Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T16:58:48.791Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Foreign Judgments in ASEAN—a proposal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2008

Extract

The Association of South East Asian Nations1 (ASEAN) was formed on 8 August 1967. Inter alia, the five founding members of ASEAN agreed in the Bangkok Declaration to “accelerate … economic growth … in the region, … to promote regional peace … and … to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in matters of common interest in the economic … and administrative fields”.2

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © British Institute of International and Comparative Law 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. With Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand as founding members. Brunei Darussalam, on attaining independence, became the sixth member with effect from 7 Jan. 1984 and Vietnam became a full member on 29 July 1995. Cambodia is slated to join the Association in 1997.

2. The ASEAN Declaration, Bangkok, 8 Aug. 1967, in ASEAN Documents Series (1967–1988) 3rd edn, ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta.

3. Tasker, R., Schwarz, A. and Vatikiotis, M., “Growing Pains”, Far Eastern Economic Review. 28 07 1994, p.22.Google Scholar

4. Imada, P. and Naya, S. (Eds), Afta: The Way Ahead (1992). p.xii.Google Scholar

5. See supra n.2 and accompanying text.

6. In the words of Kusuma Snitwongse. director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkom University, Thailand, reported in the Far Eastern Economic Review, 28 07 1994, p.24.Google Scholar

7. Soesastro, H.. The ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Future of Asian Dynamism (1991), p.2.Google Scholar

8. Ibid; T. S. Lee, “The ASEAN Free Trade Area: The Search For a Common Prosperity” (1994) 8 Asian-Pacific Economic Literature 1.

9. See e.g. Lee, ibid.

10. Especially since Vietnam, with its long-standing feud with China, has just joined ASEAN and with the dispute over the Spratly Islands, involving four ASEAN members, still unresolved.

11. These seek to link ASEAN regions together on the basis of their resource complementarity so that an efficient mix of production essentials is achieved and presented for investment purposes. For instance, the Southern Growth Triangle brings together Johore's land and semi-skilled labour, Riau's land and low-cost labour and Singapore's high-quality human capital and well-developed infrastructure.

12. Reported in the Singapore Straits Times, 16 12 1995. p.1.Google Scholar

13. Ibid.

14. This is the subject of another yet to be published research paper by the writer.

15. I have found it difficult to locate relevant and significant material on Brunei. As such, Brunei is substantially left out of the following discussion.

16. James, B. G., “Vietnamese Law in English—A Selected Annotated Bibiliography” (1992) 82 Law Library J. 461, 464.Google Scholar

17. Dirksen, T. E., “Doing Business in Vietnam: The Legal Aspects” (1993) 2 Asia Business L.Rev. 3.Google Scholar

18. Sidel, M., “The Re-emergence of Legal Discourse in Vietnam” (1994) 431.C.L.Q. 163, 164.Google Scholar

19. Caffrey, B. A., International Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in the LA WASIA Region: A Comparative Study of the Laws of Eleven ASEAN Countries lnter-Se and With the EEC Countries (1985).Google Scholar

20. Idem, pp.66 et seq.

21. Gautama, S., “The Commercial Laws of Indonesia” (1991), in Digest of Commercial Laws of the World, p.4.Google Scholar

22. Gautama, S. et al. Credit and Security in Indonesia (1973), chap.2.Google Scholar

23. This law has been described as “the most-awaited law ever in Indonesian legal history”. See Surowidjojo, A. T., “Indonesia's New Company Law” (1996) 11 Asia Business L.Rev. 13 for a full discussion of the law.Google Scholar

24. Surowidjojo, A. T.. “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments—Indonesia” (1993) 1 Asia Business L.Rev. 39.Google Scholar

25. Regulation of 8 Nov. 1847. STB.52/1847 and STB.63/1849. Engelbrecht 1135 (1960 edn).

26. STB.44/1941.

27. See Gautama, S.. “Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments and Arbitral Awards in the ASEAN Region” (1990) 32 Malayan L.Rev. 171, 176Google Scholar: Hornick, R. N.. “The Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Indonesia” (1977) 18 Harv.I.L.J. 97, 98.Google Scholar

