in Article 25, Article 26 and Article 27, the CIRC shall render a decision on whether or not to approve the application within 20 days from the date of receipt of the complete set of application materials.
第二十八条代表机构出现本办法第二十五条、第二十六条、第二十七条规定情形向中国保监会提出申请的，中国保监会应当自收到完整申请材料之日起20日内，作出批准或者不予批准的决定。
If the application is approved, an approval letter shall be issued. If the application is not approved, a written explanation shall be provided.
决定批准的，颁发批准书；决定不予批准的，应当书面说明理由。
Article 29: Representative offices may only change their office addresses within the administrative region of the city in which they reside.
第二十九条代表机构只能在所在城市的行政辖区内变更办公地址。
The Representative Offices shall, within five days from the date of their change of office address, report to the CIRC branch office at the locality and advise their new office telephone and facsimile numbers.
代表机构应当自变更办公地址之日起5日内向当地中国保监会派出机构报告，并提交新办公地址的电话和传真号码。
Article 30: In the event of a Representative Office replacing, or increasing or reducing the number of, representatives, vice representatives or foreign employees, a report shall be submitted to the CIRC branch office at the locality, together with the proof of identification, proof of academic qualification and r¨¦sum¨¦ of the persons being appointed within five days from the date of replacement, addition or reduction.
第三十条代表机构更换或者增减代表、副代表、外籍工作人员，应当自更换或者增减人员之日起5日内向当地中国保监会派出机构报告，并提交被任命人员的身份证明、学历证明和简历。
Article 31: Where a Representative Office is approved to be changed to a general Representative Office, the former Representative Office shall be automatically cancelled. The general Representative Office shall carry out industry and commerce deregistration of the Representative Office within one month from the date of the CIRC's approval of change.
第三十一条代表处经批准变更为总代表处的，原代表处自动撤销，总代表处应当自中国保监会批准变更之日起1个月内办理代表处的工商注销手续。
Article 32: If the general Representative Office of a foreign insurance institution becomes its only Representative Office in China after the cancellation of its Representative Office, the general Representative Office shall be changed into a Representative Office.
第三十二条外国保险机构的代表处撤销后，总代表处是其惟一驻华代表机构的，总代表处应当将总代表处变更为代表处。
The general Representative Office shall apply to the CIRC regarding such change and shall submit an application letter signed by the chairman of the board of directors or general manager of the foreign insurance institution it represents. The CIRC shall render a decision on whether or not to approve the application within 20 days from the date of receipt of the application. If the application is approved, an approval letter shall be issued. If the application is not approved, a written explanation shall be provided.
总代表处应当向中国保监会提出变更申请，并提交由其所代表的外国保险机构董事长或者总经理签署的申请书。中国保监会应当自收到申请书之日起20日内，作出批准或者不予批准的决定。决定批准的，颁发批准书；决定不予批准的，应当书面说明理由。
Where the general Representative Office is approved to be changed to a Representative Office, the former general Representative Office shall be automatically cancelled. The Representative Office shall carry out industry and commerce deregistration of the general Representative Office within one month from the date of the CIRC's approval of change.
总代表处经批准变更为代表处的，总代表处自动撤销，代表处应当自中国保监会批准变更之日起1个月内办理总代表处的工商注销手续。
Article 33: After cancellation of a Representative Office, if the foreign insurance institution it represents has a general Representative Office in China, the general Representative Office shall be responsible for any uncompleted matters; if there is no general Representative Office, other Representative Office(s) of the foreign insurance institution shall be responsible for any uncompleted matters; and if all of the Representative Offices of the foreign insurance institution have been cancelled, the foreign insurance institution itself shall be responsible for any uncompleted matters.
第三十三条代表处撤销后，其代表的外国保险机构设有总代表处的，由总代表处负责未了事宜；没有设立总代表处的，由其代表的外国保险机构的其他代表处负责未了事宜；其代表的外国保险机构的所有代表机构均已撤销的，由其代表的外国保险机构负责未了事宜。
Article 34: The CIRC and its branch offices shall carry out day-to-day and annual inspections on Representative Offices according to law.
