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[Will_MN]

This was given to me by the Foreign Affair's Office. Use it as a reference, I am not sure the English translation is 100% accurate. It is the same as many I have found on the Internet. See my Chinese version post too Chinese version is supposed to be accurate. But I am putting it here for reference I am not a lawyer so I cannot be responisible

Contract Law of the People's Republic of China

CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 2: A contract in this Law refers to an agreement establishing, modifying and terminating the civil rights and obligations between subjects of equal footing, that is, between natural persons, legal persons or other organizations.

Article 3: The parties to a contract shall have equal legal status. No party may impose its will on the other party.

Article 5: The parties shall abide by the principle of fairness in defining the rights and obligations of each party.

Article 6: The parties must act in accordance with the principle of good faith, no matter in exercising rights or in performing obligations.

Article 7: In concluding and performing a contract, the parties shall abide by the laws and administrative regulations, observe social ethics. Neither party may disrupt the socioeconomic order or damage the public interests.

Article 8: As soon as a contract is established in accordance with the law, it shall be legally binding on the parties. The parties shall perform their respective obligations in accordance with the terms of the contract. Neither party may unilaterally modify or rescind the contract. The contract established according to law shall be under the protection of law.

CHAPTER 2 CONCLUSION OF CONTRACTS

Article 9: In concluding a contract, the parties shall have appropriate civil capacity of right and civil capacity of conduct.
The parties may conclude a contract through an agent in accordance with the law.

Article 10: The parties may conclude a contract in written, oral or other forms. Where the laws or administrative regulations require a contract to be concluded in written form, the contract shall be in written form. If the parties agree to do so, the contract shall be concluded in written form.

Article 11: The written forms mean the forms which can show the described contents visibly, such as a written contractual agreement, letters, and data-telex (including telegram, telex, fax, EDI and e-mails).


Article 25: A contract is established when the acceptance becomes effective.

Article 32: Where the parties conclude a contract in written form, the contract is established when both parties sign or affix a seal on it.

Article 34: The place of effectiveness of an acceptance shall be the place of the establishment of the contract.

If the contract is concluded in the form of data-telex, the main business place of the recipient shall be the place of establishment. If no main business place, its habitual residence shall be considered to be the place of establishment. Where the parties agree otherwise, the place of establishment shall be subject to that agreement.

Article 35: Where the parties conclude a contract in written form, the place where both parties sign or affix a seal shall be the place where the contract is established.

Article 37: A contract, which is concluded in written form, shall be established, if one party has performed its principal obligation and the other party has received it before signature or affixing with a seal.

Article 39: Where standard terms are adopted in concluding a contract, the party which supplies the standard terms shall define the rights and obligations between the parties abiding by the principle of fairness, request the other party to note the exclusion or restriction of its liabilities in reasonable ways, and explain the standard terms according to the requirement of the other party. Standard terms are clauses which are prepared in advance for general and repeated use by one party and which are not negotiated with the other party in concluding a contract.

Article 40: When standard terms are under the circumstances stipulated in Article 52 and Article 53 of this Law, or the party which supplies the standard terms exempts itself from its liabilities, weights the liabilities of the other party, and excludes the rights of the other party, the terms shall be null and void.

Article 41: If a dispute over the understanding of the standard terms occurs, it shall be interpreted according to general understanding. Where there are two or more kinds of interpretation, an interpretation unfavorable to the party supplying the standard terms shall be preferred. Where the standard terms are inconsistent with non-standard terms, the latter shall be adopted.

Article 42: The party shall be liable for damages if it is under one of the following circumstances in concluding a contract and thus causing losses to the other party:
(1) Disguising and pretending to conclude a contract, and negotiating in bad faith;
(2) Concealing deliberately the important facts relating to the conclusion of the contract or providing deliberately false information;
(3) Performing other acts which violate the principle of good faith.

CHAPTER 3 EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTRACTS

Article 44: The contract established according to law becomes effective when it is established. With regard to contracts which are subject to approval or registration as provided for by the laws or administrative regulations, the provisions thereof shall be followed.

Article 45: The parties may agree on some collateral conditions relating to the effectiveness of a contract. The contract with entry-into-force conditions shall be effective when such conditions are accomplished. The contract with dissolving conditions shall be null and void when such conditions are accomplished.
To unfairly prevent the conditions from being accomplished by one party for its own interests shall be regarded as those conditions have been accomplished. To unfairly promoting the accomplishment of such conditions by one party shall be regarded as non-accomplishment.