28. Translated by Gautama in op. cit. supra n.21, at p.40.Google Scholar

29. Algemene Bepalingen van Welgering. State Gazette, 1847 No.23.

30. Gautama, S., Indonesian Business Law (1995). pp.519520.Google Scholar

31. Idem, pp.39–40.

32. Ibid.

33. Surowidjojo. op. cit. supra n.24.

34. Defined in s.698 of the Commercial Code as those special expenses incurred for the safety of the ship and goods transported.

35. Hornick, , op. cit. supra n.27, at p.99.Google Scholar

36. Such as divorce decrees, bankruptcy decrees and other similar declaratory judgments.

37. Hornick. op. cit. supra n.27, at p. 101: Gautama, oloc. cit. supra n.27.Google Scholar

38. The exact and formal classification of British possessions into colonies, protectorates and protected States is a subject in itself. For a discussion of the same, see Hooker, M. B.. “English Law in Sumatra. Java, the Straits Settlements. Malay States. Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei”, in Hooker, M. B. (Ed.), The Laws of South-east Asia. Vol.2 (1986).Google Scholar

39. Sihombing, J. et al. Business Law in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore (1991). chap.1.Google Scholar

40. In Sabah and Sarawak, in addition to the common law and rules of equity in England, statutes of general application are also applicable. The cut-off dates are. however, different, being 1 Dec. 1951 for Sabah and 12 Dec. 1949 for Sarawak: s.3(1)(b) and (c).

41. S.5.

42. Which provided for the continued reception of English mercantile law in Singapore.

43. Act No.35 of 1993.

44. See Yeo, V., “Application of English Law Act 1993: A Step in the Weaning Process” (1994) 4 Asia Business L.Rev. 69 for a discussion of the position prior to and after the enactment of the AELA.Google Scholar

45. Lim, C., “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments—Singapore” (1993) 1 Asia Business L.Rev. 37Google Scholar; Abraham, C. W. M., “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments—Malaysia” (1993) 2 Asia Business L.Rev. 37.Google Scholar

46. S.3(2), RECJ Act.

47. Idem, s.3(3).

48. See generally North, P. M. and Fawcett, J. J. (Eds), Cheshire & North's Private International Law (12th edn, 1992).Google Scholar

49. Gamboa, J.. An Introduction to Philippine Law (1969).Google Scholar

50. Idem, p.49.

51. Art.8.

52. Gamboa. op. cit. supra n.49, at p. 13.Google Scholar

53. de Guzman, S. T. J. Jr, et al., Credit and Security in the Philippines (1973), p.8.Google Scholar

54. Idem, p.28; Quasha, W. H., “Country Report: Philippines”, in Platto, C.. Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Worldwide (1989), p.74.Google Scholar

55. R.39, s.50(b). Revised Rules of Court; s.311 (2). Code of Civil Procedure; Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19. at p.70.Google Scholar

56. McDorman, T. L., “The Teaching of the Law of Thailand” (1988) 11 Dalhousie L.J. 915.Google Scholar

57. Based on the 1805 Code of the Three Seals: idem, pp.916 et seq.

58. Idem, p.917.

59. Idem, pp.917–918; see also Hooker, M. B., A Concise Legal History of South-east Asia (1978), pp.183 et seq.Google Scholar

60. S.4, Civil and Commercial Code.

61. McDorman, op. cit. supra n.56, at p.920.Google Scholar

62. Raissi, J. P., “Arbitrating in Thailand” (1992) 16 Hastings Int. & Comp.L.Rev. 99, 109.Google Scholar

63. Dejakaisaya, P., “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments—Thailand” (1993) 1 Asia Business L.Rev. 40.Google Scholar

64. Tilleke, and Gibbons, . “The Commercial Laws of Thailand” (1990), in Digest of the Commercial Laws of the World, p.38.Google Scholar

