Lexology GTDT “2022年建设工程专章问答”·第四期

信息来源：建领城达所　 时间：2022-08-08　 作者：建领城达所

编者按

上海建领城达律师事务所主任周吉高律师受邀为国际知名法律咨询平台Lexology GTDT担任“建设工程专章问答”独家撰稿人。“建领城达”公众号将对问答内容进行分期推送，本文为第四期。

Lexology GTDT是国际知名的法律咨询门户网站，通过与超过900家世界顶级律师事务所和法律服务提供方的合作，汇集了超过80个业务领域、150个重要司法辖区的专家撰写的独家法律信息资源。Lexology GTDT 的“市场动态”系列专访有助于读者了解全球主要司法辖区法律和监管环境的演变情况。

建领城达律师事务所主任、首席合伙人：周吉高。复旦大学法律硕士、中国科学院工学硕士、同济大学工学学士。兼任中华全国律师协会建设工程与房地产专业委员会副主任、国家发改委及财政部PPP“双库专家”等社会职务。擅长建设工程、房地产领域的各类专业法律服务。累计为70余家施工企业、70余家房地产公司（集团）提供建筑房地产专业法律服务。

凭借在建设工程领域的高胜诉率、客户满意度和市场口碑，周吉高律师连续多年被钱伯斯、The Legal 500、Benchmark Litigation等国际知名法律评级机构评为推荐律师。

Payment rights

Question22：Payment rights

支付权

How may a contractor secure the right to payment of its costs and fees from an owner? May the contractor place liens on the property? 

承包商如何确保业主支付其成本和费用的权利？承包商是否可以对该不动产设立留置权？

Response22:A contractor may adopt the following measures to secure its right to payment of costs and fees from an owner: (i) the contractor may require the owner to provide guarantee for the payment in accordance with the Regulation on Ensuring Wage Payment to Migrant Workers; 

1. （1）要求业主依据《保障农民工工资支付条例》第24条，提供工程款支付担保；

(ii) the contractor may ask to add a Liability of Breach Clause on delaying payments to the contract;

（2）在合同中设立针对业主拖延支付工程款的违约责任条款；

(iii) when the owner fails to make payments in accordace with the contract, the contractor is entitled to exercise the right to preferential payment of the work price.

（3）业主未按约支付价款时，承包商可以行使建设工程优先受偿权。

The contractor is not entitled to placing lien on real estate. According to the principle of legality of real rights, liens can only be placed on movable property in China. However, a contractor can enjoy the right to preferential payment of the work price in accordance with Article 807 of the Civil Code.

2. 承包商不能对不动产设立留置权。根据物权法定原则，只能对动产设立留置权。但承包商可以根据《民法典》807条享有建设工程价款优先受偿权。

Question23：‘Pay if paid’ and ‘pay when paid’

支付条件背靠背条款

Does local law prohibit construction contracts from containing terms that make a subcontractor's right to payment contingent on the general contractor's receipt of payment from the owner, thereby causing the subcontractor to bear the risk of the owner's non-payment or late payment? 

当地法律是否禁止施工合同包含使分包商获得付款的权利取决于总承包商收到业主付款的条款？如果不禁止是否导致分包商将承担业主不付款或延迟付款的风险？

Response23:In China, there is no legal provison prohibiting construction contracts from containing ‘pay if paid’ or ‘pay when paid’ terms. In judicial practice, courts tend not to identify such terms as void. However, where the general contractor intentionally delays settlement or delays in exercising due creditor's rights, courts tend to support subcontractors’ claims on payments even if there exist ‘pay if paid’ or ‘pay when paid’ terms.

法律没有对约定支付条件背靠背条款作出明确的禁止性规定。司法实践中，法院一般不会否定“背靠背”条款效力，但若承包商不积极向业主主张付款，则法院可能会以承包商阻止付款条件成就为由，承包商在没有收到业主付款的情况下，法院判决支持分包商的付款权利。

Question24：Contracting with government entities 

与政府实体签约

Can a government agency assert sovereign immunity as a defence to a contractor’s claim for payment?

政府机关能否主张主权豁免，作为对承包商付款要求的抗辩理由？

Response24:If a construction contract is legally valid and the contractor performs the contract in good faith, a government agency to the contract shall make payments as agreed in the contract and cannot assert sovereign immunity as a defense to a contracotor’s for payment.

不能。在合同合法有效且承包商善意履行合同的情况下，政府机关作为合同主体，应当履行合同约定的付款义务，不能以主权豁免作为拒绝付款的抗辩理由。

Question25：Statutory payment protection

法定支付保护

Where major projects have been interrupted or cancelled, do the local laws provide any protection for unpaid contractors who have performed work? 