Article 48: A contract concluded by an actor who has no power of agency, who oversteps the power of agency, or whose power of agency has expired and yet concludes it on behalf of the principal, shall have no legally binding force on the principal without ratification by the principal, and the actor shall be held liable.

The counterpart may urge the principal to ratify it within one month. It shall be regarded as a refusal of ratification that the principal does not make any expression. A bona fide counterpart has the right to withdraw it before the contract is ratified. The withdrawal shall be made by means of notice.

Article 49: If an actor has no power of agency, oversteps the power of agency, or the power of agency has expired and yet concludes a contract in the principal's name, and the counterpart has reasons to trust that the actor has the power of agency, the act of agency shall be effective.

Article 50: Where a statutory representative or a responsible person of a legal person or other organization oversteps his/her power and concludes a contract, the representative act shall be effective except that the counterpart knows or ought to know that he/she is overstepping his/her powers.

Article 51: Where a person having no right to disposal of property disposes of other persons' properties, and the principal ratifies the act afterwards or the person without power of disposal has obtained the power after concluding a contract, the contract shall be valid.

Article 53: The following immunity clauses in a contract shall be null and void:
1. Those that cause personal injury to the other party;
2. Those that cause property damages to the other party as a result of deliberate intent
or gross fault.

Article 54: A party shall have the right to request the people's court or an arbitration institution to modify or revoke the following contracts:
(1) Those concluded as a result of serious misunderstanding;
(2) Those that are obviously unfair at the time when concluding the contract.
If a contract is concluded by one party against the other party's true intentions through the use of fraud, coercion or exploitation of the other party's unfavorable position, the injured party shall have the right to request the people's court or an arbitration institution to modify or revoke it.
Where a party requests for modification, the people's court or the arbitration institution may not revoke the contract.

Article 56: A contract that is null and void or revoked shall have no legally binding force ever from the very beginning. If part of a contract is null and void without affecting the validity of the other parts, the other parts shall still be valid.

Article 57: If a contract is null and void, revoked or terminated, it shall not affect the validity of the dispute settlement clause which independently exists in the contract.

Article 58: The property acquired as a result of a contract shall be returned after the contract is confirmed to be null and void or has been revoked; where the property can not be returned or the return is unnecessary, it shall be reimbursed at its estimated price. The party at fault shall compensate the other party for losses incurred as a result therefrom. If both parties are at fault, each party shall respectively be liable.

CHAPTER 4 PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS

Article 60: The parties shall perform their obligations thoroughly according to the terms of the contract.
The parties shall abide by the principle of good faith and perform the obligations of notice, assistance and maintaining confidentiality, etc. based on the character and purpose of the contract or the transaction practices.

Article 62: If the relevant terms of a contract are unclear, nor can it be determined according to the provisions of Article 61 of this Law, the provisions below shall be applied:
(1) If quality requirements are unclear, the State standards or trade standards shall be applied; if there are no State standards or trade standards, generally held standards or specific standards in conformity with the purpose of the contract shall be applied.
(2) If the price or remuneration is unclear, the market price of the place of performance at the time concluding the contract shall be applied; if the government-fixed price or government directed price shall be followed in accordance with the law, the provisions of the law shall be applied.
(3) If the place of performance is unclear, and the payment is currency, the performance shall be effected at the place of location of the party receiving the payment; if real estate is to be delivered, the performance shall be effected at the place of location of the real estate; in case of other contract objects, the performance shall be effected at the place of location of the party fulfilling the obligations.
(4) If the time limit for performance is unclear, the obligor may at any time fulfill the obligations towards the obligee; the obligee may also demand at any time that the obligor performs the obligations, but a time period for necessary preparation shall be given to the obligor.
(5) If the method of performance is unclear, the method which is advantageous to realize the purpose of the contract shall be adopted.
(6) If the burden of the expenses of performance is unclear, the cost shall be assumed by the obligor.

Article 64: Where the parties agree that the obligor performs the obligations to a third party, and the obligor fails to perform the obligations to the third party or the performance does not meet the terms of the contract, the obligor shall be liable to the obligee for the breach of contract.

Article 66: If both parties have obligations towards each other and there is no order of priority in respect of the performance of obligations, the parties shall perform the obligations simultaneously. One party has the right to reject the other party's request for performance before the other party's performance. One party has the right to reject the other party's corresponding request for performance if the other party's performance does not meet the terms of the contract.