65. James, , op. cit. supra n.16, at p.463.Google Scholar

66. Kenyon, C., Foreword to P. K. Nguyen. Vietnamese Legal Materials 1954–1975: A Selected Annotated Bibliography (1977), p.v.Google Scholar

67. James, , op. cit. supra n.16, at p.464.Google Scholar

68. Lockwood, M. and van Embden, M. E., “Vietnam's New Civil Code” (1996) 13 Asia Business L.Rev. 19.Google Scholar

69. Dirksen, loc. cit. supra n. 17.

70. These are stated to be favouritism, corruption, avoidance of open conflict through conciliation outside the orbit of the law, and arbitrary intervention through family connections with the centres of power: ibid.

71. Ibid.

72. See Lockwood and van Embden. op. cit. supra n.68, for a full discussion of the Code.

73. Craig, W. L. and Polkinghorne, M., “Dispute Resolution In Vietnam” (1995) 14 Int. Financial L.Rev. 36, 38.Google Scholar

74. L. V. Do, “Country Report—Vietnam”, in CCH's Doing Business in Asia.

75. Lockwood, M. and van Embden, M. E., “Enforcing Vietnamese Disputes with Foreign Arbitration” (1996) 15 Int. Financial L.Rev. 23.Google Scholar

76. Ibid.

77. Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19, at pp.45.Google Scholar

78. Hay, P., “The Common Market Preliminary Draft Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgements—Some Considerations of Policy and Interpretation” (1968) 16 A.J.Comp.L. 149Google Scholar; Bartlett, L. S., “Full Faith and Credit Comes to the Common Market” (1975) 24 I.C.L.Q.45.Google Scholar

79. Hay, ibid.

80. Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19, at p.329.Google Scholar

81. In Indonesia, Gautama, op. cit. supra n.27; and in the Philippines, Bengzon, J. F. S. Jr, “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments—Philippines” (1993) 2 Asia Business L.Rev. 42, 43.Google Scholar

82. Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19, at p.6.Google Scholar

83. Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community, 25 Mar. 1957.

84. Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19, at p.23.Google Scholar

85. The provisions of the Brussels Convention is extended to all States of the European Free Trade Area by the parallel Lugano EEC-EFTA Judgments Convention.

86. Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19, at p.25.Google Scholar

87. Hogan. “The Brussels Convention, Forum Non Conveniens and the Connecting Factors Problem” (1995) 20 E.L.Rev. 471.Google Scholar

88. Cf. Gautama, op. cit. supra n.27, at p. 180.Google Scholar

89. Byrne, P., The EEC Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments (1990), pp.1011Google Scholar; Kaye, P., Civil Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments (1987), Part 4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

90. Bartlett, , op. cit. supra n.78, at p.48.Google Scholar

91. Hay, op. cit. supra n.78, at p. 156.Google Scholar

92. Idem, p.159.

93. Bartlett, , op. cit. supra n.78, at p.49; Hay, Idem, pp.159 et seq.Google Scholar

94. See Byrne, , op. cit. supra n.89, at pp.108Google Scholar et seq. and Kaye, op. cit. supra n.89, at Part 8, s.V for detailed considerations of the grounds for denial of recognition and enforcement. See also Tebbens, H. D., “Jurisdiction and Enforcement in International Contract Law (Selected Aspects of the Brussels Convention of 1968/1978)”, in Sarcevic, P. (Ed.), International Contracts and Conflicts of Laws (1990), pp.146 et seq.Google Scholar

95. See e.g. Caffrey, , op. cit. supra n.19, at p.25.Google Scholar

96. Hay, op. cit. supra n.78, at p.161.Google Scholar

97. Cf. Gautama, op. cit. supra n.27, at p.179, where the learned author was of the opinion that the immediate goal of an ASEAN convention should be one that deals only with the issues of recognition and enforcement and not one which also attempts to settle the question of assumption of jurisdiction.Google Scholar

98. Bartlett, , op. cit. supra n.78, at p.57.Google Scholar