Decree-Law
n. º 55/98/M
of 23 November
The Decree-Law n. º 29/96/M, of
11 June, regulates the matters of arbitration, however, its considered
convenient to complete that framework with a law specifically
vocated for international commercial arbitration.
In fact, the tendency in a world subject to
ongrowing globalization is that most conflicts arising from commercial
international relations be settled through means of arbitration.
For such, currently, arbitration is recognized as an important
factor for the development of an effective policy to capture external
investment and for the development of international commercial
transactions.
This Decree-Law, that intends to fulfill those
goals, corresponds almost in full to the (United Nations Commission
on International Trade Law) UNCITRAL Model Law on international
commercial arbitration, approved in 21 June 1985, and adopted
by the United Nations through resolution of the General Assembly
n.º 40/72, of 11 December, that same year.
This Model Law was elaborated with the purpose
of unifying the rules of international commercial arbitration,
to be adopted by the different states or territories with or without
changes. But, the synchronizing effect of the Model Law means
that the changes must be as few as possible; just the strictly
necessary for the possible need of conformation to the legal system
it will integrate.
For that and considering the legal provisions
of the territory relevant to these matters, some changes were
made to Article 7 n.º 1 and Article 36 n.º 1 of the
Model Law, to synchronize the scope of arbitration and the grounds
for refusing recognition of enforcement of arbitral awards to
those established in the said Decree-law n.º 29/96/M, of
11 June, and the Code of Civil Proceadure.
In these terms;
After hearing the Consultive Council;
Subsequent to the legal regime established by
Law n.º 112/91, of 29 August, and in the terms of article
13 (3) of the Organic Statute of Macau, the Governor declares,
to be valid as law in the territory, the following:
Chapter I
General Provisions
Article 1
(Scope of application)
1. This Decree-Law applies to international
commercial arbitration, without prejudice to the Basic Law of
Macau, to any International Convention applicable in Macau or
any agreement regarding judiciary cooperation.
2. In this Decree-law, the term “commercial”
should be given a wide interpretation so as to cover matters arising
from all relationships of a commercial nature, whether contractual
or not. Relationships of a commercial nature include, but are
not limited to, the following transactions: any trade transaction
for the supply or exchange of goods or services; distribution
agreement; commercial representation or agency; factoring; leasing;
construction of works; consulting; engineering; licensing; investment;
financing; banking; insurance; exploitation agreement or concession;
joint venture and other forms of industrial or business co-operation;
transportation of goods or passengers by air, sea, rail or road.
3. The provisions of this Decree-Law, except
Articles 8, 9, 35 and 36, are applicable only if the place of
arbitration is within the Territory of Macau.
4. In this Decree-Law, the arbitration is international
when:
a) The parties to an arbitration agreement have,
at the time of the conclusion of that agreement, their places
of business in different States or Territories;
b) One of the following places is situated outside
the State or Territory in which the parties have their places
of business:
(i) The place of arbitration if determined in,
or pursuant to, the arbitration agreement;
(ii) Any place where a substantial part of the obligations of
the commercial relationship is to be performed or the place with
which the subject-matter of the dispute is most closely connected;
or
(c) The parties have expressly agreed that the subject matter
of the arbitration agreement relates to more than one State or
Territory.
5. For the purposes of paragraph 4 of this Article:
(a) If a party has more than one place of business, the place
of business is that which has the closest relationship to the
arbitration agreement;
(b) If a party does not have a place of business, reference is
to be made to his habitual residence.
6. This Decree-Law shall not affect any other laws of Macau by
virtue of which certain disputes may not be submitted to arbitration
or may be submitted to arbitration only according to provisions
other than those of this Decree-Law.
Article 2
(Definitions and rules of interpretation)
For the purposes of this Decree-law:
a) "Arbitration" means any arbitration whether or
not administered by a permanent arbitral institution;
b) "Arbitral tribunal" means a sole arbitrator or a
panel of arbitrators;
c) “Court” means a body or organ of the judicial
system of a State or Territory;
d) Where a provision of this Decree-law, except article 28, leaves
the parties free to determine a certain issue, such freedom includes
the right of the parties to authorize a third party, including
an institution, to make that determination;
e) Where a provision of this Decree-law refers to the fact that
the parties have agreed or that they may agree or in any other
way refers to an agreement of the parties, such agreement includes
any arbitration rules referred to in that agreement;
f) Where a provision of this Decree-law, other than in articles
25(a) and 32(2)(a), refers to a claim, it also applies to a counter-claim,
and where it refers to a defense, it also applies to a defense
to such counter-claim.
Article 3
(Receipt of written communications)
1. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties:
(a) Any written communication is deemed to have been received
if it is delivered to the addressee personally or if it is delivered
at his place of business, habitual residence or mailing address;
if none of these can be found after making a reasonable inquiry,
a written communication is deemed to have been received if it
is sent to the addressee's last-known place of business, habitual
residence or mailing address by registered letter or any other
means which provides a record of the attempt to deliver it;
(b) The communication is deemed to have been received on the
day it is so delivered.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article do not apply
to communications in court proceedings.
Article 4
(Waiver of right to object)
A party who knows that any provision of this Decree-Law from
which the parties may derogate or any requirement under the arbitration
agreement has not been complied with and yet proceeds with the
arbitration without stating his objection to such non-compliance
without undue delay or, if a time-limit is provided therefor,
within such period of time, shall be deemed to have waived his
right to object.
Article 5
(Extent of court intervention)
In matters governed by this Decree-Law, no court shall intervene
except where so provided in this Decree-Law.
Article 6
(Competence for the exercise of certain functions
of arbitration assistance and supervision)
The functions referred to in articles 11(3), 11(4), 13(3), 14,
16(3) and 34(2) shall be performed by the Macau Court considered
competent under the norms of judiciary organisation of the Territory.
Chapter II
Arbitration Agreement
Article 7
(Definition and form of arbitration agreement)
1. "Arbitration agreement" is an agreement by the
parties to submit to arbitration all or certain disputes which
have arisen or which may arise between them in respect of a defined
legal relationship, whether contractual or not. An arbitration
agreement may be in the form of an arbitration clause in a contract
or in the form of a separate agreement.
2. The arbitration agreement shall be in writing. An agreement
is in writing if it is contained in a document signed by the parties
or in an exchange of letters, telex, telegrams or other means
of telecommunication which provide a record of the agreement,
or in an exchange of statements of claim and defence in which
the existence of an agreement is alleged by one party and not
denied by another. The reference in a contract to a document containing
an arbitration clause constitutes an arbitration agreement provided
that the contract is in writing and the reference is such as to
make that clause part of the contract.
Article 8
(Substantive claim before court)
1. A court before which an action is brought in a matter which
is the subject of an arbitration agreement shall, if a party so
requests not later than when submitting his first statement on
the substance of the dispute, refer the parties to arbitration
unless it finds that the agreement is null and void, inoperative
or incapable of being performed.
2. Where an action referred to in paragraph (1) of this article
has been brought, arbitral proceedings may nevertheless be commenced
or continued, and an award may be made, while the issue is pending
before the court.
Article 9
(Arbitration Agreement and interim measures
by court)
It is not incompatible with an arbitration agreement for a party
to request, before or during arbitral proceedings, from a court
an interim measure of protection and for a court to grant such
measure.
Chapter III
Composition of Arbitral Tribunal
Article 10
(Number of arbitrators)
1. The parties are free to determine the number of arbitrators.
2. Failing such determination, the number of arbitrators shall
be three.
Article 11
(Appointment of arbitrators)
1. No person shall be precluded by reason of his nationality
or residency from acting as an arbitrator, unless otherwise agreed
by the parties.