Article 67: Where both parties have obligations towards each other and there has been an order of priority in respect of the performance, and the party which shall render its performance first has not rendered the performance, the party which may render its performance lately has the right to reject the other party's request for performance. Where the party which shall render its performance first violates the terms of a contract while fulfilling the obligations, the party which may render its performance lately has the right to reject the other party's corresponding request for performance.


Article 76: After a contract becomes effective, the parties may not reject to perform the obligations of the contract because of modification of the title or name of the parties, or change of the statutory representative, the responsible person or the executive person of the parties.

CHAPTER 5 MODIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACTS

Article 77: A contract may be modified if the parties reach a consensus through consultation.
If the laws or administrative regulations stipulate that a contract shall be modified through the procedures of approval or registration, such provisions shall be followed.

Article 78: If the contents of the modified contract agreed by the parties are unclear, it shall be presumed that the contract is not modified.

CHAPTER 6 TERMINATION OF THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF CONTRACTS

Article 92: When the rights and obligations of contracts are terminated, the parties to a contract shall, abiding by the principle of good faith, perform such obligations as making a notice, providing assistance and maintaining confidentiality according to transaction practices.

Article 93: A contract may be rescinded if the parties to the contract reach a consensus through consultation.
The parties to a contract may agree upon the conditions to rescind the contract by one party. When such conditions are accompanied, the party entitled to rescind the contract may rescind it.

Article 94: The parties to a contract may rescind the contract under any of the following circumstances:
(1) The purpose of the contract is not able to be realized because of force majeure;
(2) One party to the contract expresses explicitly or indicates through its acts, before the expiry of the performance period, that it will not perform the principal debt obligations;
(3) One party to the contract delays in performing the principal debt obligations and fails, after being urged, to perform them within a reasonable time period;
(4) One party to the contract delays in performing the debt obligations or commits other acts in breach of the contract so that the purpose of the contract is not able to be realized; or
(5) Other circumstances as stipulated by law.

Article 95: Where the laws stipulate or the parties agree upon the time limit to exercise the right to rescind the contract, and no party exercises it when the time limit expires, the said right shall be extinguished.
Where the law does not stipulate or the parties make no agreement upon the time limit to exercise the right to rescind the contract, and no party exercises it within a reasonable time period after being urged, the said right shall be extinguished.

Article 96: One party to a contract shall make a notice to the other party if it advances to rescind the contract according to the provisions of Paragraph 2, Article 93 and Article 94 of this Law. The contract shall be rescinded upon the arrival of the notice at the other party. The party may, if the other party disagrees therewith, request the people's court or an arbitration institution to confirm the effectiveness of rescinding the contract.
Where the laws or administrative regulations stipulate that the rescinding of a contract shall go through the formalities of approval and registration, the provisions thereof shall be followed.

Article 97: If a contract has not yet been performed, its performance shall be terminated after the rescission. If it has been performed, a party to the contract may, in light of the performance and the character of the contract, request that the original status be restored or other remedial measures be taken.

Article 98: The termination of the rights and obligations of a contract may not affect the force of the settlement and clearance clauses in the contract.

CHAPTER 7 LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF CONTRACTS

Article 107: Where one party to a contract fails to perform the contract obligations or its performance fails to satisfy the terms of the contract, the party shall bear such liabilities for breach of contract as to continue to perform its obligations, to take remedial measures, or to compensate for losses.

Article 108: Where one party to a contract expresses explicitly or indicates through its acts that it will not perform the contract, the other party may demand it to bear the liability for the breach of contract before the expiry of the performance period.

Article 109: If one party to a contract fails to pay the price or remuneration, the other party may request it to make the payment.

Article 110: Where one party to a contract fails to perform the non- monetary debt or its performance of non-monetary debt fails to satisfy the terms of the contract, the other party may request it to perform it except under any of the following circumstances:
(1) It is unable to be performed in law or in fact;
(2) The object of the debt is unfit for compulsory performance or the performance expenses are excessively high; or
(3) The creditor fails to request for the performance within a reasonable time period.

Article 112: Where one party to a contract fails to perform the contract obligations or its performance fails to satisfy the terms of the contract, the party shall, after performing its obligations or taking remedial measures, compensate for the losses, if the other party suffers from other losses.