第三十四条中国保监会及其派出机构依法对代表机构进行日常和年度检查。
The day-to-day and annual inspections shall include:
日常和年度检查的内容包括:
(1) whether or not the procedures for changes of Representative Offices are complete;
(一) 代表机构变更事项的手续是否完备；
(2) whether or not the contents of various application material conform to the actual circumstances;
(二) 各项申报材料的内容与实际情况是否相符；
(3) whether or not the procedures for the appointments or changes of employees of Representative Offices are complete;
(三) 代表机构工作人员的任用或者变更手续是否完备；
(4) whether or not Representative Offices engage in business activities; and
(四) 代表机构是否从事经营性活动；
(5) other matters that require inspection, as stipulated by the CIRC or its branch offices.
(五) 中国保监会及其派出机构认为需要检查的其他事项。
PART FOUR: LEGAL LIABILITY
第四章法律责任
Article 35: Where a Representative Office is established, in violation of these Procedures, without approval, it shall be banned by the CIRC in accordance with law.
第三十五条违反本办法，未经批准擅自设立代表机构的，中国保监会依法予以取缔。
Article 36: If a Representative Office engages in insurance business activities in violation of the provisions hereof, it shall be punished by the CIRC in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and regulations. If a Representative Office engages in business activities other than insurance business, it shall receive a warning from the CIRC and, if the circumstances are serious, a fine not exceeding Rmb30,000 shall be imposed.
第三十六条违反本办法规定从事保险经营活动的，由中国保监会按照有关法律、法规的规定予以处罚；从事保险业以外经营性活动的，由中国保监会给予警告，情节严重的，处以3万元以下的罚款。
Article 37: If a Representative Office fails to submit reports or material required by Article 22, Article 23 and Article 24 hereof, it shall receive a warning from the CIRC branch office and be ordered to make rectifications.
第三十七条未按规定提交本办法第二十二条、第二十三条、第二十四条要求的报告或者材料的，由当地中国保监会派出机构给予警告，责令改正。
Article 38: Employees of a Representative Office who are directly responsible for activities violating these Procedures shall, according to the seriousness of the circumstances, receive a warning, or a fine not exceeding Rmb5,000, or the fine together with the warning, from the CIRC.
第三十八条对违反本办法的行为负有直接责任的代表机构工作人员，由中国保监会根据情节轻重，处以警告，单处或者并处5000元以下的罚款。
Article 39: If a Representative Office provides false information or conceals material facts, it shall receive a warning.
第三十九条代表机构提供虚假信息或者隐瞒重要事实的，给予警告。
Article 40: Rectifications shall be ordered to be made for activities violating other provisions hereof. If the rectifications have not been completed within the prescribed time period, a warning shall be given.
第四十条违反本办法其他规定的，责令改正；逾期未改正的，给予警告。
PART FIVE: SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
第五章附则
Article 41: These Procedures shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to establishment of Representative Offices in the Mainland by insurance institutions from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and the Taiwan region.
第四十一条香港、澳门和台湾地区的保险机构在内地设立的代表机构，比照适用本办法。
Article 42: These Procedures shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to resident offices in China of foreign insurance institutions approved to be established by the CIRC.
第四十二条经中国保监会批准设立的外国保险机构驻华办事处，比照适用本办法。
Article 43: For the purposes of theses Procedures, the terms "above", "below" and "within" shall include the number itself.
第四十三条本办法所称“以上”、“以下”、“以内”，包括本数。
Article 44: For the purposes of these Procedures the approval and reporting periods refer to working days, and do not include non-working days and public holidays.
第四十四条本办法有关批准、报告期间的规定是指工作日，不含节假日。
Article 45: The CIRC is responsible for the interpretation of these Procedures.
第四十五条本办法由中国保监会负责解释。
Article 46: These Procedures shall be effective as of March 1 2004. The Administration of Representative Offices in China of Foreign-invested Insurance Institutions Procedures promulgated by the CIRC on November 26 1999 is simultaneously repealed.
第四十六条本办法自2004年3月1日起施行。中国保监会1999年11月26日发布的《外资保险机构驻华代表机构管理办法》同时废止。
1 Translation provided by Boss & Young, Attorneys at Law, Shanghai. All rights reserved.
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