7. What can the creditors do after the granting of bankruptcy order?
Any creditor of the bankrupt may request the Official Receiver to call for a general meeting of all the creditors to appoint a Trustee for the bankrupt's assets. If the total value of those assets is unlikely to exceed $200,000, then the Official Receiver or a person appointed by the Official Receiver will normally be appointed as the Trustee. Each creditor must complete a Proof of Debt Form with supporting documents to prove any debt contracted by the Bankrupt. The Proof of Debt Form should be submitted to the Official Receiver's Office.
If necessary, creditors can request the Official Receiver to apply to the Court for a public examination of the bankrupt in open court (section 19 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance).
The Official Receiver sometimes takes the view that the bankrupt has been un-cooperative, and that he is not making full and frank disclosure of his financial affairs. In such circumstances, the Official Receiver and the petitioner might have legitimate reasons to believe that a private examination would be beneficial to the administration of the assets in that more substantial and useful information might be obtained regarding the financial affairs of the bankrupt.
Upon application by the Official Receiver, the court will decide if the case is appropriate for an order for private examination. If the answer is in the affirmative, the court is likely to order the bankrupt to attend before a Master of the High Court to be examined under section 29 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance at such time as directed by the court, with an estimated length of examination (e.g. 2 hours). The petitioner is to have the conduct of the examination by his solicitor or barrister.
The court may further order the bankrupt to provide to the petitioner all documents in his possession, custody or power relating to himself, his dealings or property within certain days of the order (e.g. 21 days).
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