Article 113: Where one party to a contract fails to perform the contract obligations or its performance fails to satisfy the terms of the contract and causes losses to the other party, the amount of compensation for losses shall be equal to the losses caused by the breach of contract, including the interests receivable after the performance of the contract, provided not exceeding the probable losses caused by the breach of contract which has been foreseen or ought to be foreseen when the party in breach concludes the contract.
The business operator who commits default activities in providing to the consumer any goods or service shall be liable for paying compensation for damages in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests.

Article 114: The parties to a contract may agree that one party shall, when violating the contract, pay breach of contract damages of a certain amount in light of the breach, or may agree upon the calculating method of compensation for losses resulting from the breach of contract.
If the agreed breach of contract damages are lower than the losses caused, any party may request the people's court or an arbitration institution to increase it; if it is excessively higher than the losses caused, any party may request the people's court or an arbitration institution to make an appropriate reduction.
If the parties to a contract agree upon breach of contract damages in respect to the delay in performance, the party in breach shall perform the debt obligations after paying the breach of contract damages.


Article 119: After one party violates a contract, the other party shall take proper measures to prevent from the enlargement of losses; if the other party fails to take proper measures so that the losses are enlarged, it may not claim any compensation as to the enlarged losses. The reasonable expenses paid by the party to prevent from the enlargement of losses shall be borne by the party in breach.

Article 120: In case that both parties violate a contract, they shall bear the liabilities respectively.

Article 122: In case that the breach of contract by one party infringes upon the other party's personal or property rights, the aggrieved party shall be entitled to choose to claim the assumption by the violating and infringing party of liabilities for breach of contract according to this Law, or to claim the assumption by the violating and infringing party of liabilities for infringement according to other laws.

CHAPTER 8 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Article 123: If there are provisions as otherwise stipulated in respect to contracts in other laws, such provisions shall be followed.

Article 124: Any contract which is not addressed explicitly in the Specific Provisions of this Law or in other laws shall apply the provisions of the General Provisions of this Law. The most similar provisions in the Specific Provisions of this Law or in other laws may be applied mutatis mutandis.

Article 125: With regard to disputes between the parties to a contract arising from the understanding of any clause of the contract, the true intention of such clause shall be determined according to the terms and expressions used in the contract, the contents of the relevant clauses of the contract, the purpose for concluding the contract, the transaction practices and the principle of good faith.
Where two or more languages are adopted in the text of a contract and it is agreed that both texts are equally authentic, it shall be presumed that the terms and expressions in various versions have the same meaning. In case that the terms and expressions in different versions are inconsistent, they shall be interpreted according to the purpose of the contract.

Article 127: The departments of administration for industry and commerce and other competent departments shall, within the scope of their respective competence and functions, be responsible for supervision over and dealing with illegal acts in taking advantage of contracts to endanger and harm the State interests and public interests. In case that a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be investigated.

Article 128: The parties may settle their disputes relevant to the contract through conciliation or mediation.
The parties may, if unwilling to settle their disputes through conciliation or mediation or failing in the conciliation or mediation, apply to an arbitration institution for arbitration according to their arbitration agreement. The parties to a contract involving foreign interests may, according to their arbitration agreement, apply for arbitration to a Chinese arbitration institution or other arbitration institutions. If there is no arbitration agreement between the parties or the arbitration agreement is null and void, they may bring a lawsuit before the people's court. The parties shall perform the court judgments, arbitration awards or mediation documents with legal effectiveness. In case any refusal in respect to the performance; the other party may request the people's court for execution.

[Will_MN]

This was given to me by the Foreign Affair's Office. Use it as a reference, I am not sure the English translation is 100% accurate. It is the same as many I have found on the Internet. See my English version post also. I am putting it here for reference I am not a lawyer so I cannot be responsible.

Chinese contract Law Chinese version

中华人民共和国合同法
（１９９９年３月１５日第九届全国人民代表大会第二次会议通过）

中华人民共和国主席令
（第十五号）
《中华人民共和国合同法》已由中华人民共和国第九届全国人民代表大会第二次会议于1999年3月15日通过，现予公布，自1999年10月1日起施行。
中华人民共和国主席 江泽民
1999年3月15日