2. The parties are free to agree on a procedure of appointing
the arbitrator or arbitrators, subject to the provisions of paragraphs
(4) and (5) of this article.
3. Failing such agreement, the following are applicable:
a) In an arbitration with three arbitrators, each party shall
appoint one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators thus appointed
shall appoint the third arbitrator; if a party fails to appoint
the arbitrator within thirty days of receipt of a request to do
so from the other party, or if the two arbitrators fail to agree
on the third arbitrator within thirty days of their appointment,
the appointment shall be made, upon request of a party, by the
competent tribunal.
b) In an arbitration with a sole arbitrator, if the parties
are unable to agree on the arbitrator, he shall be appointed,
upon request of a party, by the competent court.
4. Where, under an appointment procedure agreed upon by the
parties,
a) A party fails to act as required under such procedure, or
b) The parties, or two arbitrators, are unable to reach an agreement
expected of them under such procedure, or
c) A third party, including an institution, fails to perform
any function entrusted to it under such procedure,
Any party may request the competent court to take the necessary
measure, unless the agreement on the appointment procedure provides
other means for securing the appointment.
5. A decision on a matter entrusted by paragraph (3) and (4)
of this article to the competent court shall be subject to no
appeal. The tribunal, in appointing an arbitrator, shall have
due regard to any qualifications required of the arbitrator by
the agreement of the parties and to such considerations as are
likely to secure the appointment of an independent and impartial
arbitrator and, in the case of a sole or third arbitrator, shall
take into account as well the advisability of appointing an arbitrator
of a nationality or residency other than those of the parties.
Article 12
(Grounds for challenge)
1. When a person is approached in connection with his possible
appointment as an arbitrator, he shall disclose any circumstances
likely to give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality
or independence. An arbitrator, from the time of his appointment
and throughout the arbitral proceedings, shall without delay disclose
any such circumstances to the parties unless they have already
been informed of them by him.
2. An arbitrator may be challenged only if circumstances exist
that give rise to justifiable doubts as to his impartiality or
independence, or if he does not possess qualifications agreed
to by the parties. A party may challenge an arbitrator appointed
by him, or in whose appointment he has participated, only for
reasons of which he becomes aware after the appointment has been
made.
Article 13
(Challenge procedure)
1. The parties are free to agree on a procedure for challenging
an arbitrator, subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this
article.
2. Failing such agreement, a party who intends to challenge
an arbitrator shall, within fifteen days after becoming aware
of the constitution of the arbitral tribunal or after becoming
aware of any circumstance referred to in article 12(2), send a
written statement of the reasons for the challenge to the arbitral
tribunal. Unless the challenged arbitrator withdraws from his
office or the other party agrees to the challenge, the arbitral
tribunal shall decide on the challenge.
3. If a challenge under any procedure agreed upon by the parties
or under the procedure of paragraph (2) of this article is not
successful, the challenging party may request, within thirty days
after having received notice of the decision rejecting the challenge,
the competent court to decide on the challenge, which decision
shall be subject to no appeal; while such a request is pending,
the arbitral tribunal, including the challenged arbitrator, may
continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.
Article 14
(Failure or impossibility to act)
1. If an arbitrator becomes de jure or de facto unable to perform
his functions or for other reasons fails to act without undue
delay, his mandate terminates if he withdraws from his office
or if the parties agree on the termination. Otherwise, if a controversy
remains concerning any of these grounds, any party may request
the competent court to decide on the termination of the mandate,
which decision shall be subject to no appeal.
2. If, under this article or article 13(2), an arbitrator withdraws
from his office or a party agrees to the termination of the mandate
of an arbitrator, this does not imply acceptance of the validity
of any ground referred to in this article or article 12(2).
Article 15
(Appointment of substitute arbitrator)
Where the mandate of an arbitrator terminates under article
13 or 14 or because of his withdrawal from office for any other
reason or because of the revocation of his mandate by agreement
of the parties or in any other case of termination of his mandate,
a substitute arbitrator shall be appointed according to the rules
that were applicable to the appointment of the arbitrator being
replaced.