在重大项目被中断或取消的情况下，当地法律是否为未拿到已完工程对价的承包商提供保护？

Response25:If major projects have been interrupted or cancelled, where the purpose of the contract cannot be realised, contractors has the right to terminate the contract according to Article 563 of the Civil Code. Upon termination, if the quality of the completed work is qualified, the contractor can request the employer to pay the price of the completed work.

项目被中断或取消，导致不能实现合同目的，承包商有权根据《民法典》第五百六十三条的规定解除合同。合同解除后，已经完成的建设工程质量合格的，有权请求业主支付相应的工程价款。

However, if the contractor chooses not to terminate the contract or resume the performance after a short interruption, it cannot make the aforesaid claim to be paid.

承包商选择不解除合同或短暂中断后合同恢复履行的，承包商不能在支付节点未届满的情况下，请求支付已完工程量的相应价款。

Force majeure

Question26：Force majeure and acts of God

不可抗力和天灾

Under local law are contractors excused from performing contractual obligations owing to events beyond their control?

根据当地法律，承包商是否因双方无法控制的事件而免除合同义务？

Response26:It depends. According to Article 180 of the Civil Code, force majeure refers to any objective circumstance that is unforeseeable, unavoidable and insurmountable. Contractors would be excused from performing contractual obligations only if the events beyond their control meet the conditions of force majeure and there is a causal relationship between the event and the failure to perform contractual obligations.

不一定。

根据《民法典》第180条，不可抗力是不能预见、不能避免且不能克服的客观情况。双方无法控制的事件应符合上述不可抗力构成要件，且该事件与不能履行合同义务之间存在因果关系，承包商才可以免除合同义务。

Dispute

Question27：Are there any specialised tribunals (official or industry sponsored) that are dedicated to resolving construction disputes?

有专门解决建设工程纠纷的专门法庭(官方或行业赞助的)吗？

Response27:In China, there is no specialised tribunal which are dedicated to resolve construction disputes. However, taking complexity and difficulty of such disputes into account, in practice, the courts will appoint specialised judges with rich experience in trial of construction disputes to resolve such disputes.

目前中国法院没有专设法庭受理建设工程纠纷，但考虑到此类纠纷的复杂性和审理难度，实践中法院会将案件交给具有建设工程纠纷审判经验的法官进行裁判。

In addition, in December 2019, China Construction Industry Association and China Maritime Arbitration Commission jointly established the Construction Dispute Arbitration Center of China Maritime Arbitration Commission, which specialises in resolving construction disputes.

2019年12月，中国建筑业协会与中国海事仲裁委员会共同成立了中国海事仲裁委员会建设工程争议仲裁中心，专门受理建设工程纠纷案件。

Question28：Are dispute review boards (DRBs) used? Are their decisions treated as mandatory, advisory, final or interim?

争议评审机制是否被应用于实践？争议评审委员会所作的决定被视为强制性的，建议性的，终局的还是临时的？

Response28:DRBs are used in China but not widely. Through DRBs, some foreign-related construction disputes are resolved, such as Xiaolangdi Hydropower Station Case, Ertan Hydropower Station Case and Wanjiazhai Water Conservancy Project Case. As to the domestic projects, TravelSky Beijing Shunyi High-tech Industrial Park Dispute was the first case which resolve disputes through DRBs. 

是的。通过争议评审机制解决小浪底、二滩水电站、万家寨水利工程等涉外建设工程纠纷。就内资项目而言，中国航信北京顺义高科技产业园区建设工程项目纠纷案件系采用争议评审机制的首例案件。总体而言，这方面实践不多。

Decisions made by DRBs cannot be legally enforced. Both parties can still apply to arbitration or bring suits after a decision is made by DRBs.

争议评审机构所做的决定不具有强制执行力，不能直接排除双方当事人在决定作出后另行提交仲裁或者诉讼。

Question29：Has the practice of voluntary participation in professionally organised mediation gained acceptance and, if so, how prevalent is the practice and where are the mediators coming from? If not, why not?

自愿参与专业组织的调解的做法是否已被接受，如果是，这种做法有多普遍，调解人来自哪里？如果没有，为什么没有？

Response29:In recent years, the practice of voluntary participation in professionally organised mediation has gradually gained acceptance. Parties can choose mediators by themselves or make appointments based on lists provided by mediation centers.

专业人士进行调解或由专业机构主导的调解在近年来逐步受到当事人的认可。调解员可以由当事人自主选任，也可以根据调解机构提供的名单选任。

However, the acceptance of professional mediation is far lower than that of mediation organised by courts or arbitration institutions. Because through mediation organised by courts or arbitration institutions, if any party does not perform the agreement fully, the other party can apply to the court for a legal enforcement. However, if any party does not perform settlement agreements of professional mediation, the settlement agreements would not be enforced legally unless affirmed through judicial procedures.

但是，专业调解的接受度远低于法院、仲裁庭主持下的调解。因为在法院、仲裁庭主持下，调解所产生的和解协议可以直接获准执行，而通过专业人士调解所产生的和解协议，除非当事人自愿执行，否则必须经司法确认程序方可获准执行。

Question30：Are statements made in mediation confidential (meaning, that they cannot be repeated in any formal proceedings such as court proceedings, arbitration, etc)?

调解中的陈述是否保密(即在任何正式程序中，如法院诉讼、仲裁等，都不能重复)？

Response30:Statements in mediation are confidential and cannot be repeated in any formal proceedings. 

调解中的陈述应当保密。

For example, according to Article 18 of the Mediation Rules of the Mediation Center of Beijing Arbitration Commission, mediation shall not be conducted in public unless otherwise agreed by the parties. The process of mediation would not be recorded in written. Mediators, parties, agents, witnesses, experts, staff members of the center and other personnel involved in the mediation have the obligation to keep all matters of mediation confidential. According to Article 18 of the Mediation Rules of the Mediation Center of Beijing Arbitration Commission, either party shall not invoke any statements, opinions, opinions or suggestions made by the other party or mediator in mediation, any relevant written materials, as the basis for claims, defenses or counterclaims in subsequent arbitrations, court proceedings or any other formal court proceedings.

例如，《北京仲裁委员会调解中心调解规则》第18条规定，以除非当事人另有约定，调解不公开进行。调解过程不记笔录。调解员、当事人及其代理人、证人、专家、本中心工作人员以及其他参与调解过程的人员对于调解的一切事项负有保密义务。第25条规定：任何一方当事人均不得在之后的仲裁程序、司法程序或者其他任何程序中援引对方当事人或者调解员在调解过程中的任何陈述、意见、观点或建议，以及书面材料作为其请求、答辩或者反请求的依据。

Question31：What is the prevailing attitude towards arbitration of construction disputes? Is it preferred over litigation in the local courts?

对于仲裁解决建设工程争议的主流态度是什么？相比于在当地法院诉讼，当事人是否优先选择仲裁？

Response31:In practice, because an arbitration award will be final and binding upon parties, and the subject matters of construction disputes are always with high value, parties tend to be very cautious about choosing arbitration as dispute resolution mechanism. Parties will choose the appropriate dispute resolution mechanism based on the actual situation and their needs.

一般来说，由于仲裁具有“一裁终局”的特点，而建设工程纠纷案件标的额往往较大，当事人在选择仲裁作为解决争议方式时会比较慎重。当事人会根据项目的实际情况以及自身需求，以选择适当的争议解决方式。

Question32：If a foreign contractor wanted to pursue work and insisted by contract upon international arbitration as the dispute resolution mechanism, which of the customary international arbitration providers (eg, the ICC) is preferred and why? (Is there any preference or resistance to hearings being held in a particular jurisdiction? Is there any preference or requirement as to which national law would apply to questions pertaining to the dispute?)

若境外承包商欲承接工程并坚持以国际仲裁作为合同争议的解决机制，哪一个国际仲裁机构（例如，国际商会）是优先选择？（对于在特定法域内举行的开庭是否存在任何优先性或阻碍？与争议有关的问题适用哪国法律是否存在任何偏好或要求？）

Response32:If a foreign contractor trust in domestic arbitration institutions in China and regard convenience in the enforcement of arbitration awards as more important elements, it may prefer CIETAC, BIAC, SHIAC and other domestic arbitration institutions based in China. If a foreign contractor tends to use English as the arbitration language and regards well-rounded arbitration rules and the convenience of arbitration activities as more important elements, it may prefer ICC, HKIAC, SIAC and other international arbitration institutions based in Hong Kong and other countries.

如果境外承包商出于对中国国内仲裁机构的信任、仲裁裁决执行便利等考虑，可以选择CIETAC、BIAC、SHIAC等中国境内的国际仲裁机构；如果境外承包商从仲裁用语的熟悉程度、仲裁规则的完善程度以及仲裁活动便利性角度考虑，可以选择ICC、HKIAC、SIAC作为境外的国际仲裁机构。

There is no preference or resistance to hearings being held in a particular jurisdiction. There is no preference or requirements as to the applicable law pertaining to the dispute.