总则
第一章 一般规定
第二章 合同的订立
第三章 合同的效力
第四章 合同的履行
第五章 合同的变更和转让
第六章 合同的权利义务终止
第七章 违约责任
第八章 其他规定
分则
第九章 买卖合同
第十章 供用电、水、气、热力合同
第十一章 赠与合同
第十二章 借款合同
第十三章 租赁合同
第十四章 融资租赁合同
第十五章 承揽合同
第十六章 建设工程合同
第十七章 运输合同
第十八章 技术合同
第十九章 保管合同
第二十章 仓储合同
第二十一章 委托合同
第二十二章 行纪合同
第二十三章 居间合同
附则
总 则
第一章 一般规定
第一条 为了保护合同当事人的合法权益，维护社会经济秩序，促进社会主义现代化建设，制定本法。
第二条 本法所称合同是平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权利义务关系的协议。
婚姻、收养、监护等有关身份关系的协议，适用其他法律的规定。
第三条 合同当事人的法律地位平等，一方不得将自己的意志强加给另一方。
第四条 当事人依法享有自愿订立合同的权利，任何单位和个人不得非法干预。
第五条 当事人应当遵循公平原则确定各方的权利和义务。
第六条 当事人行使权利、履行义务应当遵循诚实信用原则。
第七条 当事人订立、履行合同，应当遵守法律、行政法规，尊重社会公德，不得扰乱社会经济秩序，损害社会公共利益。
第八条 依法成立的合同，对当事人具有法律约束力。当事人应当按照约定履行自己的义务，不得擅自变更或者解除合同。
依法成立的合同，受法律保护。
第二章 合同的订立
第九条 当事人订立合同，应当具有相应的民事权利能力和民事行为能力。
当事人依法可以委托代理人订立合同。
第十条 当事人订立合同，有书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。
法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。
第十一条 书面形式是指合同书、信件和数据电文（包括电报、电传、传真、电子数据交换和电子邮件）等可以有形地表现所载内容的形式。
第十二条 合同的内容由当事人约定，一般包括以下条款：
（一）当事人的名称或者姓名和住所；
（二）标的；
（三）数量；
（四）质量；
（五）价款或者报酬；
（六）履行期限、地点和方式；
（七）违约责任；
（八）解决争议的方法。
当事人可以参照各类合同的示范文本订立合同。
第十三条 当事人订立合同，采取要约、承诺方式。
第十四条 要约是希望和他人订立合同的意思表示，该意思表示应当符合下列规定：
（一）内容具体确定；
（二）表明经受要约人承诺，要约人即受该意思表示约束。
第十五条 要约邀请是希望他人向自己发出要约的意思表示。寄送的价目表、拍卖公告、招标公告、招股说明书、商业广告等为要约邀请。
商业广告的内容符合要约规定的，视为要约。
第十六条 要约到达受要约人时生效。
采用数据电文形式订立合同，收件人指定特定系统接收数据电文的，该数据电文进入该特定系统的时间，视为到达时间；未指定特定系统的，该数据电文进入收件人的任何系统的首次时间，视为到达时间。
第十七条 要约可以撤回。撤回要约的通知应当在要约到达受要约人之前或者与要约同时到达受要约人。
第十八条 要约可以撤销。撤销要约的通知应当在受要约人发出承诺通知之前到达受要约人。
第十九条 有下列情形之一的，要约不得撤销：
（一）要约人确定了承诺期限或者以其他形式明示要约不可撤销；
（二）受要约人有理由认为要约是不可撤销的，并已经为履行合同作了准备工作。
第二十条 有下列情形之一的，要约失效：
（一）拒绝要约的通知到达要约人；
（二）要约人依法撤销要约；
（三）承诺期限届满，受要约人未作出承诺；
（四）受要约人对要约的内容作出实质性变更。
第二十一条 承诺是受要约人同意要约的意思表示。
第二十二条 承诺应当以通知的方式作出，但根据交易习惯或者要约表明可以通过行为作出承诺的除外。
第二十三条 承诺应当在要约确定的期限内到达要约人。
要约没有确定承诺期限的，承诺应当依照下列规定到达：
（一）要约以对话方式作出的，应当即时作出承诺，但当事人另有约定的除外；