Chapter IV
Jurisdiction of arbitral tribunal
Article 16
(Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on
its own jurisdiction)
1. The arbitral tribunal may rule on its own jurisdiction, including
any objections with respect to the existence or validity of the
arbitration agreement. For that purpose, an arbitration clause,
which forms part of a contract, shall be treated as an agreement
independent of the other terms of the contract. A decision by
the arbitral tribunal that the contract is null and void shall
not entail ipso jure the invalidity of the arbitration clause.
2. A plea that the arbitral tribunal does not have jurisdiction
shall be raised not later than the submission of the statement
of defence. A party is not precluded from raising such a plea
by the fact that he has appointed, or participated in the appointment
of, an arbitrator. A plea that the arbitral tribunal is exceeding
the scope of its authority shall be raised as soon as the matter
alleged to be beyond the scope of its authority is raised during
the arbitral proceedings. The arbitral tribunal may, in either
case, admit a later plea if it considers the delay justified.
3. The arbitral tribunal may rule on a plea referred to in paragraph
(2) of this article either as a preliminary question or in an
award on the merits. If the arbitral tribunal rules as a preliminary
question that it has jurisdiction, any party may request, within
thirty days after having received notice of that ruling, the competent
court to decide the matter, which decision shall be subject to
no appeal; while such a request is pending, the arbitral tribunal
may continue the arbitral proceedings and make an award.
Article 17
(Power of arbitral tribunal to order interim
measures)
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal
may, at the request of a party, order any party to take such interim
measure of protection as the arbitral tribunal may consider necessary
in respect of the subject-matter of the dispute. The arbitral
tribunal may require any party to provide appropriate security
in connection with such measure.
Chapter V
Conduct of arbitral proceedings
Article 18
(Equal Treatment of parties)
The parties shall be treated with equality and each party shall
be given a full opportunity of presenting his case.
Article 19
(Determination of rules of procedure)
1. Subject to the provisions of this Decree law, the parties
are free to agree on the procedure to be followed by the arbitral
tribunal in conducting the proceedings.
2. Failing such agreement, the arbitral tribunal may, subject
to the provisions of this Decree-Law, conduct the arbitration
in such manner, as it considers appropriate. The power conferred
upon the arbitral tribunal includes the power to determine the
admissibility, relevance, materiality and weight of any evidence.
Article 20
(Place of arbitration)
1. The parties are free to agree on the place of arbitration.
Failing such agreement, the place of arbitration shall be determined
by the arbitral tribunal having regard to the circumstances of
the case, including the convenience of the parties.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this article,
the arbitral tribunal may, unless otherwise agreed by the parties,
meet at any place it considers appropriate for consultation among
its members, for hearing witnesses, experts or the parties, or
for inspection of goods, other property or documents.
Article 21
(Commencement of arbitral proceedings)
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral proceedings
in respect of a particular dispute commence on the date on which
a request for that dispute to be referred to arbitration is received
by the respondent.
Article 22
(Language)
1. The parties are free to agree on the language or languages
to be used in the arbitral proceedings. Failing such agreement,
the arbitral tribunal shall determine the language or languages
to be used in the proceedings. This agreement or determination,
unless otherwise specified therein, shall apply to any written
statement by a party, any hearing and any award, decision or other
communication by the arbitral tribunal.
2. The arbitral tribunal may order that any documentary evidence
shall be accompanied by a translation into the language or languages
agreed upon by the parties or determined by the arbitral tribunal.
Article 23
(Statements of claim and defence)
1. Within the period of time agreed by the parties or determined
by the arbitral tribunal, the claimant shall state the facts supporting
his claim, the points at issue and the relief or remedy sought,
and the respondent shall state his defence in respect of these
particulars, unless the parties have otherwise agreed as to the
required elements of such statements. The parties may submit with
their statements all documents they consider to be relevant or
may add a reference to the documents or other evidence they will
submit.
2. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, either party may
amend or supplement his claim or defence during the course of
the arbitral proceedings, unless the arbitral tribunal considers
it inappropriate to allow such amendment having regard to the
delay in making it.
Article 24
(Hearings and written proceedings)
1. Subject to any contrary agreement by the parties, the arbitral
tribunal shall decide whether to hold oral hearings for the presentation
of evidence or for oral argument, or whether the proceedings shall
be conducted on the basis of documents and other materials. However,
unless the parties have agreed that no hearings shall be held,
the arbitral tribunal shall hold such hearings at an appropriate
stage of the proceedings, if so requested by a party.
2. The parties shall be given sufficient advance notice of any
hearing and of any meeting of the arbitral tribunal for the purposes
of inspection of goods, other property or documents.
3. All statements, documents or other information supplied to
the arbitral tribunal by one party shall be communicated to the
other party. Also any expert report or evidentiary document on
which the arbitral tribunal may rely in making its decision shall
be communicated to the parties.
Article 25
(Default of a party)
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if, without showing
sufficient cause:
a) The claimant fails to communicate his statement of claim
in accordance with article 23(1); the arbitral tribunal shall
terminate the proceedings;
b) The respondent fails to communicate his statement of defence
in accordance with article 23(1), the arbitral tribunal shall
continue the proceedings without treating such failure in itself
as an admission of the claimant's allegations;
c) Any party fails to appear at a hearing or to produce documentary
evidence, the arbitral tribunal may continue the proceedings and
make the award on the evidence before it.
Article 26
(Expert appointed by arbitral tribunal)
1. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitral tribunal
may:
a) Appoint one or more experts to report to it on specific issues
to be determined by the arbitral tribunal;
b) Require a party to give the expert any relevant information
or to produce, or to provide access to, any relevant documents,
goods or other property for his inspection.
2. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if a party so requests
or if the arbitral tribunal considers it necessary, the expert
shall, after delivery of his written or oral report, participate
in a hearing where the parties have the opportunity to put questions
to him and to present expert witnesses in order to testify on
the points at issue.
Article 27
(Court assistance in taking evidence)
The arbitral tribunal or a party with the approval of the arbitral
tribunal may request from the competent court assistance in taking
evidence. The court may execute the request within its competence
and according to its rules on taking evidence.
Chapter VI
Making of award and termination of proceedings
Article 28
(Rules applicable to substance of dispute)
1. The arbitral tribunal shall decide the dispute in accordance
with such rules of law as are chosen by the parties as applicable
to the substance of the dispute. Any designation of the law or
legal system of a given State or Territory shall be construed,
unless otherwise expressed, as directly referring to the substantive
law of that State or Territory and not to its conflict of laws
rules.
2. Failing any designation by the parties, the arbitral tribunal
shall apply the law determined by the conflict of laws rules,
which it considers applicable.
3. The arbitral tribunal shall decide ex aequo et bono or as
amiable compositeur only if the parties have expressly authorized
it to do so.
4. In all cases, the arbitral tribunal shall decide in accordance
with the terms of the contract and shall take into account the
usages of the trade applicable to the transaction.
Article 29
(Decision making by panel of arbitrators)
In arbitral proceedings with more than one arbitrator, any decision
of the arbitral tribunal shall be made, unless otherwise agreed
by the parties, by a majority of all its members. However, questions
of procedure may be decided by a presiding arbitrator, if so authorized
by the parties or all members of the arbitral tribunal.
Article 30
(Settlement)
1. If, during arbitral proceedings, the parties settle the dispute,
the arbitral tribunal shall terminate the proceedings and, if
requested by the parties and not objected to by the arbitral tribunal,
record the settlement in the form of an arbitral award on agreed
terms.
