Page:Apology Ordinance (Cap. 631).pdf/3

Apology Ordinance Ord. No. 12 of 2017 Section 4 4. Meaning of apology

(1) In this Ordinance, an apology made by a person in connection with a matter means an expression of the person’s regret, sympathy or benevolence in connection with the matter, and includes, for example, an expression that the person is sorry about the matter.

(2) The expression may be oral, written or by conduct.

(3) The apology also includes any part of the expression that is—
 * (a) an express or implied admission of the person’s fault or liability in connection with the matter; or
 * (b) a statement of fact in connection with the matter.

(4) In this Ordinance, a reference to an apology made by a person includes an apology made on behalf of the person.

(5) Section 5 specifies the apologies to which this Ordinance applies.

5. Apology to which this Ordinance applies

(1) This Ordinance applies to an apology made by a person on or after the commencement date of this Ordinance in connection with a matter, regardless of whether—
 * (a) the matter arose before, on or after that date; or
 * (b) applicable proceedings concerning the matter began before, on or after that date.

(2) However, this Ordinance does not apply to—
 * (a) an apology made by a person in a document filed or submitted in applicable proceedings;
 * (b) an apology made by a person in a testimony, submission, or similar oral statement, given at a hearing of applicable proceedings; or