（二）要约以非对话方式作出的，承诺应当在合理期限内到达。
第二十四条 要约以信件或者电报作出的，承诺期限自信件载明的日期或者电报交发之日开始计算。信件未载明日期的，自投寄该信件的邮戳日期开始计算。要约以电话、传真等快速通讯方式作出的，承诺期限自要约到达受要约人时开始计算。
第二十五条 承诺生效时合同成立。
第二十六条 承诺通知到达要约人时生效。承诺不需要通知的，根据交易习惯或者要约的要求作出承诺的行为时生效。
采用数据电文形式订立合同的，承诺到达的时间适用本法第十六条第二款的规定。
第二十七条 承诺可以撤回。撤回承诺的通知应当在承诺通知到达要约人之前或者与承诺通知同时到达要约人。
第二十八条 受要约人超过承诺期限发出承诺的，除要约人及时通知受要约人该承诺有效的以外，为新要约。
第二十九条 受要约人在承诺期限内发出承诺，按照通常情形能够及时到达要约人，但因其他原因承诺到达要约人时超过承诺期限的，除要约人及时通知受要约人因承诺超过期限不接受该承诺的以外，该承诺有效。
第三十条 承诺的内容应当与要约的内容一致。受要约人对要约的内容作出实质性变更的，为新要约。有关合同标的、数量、质量、价款或者报酬、履行期限、
履行地点和方式、违约责任和解决争议方法等的变更，是对要约内容的实质性变更。
第三十一条 承诺对要约的内容作出非实质性变更的，除要约人及时表示反对或者要约表明承诺不得对要约的内容作出任何变更的以外，该承诺有效，合同的内容以承诺的内容为准。
第三十二条 当事人采用合同书形式订立合同的，自双方当事人签字或者盖章时合同成立。
第三十三条 当事人采用信件、数据电文等形式订立合同的，可以在合同成立之前要求签订确认书。签订确认书时合同成立。
第三十四条 承诺生效的地点为合同成立的地点。
采用数据电文形式订立合同的，收件人的主营业地为合同成立的地点；没有主营业地的，其经常居住地为合同成立的地点。当事人另有约定的，按照其约定。
第三十五条 当事人采用合同书形式订立合同的，双方当事人签字或者盖章的地点为合同成立的地点。
第三十六条 法律、行政法规规定或者当事人约定采用书面形式订立合同，当事人未采用书面形式但一方已经履行主要义务，对方接受的，该合同成立。
第三十七条 采用合同书形式订立合同，在签字或者盖章之前，当事人一方已经履行主要义务，对方接受的，该合同成立。
第三十八条 国家根据需要下达指令性任务或者国家订货任务的，有关法人、其他组织之间应当依照有关法律、行政法规规定的权利和义务订立合同。
第三十九条 采用格式条款订立合同的，提供格式条款的一方应当遵循公平原则确定当事人之间的权利和义务，并采取合理的方式提请对方注意免除或者限制其责任的条款，按照对方的要求，对该条款予以说明。
格式条款是当事人为了重复使用而预先拟定，并在订立合同时未与对方协商的条款。
第四十条 格式条款具有本法第五十二条和第五十三条规定情形的，或者提供格式条款一方免除其责任、加重对方责任、排除对方主要权利的，该条款无效。
第四十一条 对格式条款的理解发生争议的，应当按通常理解予以解释。对格式条款有两种以上解释的，应当作出不利于提供格式条款一方的解释。格式条款和非格条 式款不一致的，应当采用非格式条款。
第四十二条 当事人在订立合同过程中有下列情形之一，给对方造成损失的，应当承担损害赔偿责任：
（一）假借订立合同，恶意进行磋商；
（二）故意隐瞒与订立合同有关的重要事实或者提供虚假情况；
（三）有其他违背诚实信用原则的行为。
第四十三条 当事人在订立合同过程中知悉的商业秘密，无论合同是否成立，不得泄露或者不正当地使用。泄露或者不正当地使用该商业秘密给对方造成损失的，应当承担损害赔偿责任。
第三章 合同的效力
第四十四条 依法成立的合同，自成立时生效。法律、行政法规规定应当办理批准、登记等手续生效的，依照其规定。
第四十五条 当事人对合同的效力可以约定附条件。附生效条件的合同，自条件成就时生效。附解除条件的合同，自条件成就时失效。
当事人为自己的利益不正当地阻止条件成就的，视为条件已成就；不正当地促成条件成就的，视为条件不成就。
第四十六条 当事人对合同的效力可以约定附期限。附生效期限的合同，自期限届至时生效。附终止期限的合同，自期限届满时失效。
第四十七条 限制民事行为能力人订立的合同，经法定代理人追认后，该合同有效，但纯获利益的合同或者与其年龄、智力、精神健康状况相适应而订立的合同，不必经法定代理人追认。
相对人可以催告法定代理人在一个月内予以追认。法定代理人未作表示的，视为拒绝追认。合同被追认之前，善意相对人有撤销的权利。撤销应当以通知的方式作出。
第四十八条 行为人没有代理权、超越代理权或者代理权终止后以被代理人名
义订立的合同，未经被代理人追认，对被代理人不发生效力，由行为人承担责任。
相对人可以催告被代理人在一个月内予以追认。被代理人未作表示的，视为拒绝追认。合同被追认之前，善意相对人有撤销的权利。撤销应当以通知的方式作出。
第四十九条 行为人没有代理权、超越代理权或者代理权终止后以被代理人名义订立合同，相对人有理由相信行为人有代理权的，该代理行为有效。
第五十条 法人或者其他组织的法定代表人、负责人超越权限订立的合同，除相对人知道或者应当知道其超越权限的以外，该代表行为有效。
第五十一条 无处分权的人处分他人财产，经权利人追认或者无处分权的人订立合同后取得处分权的，该合同有效。
第五十二条 有下列情形之一的，合同无效：
（一）一方以欺诈、胁迫的手段订立合同，损害国家利益；
（二）恶意串通，损害国家、集体或者第三人利益；
（三）以合法形式掩盖非法目的；
（四）损害社会公共利益；
（五）违反法律、行政法规的强制性规定。
第五十三条 合同中的下列免责条款无效：
（一）造成对方人身伤害的；
（二）因故意或者重大过失造成对方财产损失的。
第五十四条 下列合同，当事人一方有权请求人民法院或者仲裁机构变更或者撤销：
（一）因重大误解订立的；
（二）在订立合同时显失公平的。
一方以欺诈、胁迫的手段或者乘人之危，使对方在违背真实意思的情况下订立的合同，受损害方有权请求人民法院或者仲裁机构变更或者撤销。
当事人请求变更的，人民法院或者仲裁机构不得撤销。
第五十五条 有下列情形之一的，撤销权消灭：
（一）具有撤销权的当事人自知道或者应当知道撤销事由之日起一年内没有行使撤销权；
（二）具有撤销权的当事人知道撤销事由后明确表示或者以自己的行为放弃撤销权。
第五十六条 无效的合同或者被撤销的合同自始没有法律约束力。合同部分无效，不影响其他部分效力的，其他部分仍然有效。
第五十七条 合同无效、被撤销或者终止的，不影响合同中独立存在的有关解决争议方法的条款的效力。
第五十八条 合同无效或者被撤销后，因该合同取得的财产，应当予以返还；不能返还或者没有必要返还的，应当折价补偿。有过错的一方应当赔偿对方因此所受到的损失，双方都有过错的，应当各自承担相应的责任。
第五十九条 当事人恶意串通，损害国家、集体或者第三人利益的，因此取得的财产收归国家所有或者返还集体、第三人。
第四章 合同的履行
第六十条 当事人应当按照约定全面履行自己的义务。
当事人应当遵循诚实信用原则，根据合同的性质、目的和交易习惯履行通知、协助、保密等义务。
第六十一条 合同生效后，当事人就质量、价款或者报酬、履行地点等内容没有约定或者约定不明确的，可以协议补充；不能达成补充协议的，按照合同有关条款或者交易习惯确定。
第六十二条 当事人就有关合同内容约定不明确，依照本法第六十一条的规定仍不能确定的，适用下列规定：
（一）质量要求不明确的，按照国家标准、行业标准履行；没有国家标准、行业标准的，按照通常标准或者符合合同目的的特定标准履行。
（二）价款或者报酬不明确的，按照订立合同时履行地的市场价格履行；依法应当执行政府定价或者政府指导价的，按照规定履行。
（三）履行地点不明确，给付货币的，在接受货币一方所在地履行；交付不动产的，在不动产所在地履行；其他标的，在履行义务一方所在地履行。
（四）履行期限不明确的，债务人可以随时履行，债权人也可以随时要求履行，但应当给对方必要的准备时间。
（五）履行方式不明确的，按照有利于实现合同目的的方式履行。
（六）履行费用的负担不明确的，由履行义务一方负担。
第六十三条 执行政府定价或者政府指导价的，在合同约定的交付期限内政府价格调整时，按照交付时的价格计价。逾期交付标的物的，遇价格上涨时，按照原价格执行；价格下降时，按照新价格执行。逾期提取标的物或者逾期付款的，遇价格上涨时，按照新价格执行；价格下降时，按照原价格执行。
