Hong Kong · civil procedure
What period applies to action upon judgment limitation?
12 years after enforceability. Bring the action upon the judgment. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later.
- Period
- 12 years after enforceability
- Trigger
- When the judgment became enforceable
- Rule
- Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)
Official verified English consolidated chapter 347, version July 9,2020. Acquired October 9, 2026, with the official current register and immutable verified PDF. Current verified official English consolidated chapter PDFs acquired October 9, 2026. Version dates retained per chapter register. No claim that a calendar proves future gale, black-rainstorm or emergency office closures.
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What period applies to action upon judgment limitation?
12 years after enforceability. Bring the action upon the judgment. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later.
Responsible actor. Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment.
When the judgment became enforceable
12 years after enforceability
Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment. Actual enforceability date; Action upon judgment selected; Interest separated; No applicable special limitation. Section 4(4) limits judgment-interest arrears to six years after each amount became due. Execution leave after six years is another rule.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)How does this provision count time?
- Bring the action upon the judgment
- Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment uses the established when the judgment became enforceable. 12 years after enforceability. Use calendar months or calendar years, not a fixed number of thirty-day blocks. The retained ordinary examples use corresponding dates. A missing anniversary date needs a separately supported rule.
- Bring the action upon the judgment. An applicable Court-office completion may move under the exact final-day source only when the act cannot be done there. Establish the actual office route, closure and any different effective electronic route. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later.
- Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later.
Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment uses the established when the judgment became enforceable. 12 years after enforceability. Use calendar months or calendar years, not a fixed number of thirty-day blocks. The retained ordinary examples use corresponding dates. A missing anniversary date needs a separately supported rule.
Bring the action upon the judgment. An applicable Court-office completion may move under the exact final-day source only when the act cannot be done there. Establish the actual office route, closure and any different effective electronic route. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment. When the judgment became enforceable occurs on Thursday, October 9, 2014. The retained eligibility and ordinary procedural conditions apply. Actual Accrual Legally Established true. No Disability Acknowledgment Concealment Or Special Period true.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment. When the judgment became enforceable occurs on Thursday, October 9, 2014. The retained eligibility and ordinary procedural conditions apply. Actual Accrual Legally Established true. No Disability Acknowledgment Concealment Or Special Period true. 12 years after enforceability. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later. | Friday, October 9, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment. When the judgment became enforceable occurs on Sunday, October 19, 2014. The retained eligibility and ordinary procedural conditions apply. Actual Accrual Legally Established true. No Disability Acknowledgment Concealment Or Special Period true. 12 years after enforceability. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later. | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment. When the judgment became enforceable occurs on Thursday, October 9, 2014. The complete eligibility and procedural facts are not established. Actual Accrual Legally Established not established. No Disability Acknowledgment Concealment Or Special Period not established. This actual branch must be established independently before any ordinary endpoint can be used. Actual enforceability date | Section 4(4) limits judgment-interest arrears to six years after each amount became due. Execution leave after six years is another rule. |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Actual enforceability date
- Actual enforceability date
- Action upon judgment selected
- Action upon judgment selected
- Interest separated
- Interest separated
- No applicable special limitation
- No applicable special limitation
- Correct source counting and completion route
- Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment uses the established when the judgment became enforceable. 12 years after enforceability. Use calendar months or calendar years, not a fixed number of thirty-day blocks. The retained ordinary examples use corresponding dates. A missing anniversary date needs a separately supported rule. Bring the action upon the judgment. An applicable Court-office completion may move under the exact final-day source only when the act cannot be done there. Establish the actual office route, closure and any different effective electronic route. Do not substitute judgment pronouncement where enforceability is later.
- Claimant bringing an action upon a judgment. Actual enforceability date; Action upon judgment selected; Interest separated; No applicable special limitation. Section 4(4) limits judgment-interest arrears to six years after each amount became due. Execution leave after six years is another rule.
- Section 4(4) limits judgment-interest arrears to six years after each amount became due. Execution leave after six years is another rule.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
What period applies to action upon judgment limitation?
Does twelve years start when judgment is pronounced?
Section 4(4) specifies when the judgment became enforceable. Establish that event.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap.347), section4(4)Are all interest arrears recoverable for twelve years?
No. The same subsection limits arrears of judgment interest to six years from when interest became due.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)Is this the rule for issuing execution without leave?
No. RHC Order 46 rule 2(1)(a) separately requires leave after six years or more.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)Does a judgment date prove enforceability despite a stay?
Do not assume it. Retain the operative judgment and actual enforceability facts.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)Does this page restart time for each unpaid instalment automatically?
The source and actual judgment terms must establish each enforceable obligation.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)Does timely commencement certify recovery of the full judgment?
No. Satisfaction, enforceability, interest and other defences remain separate.
Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4)Official sources and review
Provisions used (5)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Limitation Ordinance (Cap. 347), section 4(4) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap.1), section71(1)–(2) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| General Holidays Ordinance (Cap.149), section3 and Schedule | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Limitation Ordinance (Cap.347), applicable sections20,22–26,30,31–32 and40 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Limitation Ordinance (Cap.347), section4(4) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |