Tenant and Landlord Signed Multiple Copies — Do All Copies Need Stamping?
Yes. In Hong Kong, all signed copies of a lease (whether originals or duplicates) must be properly stamped to be admissible as evidence in legal proceedings, except in criminal or stamp duty-related civil proceedings. Therefore, to protect both parties, each separate copy (or counterpart) should be stamped.
Do I Need to Submit 2 Electronic Stamping Applications?
No. You only need to submit one application and select the button indicating the execution of a duplicate. Stamp certificates will be issued for both the original document and the duplicate. There is a nominal fee of $5 for stamping each additional counterpart. This ensures that both parties have a valid, stamped copy that can be used as evidence if necessary.
Not sure how much stamp duty is payable? Take a look at our blog on stamp duty for non-residential properties.
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