第一，签字的人是什么身份

他是公司董事、依法获授权的代表，还是只是经办人？身份不同，能否让公司受约束，判断结果完全不同。

第二，授权从哪里来

有没有董事会决议、授权文件或公司章程支持他签这笔交易？授权范围是否覆盖这份合同？授权是否仍在有效期内？

第三，公司意思表示是否成立

香港公司怎样签署、用印才算有效缔约，形式要求与内地并不完全一样，不能照搬内地的习惯去推定。

签约前，把“对方签字的人到底有没有权”确认一遍，常常比后面补救便宜得多。

常见问题 · FAQ

Q：对方签字的人不是董事，签的合同还能约束那家香港公司吗？

肖黄鹤律师：不一定。关键看他是否获得有效授权：若有董事会决议、授权文件或公司章程支持，且授权范围覆盖该笔交易、仍在有效期内，公司一般可被约束；若只是经办人而无授权依据，合同可能无法约束公司。因此签约前应先核查签字人身份与授权来源。

Q：核查香港公司签约授权，应当看哪些文件？

肖黄鹤律师：通常应核查公司注册与董事登记信息、相关董事会决议、授权委托文件以及公司章程，确认签字人身份、授权范围是否覆盖该合同、授权是否仍在有效期内，并核对公司签署与用印形式是否符合香港的缔约要求。

Q：香港公司的签署、用印形式可以照搬内地习惯来判断吗？

肖黄鹤律师：不可以。香港公司怎样签署、用印才算有效缔约，其形式要求与内地并不完全相同，不能照搬内地习惯去推定，建议按香港法下的执行形式核对，必要时取得当地法律意见。

First, identify the signatory

Is the person a director, a duly authorised representative, or merely a business contact? Each answer changes whether the company can be bound at all.

Second, trace the source of authority

Do board resolutions, authorisation documents or constitutional documents support this deal? Does the authority cover this contract — and is it still in force?

Third, confirm the company’s intent

How a Hong Kong company validly executes and seals a contract follows formalities that should not be inferred from mainland practice.

Verifying authority before signing is usually far cheaper than repairing a broken contract afterwards.

FAQ

Q: If the person signing is not a director, can the contract still bind the Hong Kong company?

Xiao Huanghe: Not necessarily. What matters is whether they hold valid authority: if a board resolution, authorisation document or the company's constitution supports the deal, the authority covers this transaction and is still in force, the company can generally be bound; if they are merely a business contact with no basis for authority, the contract may fail to bind the company. So verify the signatory's identity and source of authority before signing.

Q: When checking a Hong Kong company's signing authority, which documents should be reviewed?

Xiao Huanghe: Typically you should review the company's registration and director records, the relevant board resolutions, authorisation documents and the company's constitution, confirming the signatory's identity, whether the authority covers this contract, and whether it remains in force — and check that the company's execution and sealing formalities meet Hong Kong requirements.

Q: Can a Hong Kong company's execution and sealing be judged by mainland practice?

Xiao Huanghe: No. How a Hong Kong company validly executes and seals a contract follows formalities that differ from mainland practice and should not be inferred from it. Verify against execution formalities under Hong Kong law and obtain local legal advice where needed.