2. An award on agreed terms shall be made in accordance with
the provisions of article 31 and shall state that it is an award.
Such an award has the same status and effect as any other award
on the merits of the case.
Article 31
(Form and contents of award)
1. The award shall be made in writing and shall be signed by
the arbitrator or arbitrators. In arbitral proceedings with more
than one arbitrator, the signatures of the majority of all members
of the arbitral tribunal shall suffice, provided that the reason
for any omitted signature is stated.
2. The award shall state the reasons upon which it is based,
unless the parties have agreed that no reasons are to be given
or the award is an award on agreed terms under article 30.
3. The award shall state its date and the place of arbitration
as determined in accordance with article 20(1). The award shall
be deemed to have been made at that place.
4. After the award is made, a copy signed by the arbitrators
in accordance with paragraph (1) of this article shall be delivered
to each party.
Article 32
(Termination of proceedings)
1. The arbitral proceedings are terminated by the final award
or by an order of the arbitral tribunal in accordance with paragraph
(2) of this article.
2. The arbitral tribunal shall issue an order for the termination
of the arbitral proceedings when:
a) The claimant withdraws his claim, unless the respondent objects
thereto and the arbitral tribunal recognizes a legitimate interest
on his part in obtaining a final settlement of the dispute;
b) The parties agree on the termination of the proceedings;
c) The arbitral tribunal finds that the continuation of the
proceedings has for any other reason become unnecessary or impossible.
3. The mandate of the arbitral tribunal terminates
with the termination of the arbitral proceedings, subject to the
provisions of articles 33 and 34(4).
Article 33
(Correction and interpretation of award; additional
award)
1. Within 30 days of receipt of the award, unless another period
of time has been agreed upon by the parties:
a) A party, with notice to the other party, may request the
arbitral tribunal to correct in the award any errors in computation,
any clerical or typographical errors or any errors of similar
nature;
b) If so agreed by the parties, a party, with notice to the
other party, may request the arbitral tribunal to give an interpretation
of a specific point or part of the award.
If the arbitral tribunal considers the request to be justified,
it shall make the correction or give the interpretation within
30 days of receipt of the request. The interpretation shall form
part of the award.
2. The arbitral tribunal may correct any error of the type referred
to in paragraph (1)(a) of this article on its own initiative within
thirty days of the date of the award.
3. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, a party, with notice
to the other party, may request, within thirty days of receipt
of the award, the arbitral tribunal to make an additional award
as to claims presented in the arbitral proceedings but omitted
from the award. If the arbitral tribunal considers the request
to be justified, it shall make the additional award within 60
days.
4. The arbitral tribunal may extend, if necessary, the period
of time within which it shall make a correction, interpretation
or an additional award under paragraph (1) or (3) of this article.
5. The provisions of article 31 shall apply to a correction
or interpretation of the award or to an additional award.
Chapter VII
Recourse against award
Article 34
(Annulment of arbitral award)
1. Recourse to a judicial court against an arbitral award may
be made only by an application for setting aside in accordance
with paragraphs (2) and (3) of this article.
2. An arbitral award may be set aside by the competent court
only if:
a) The party making the application furnishes proof that:
i) a party to the arbitration agreement referred to in article
7 was under some incapacity; or the said agreement is not valid
under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, failing
any indication thereon, under the law of Macao; or
(ii) the party making the application was not given proper notice
of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the arbitral proceedings
or was otherwise unable to present his case; or
(iii) the award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or
not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration,
or contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission
to arbitration, provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted
to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, only
that part of the award which contains decisions on matters not
submitted to arbitration may be set aside; or
(iv) the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral
procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties,
unless such agreement was in conflict with a provision of this
Decree-Law from which the parties cannot derogate, or, failing
such agreement, was not in accordance with this Decree-Law; or
b) The court finds that:
i) the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement
by arbitration under the laws of Macao; or
ii) the award is in conflict with the public order.