在特地法域进行开庭没有任何优先性或阻碍。争议所适用的准据法没有任何优先性或要求。

Question33：May government agencies participate in private arbitration (eg, ICC or ICDR) and be bound by the arbitrators’ award?

政府机构是否可以参加仲裁（如，国际商会或国际争端解决中心）并受仲裁员所作裁决的约束？

Response33：According to Article 2 of the Arbitration Law, contractual disputes and other disputes arising from property rights and interests between citizens, legal persons and other organisations of equal status in law may be submitted for arbitration. When Chinese government agencies are civil subjects in disputes, they may participate in private arbitration and be bound by the arbitration award. In other situations, Chinese government agencies shall not participate in private arbitration and will not be bound by the arbitration awards even if they participated.

根据《仲裁法》第2条，平等主体的公民、法人和其他组织之间发生的合同纠纷和其他财产权益纠纷，可以仲裁。当中国政府机构作为民事主体时，可以参加仲裁，除此以外，中国政府机构不能参加仲裁（包括不公开仲裁）且不接受仲裁员所作裁决的约束。

Question34：Is there any basis upon which an arbitral award issued by a foreign or international tribunal (such as the ICC, an ad hoc procedure under the UNCITRAL rules or a foreign domestic tribunal) may be rejected by your local courts?

由外国或国际仲裁庭(如国际商会、贸易法委员会规则下的特别程序或外国的国内仲裁庭)作出的仲裁裁决是否有任何依据可被贵国当地法院拒绝承认与执行？

Response35：China is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention). According to Article 5 of the Convention, recognition and enforcement of the award may be rejected if one of the following circumstances exists:

中国是《纽约公约》的缔约国。按照该公约第5条，拒绝承认与执行外国仲裁裁决的条件包括：

(i) the arbitration agreement is invalid under the law applicable to parties or the law of the country where the award was made;

（1）根据当事人选择的法律或作出裁决的国家的法律，仲裁协议无效；

(ii) the party against whom the award is invoked was not given proper notice of the appointment of the arbitrator or of the arbitration proceedings or was otherwise unable to present his case;

（2）作为裁决执行对象的当事人，没有被给予指定仲裁员或进行仲裁程序的适当通知，或未能有机会对案件提出意见；

(iii) the award contains decisions on matters beyond the scope agreed by parties (such matters may not be recognized and enforced)

（3）裁决的内容超出仲裁协议规定的范围，超出部分不予承认和执行；

(iv) the composition of the arbitration tribunal or the arbitration procedure does not comply with the arbitration agreement or the law of the country where the award was made;

（4）仲裁庭的组成或仲裁程序不符合仲裁协议，或不符合仲裁国家的法律；

(v) the award has not yet become binding on the parties, or has been set aside or suspended by a competent authority of the country in which, or under the law of which, that award was made;

（5）裁决对当事人未生效，或裁决已被依法撤销或停止执行；

(vi) the matters submitted to arbitration shall not be settled by arbitration in accordance with Chinese laws;

（6）争议的事项依照被请求国法律，不可以用仲裁方式解决；

(vii) recognition and enforcement of the award will violate the public order.

（7）承认和执行该裁决将有违被请求国的公共秩序。

Question35：Are there any statutory limitation periods within which lawsuits must be commenced for construction work or design services and are there any statutory preconditions for commencing or maintaining such proceedings?

对于工程施工、设计服务争议，是否有任何法定诉讼时效期限，以及启动或维持此类诉讼是否有任何法定前置条件？

Response35:According to Article 188 of the Civil Code, the statutory limitation period for construction work or design services disputes is 3 years. This period runs from the date on which a party knows or should have known that its rights have been infringed and who the other party is. Courts shall not protect its rights if 20 years have passed since the infringement. Under special circumstances, courts may decide to extend the statutory limitation period upon an application filed by the party.

依据《民法典》第188条，工程施工、设计服务争议的诉讼时效为三年，自权利人知道或者应当知道权利受到损害以及义务人之日起计算，超过二十年的，法律不予保护，有特殊情况的，法院有权依据当事人的申请延长。 

There is no statutory preconditions for commencing or maintaining such proceedings.

就工程施工、设计服务争议提起诉讼并没有法定的前置条件。

往期回顾

 

第3期｜《Lexology GTDT “2022年建设工程专章问答”·第三期》

第2期｜《Lexology GTDT “2022年建设工程专章问答”·第二期》

第1期｜《Lexology GTDT “2022年建设工程专章问答”·第一期》