3. An application for setting aside may not be made after three
months have elapsed from the date on which the party making that
application had received the award or, if a request had been made
under article 33, from the date on which that request had been
disposed of by the arbitral tribunal.
4. The court, when asked to set aside an award, may, where appropriate
and so requested by a party, suspend the setting aside proceedings
for a period of time determined by it in order to give the arbitral
tribunal an opportunity to resume the arbitral proceedings or
to take such other action as in the arbitral tribunal's opinion
will eliminate the grounds for setting aside.
Chapter VIII
Recognition and enforcement of awards
Article 35
(Recognition and enforcement)
1. An arbitral award, irrespective of the State or Territory
in which it was made, shall be recognized as binding and, upon
application in writing to the competent court, shall be enforced
subject to the provisions of this article and of article 36
2. The party relying on an award or applying for its enforcement
shall supply the duly authenticated original award or a duly certified
copy thereof, and the original arbitration agreement referred
to in article 7 or a duly certified copy thereof. If the award
or agreement is not made in one of the official languages of Macao,
the party shall supply a duly certified translation thereof into
one of those languages.
Article 36
(Grounds for refusing recognition or enforcement)
1. Recognition or enforcement of an arbitral award, irrespective
of the State or Territory in which it was made, may be refused
only:
a) At the request of the party against whom it is invoked, if
that party furnishes to the competent court where recognition
or enforcement is sought proof that:
i) a party to the arbitration agreement referred to in article
7 was under some incapacity; or the said agreement is not valid
under the law to which the parties have subjected it or, failing
any indication thereon, under the law of the State or Territory
where the award was made;
ii) the party against whom the award is invoked was not given
proper notice of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the arbitral
proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case; or
iii) the award deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not
falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or
it contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission
to arbitration, provided that, if the decisions on matters submitted
to arbitration can be separated from those not so submitted, that
part of the award which contains decisions on matters submitted
to arbitration may be recognized and enforced; or
iv) the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitral
procedure was not in accordance with the agreement of the parties
or, failing such agreement, was not in accordance with the laws
of the State or Territory where the arbitration took place; or
v) the award has not yet become binding on the parties or has
been set aside or suspended by a court of the State or Territory
in which, or under the law of which, that award was made; or
b) If the court finds that:
i) the subject-matter of the dispute is not capable of settlement
by arbitration under the laws of Macao; or
ii) the recognition or enforcement of the award would be contrary
to the public order; or
iii) The State or territory in which the award was decided does
not recognize or inforce the awards from Macau tribunals.
2. If an application for setting aside or suspension of an award
has been made to a court referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(v) of
this article, the court where recognition or enforcement is sought
may, if it considers it proper, adjourn its decision and may also,
on the application of the party claiming recognition or enforcement
of the award, order the other party to provide appropriate security.
Chapter IX
Final dispositions
Article 37
(Subsidiary legislation)
1. All that is not expressly foreseen in this Decree-Law shall
be subsidiary governed by Decree-Law n. º 29/96/M, of 11
June.
2. If not foreseen by the arbitration agreement or if the parties
don’t reach an agreement on the matter, the remuneration
of the arbitators and other participants on arbitral proceedings
are, in what is applicable, those ruled by order of the Governor
referred in article 19 (4) of Decree-law n.º 29/96/M, of
11 June.
3. In case some arbitrators are not Macao residents, the arbitral
award may add an extra remuneration to that refered in paragraph
2 of this article, to compensate totally or partially the travel
and lodging expenses of foreign arbitrators comig to Macau.
4. The award may also add to the remuneration refered in paragraph
2 of this article, full or partial payment of expenses concerning
proof diligences performed outside Macao, when those diligences
were considered necessary by the arbitral tribunal.
Article 38
(Application)
This Decree law shall enter into force 60 days after its publication.
Approved in 13 of November of 1998.
For publication.
The Governor, Vasco Rocha Vieira. |