第六十四条 当事人约定由债务人向第三人履行债务的，债务人未向第三人履行债务或者履行债务不符合约定，应当向债权人承担违约责任。
第六十五条 当事人约定由第三人向债权人履行债务的，第三人不履行债务或者履行债务不符合约定，债务人应当向债权人承担违约责任。
第六十六条 当事人互负债务，没有先后履行顺序的，应当同时履行。一方在对方履行之前有权拒绝其履行要求。一方在对方履行债务不符合约定时，有权拒绝其相应的履行要求。
第六十七条 当事人互负债务，有先后履行顺序，先履行一方未履行的，后履行一方有权拒绝其履行要求。先履行一方履行债务不符合约定的，后履行一方有权拒绝其相应的履行要求。
第六十八条 应当先履行债务的当事人，有确切证据证明对方有下列情形之一的，可以中止履行：
（一）经营状况严重恶化；
（二）转移财产、抽逃资金，以逃避债务；
（三）丧失商业信誉；
（四）有丧失或者可能丧失履行债务能力的其他情形。
当事人没有确切证据中止履行的，应当承担违约责任。
第六十九条 当事人依照本法第六十八条的规定中止履行的，应当及时通知对方。对方提供适当担保时，应当恢复履行。中止履行后，对方在合理期限内未恢复履行能力并且未提供适当担保的，中止履行的一方可以解除合同。
第七十条 债权人分立、合并或者变更住所没有通知债务人，致使履行债务发生困难的，债务人可以中止履行或者将标的物提存。
第七十一条 债权人可以拒绝债务人提前履行债务，但提前履行不损害债权人利益的除外。
债务人提前履行债务给债权人增加的费用，由债务人负担。
第七十二条 债权人可以拒绝债务人部分履行债务，但部分履行不损害债权人利益的除外。
债务人部分履行债务给债权人增加的费用，由债务人负担。
第七十三条 因债务人怠于行使其到期债权，对债权人造成损害的，债权人可以向人民法院请求以自己的名义代位行使债务人的债权，但该债权专属于债务人自身的除外。
代位权的行使范围以债权人的债权为限。债权人行使代位权的必要费用，由债务人负担。
第七十四条 因债务人放弃其到期债权或者无偿转让财产，对债权人造成损害的，债权人可以请求人民法院撤销债务人的行为。债务人以明显不合理的低价转让财产，对债权人造成损害，并且受让人知道该情形的，债权人也可以请求人民法院撤销债务人的行为。
撤销权的行使范围以债权人的债权为限。债权人行使撤销权的必要费用，由债务人负担。
第七十五条 撤销权自债权人知道或者应当知道撤销事由之日起一年内行使。
自债务人的行为发生之日起五年内没有行使撤销权的，该撤销权消灭。
第七十六条 合同生效后，当事人不得因姓名、名称的变更或者法定代表人、负责人、承办人的变动而不履行合同义务。
第五章 合同的变更和转让
第七十七条 当事人协商一致，可以变更合同。
法律、行政法规规定变更合同应当办理批准、登记等手续的，依照其规定。
第七十八条 当事人对合同变更的内容约定不明确的，推定为未变更。
第七十九条 债权人可以将合同的权利全部或者部分转让给第三人，但有下列情形之一的除外：
（一）根据合同性质不得转让；
（二）按照当事人约定不得转让；
（三）依照法律规定不得转让。
第八十条 债权人转让权利的，应当通知债务人。未经通知，该转让对债务人不发生效力。
债权人转让权利的通知不得撤销，但经受让人同意的除外。
第八十一条 债权人转让权利的，受让人取得与债权有关的从权利，但该从权利专属于债权人自身的除外。
第八十二条 债务人接到债权转让通知后，债务人对让与人的抗辩，可以向受让人主张。
第八十三条 债务人接到债权转让通知时，债务人对让与人享有债权，并且债务人的债权先于转让的债权到期或者同时到期的，债务人可以向受让人主张抵销。
第八十四条 债务人将合同的义务全部或者部分转移给第三人的，应当经债权人同意。
第八十五条 债务人转移义务的，新债务人可以主张原债务人对债权人的抗辩。
第八十六条 债务人转移义务的，新债务人应当承担与主债务有关的从债务，但该从债务专属于原债务人自身的除外。
第八十七条 法律、行政法规规定转让权利或者转移义务应当办理批准、登记等手续的，依照其规定。
第八十八条 当事人一方经对方同意，可以将自己在合同中的权利和义务一并转让给第三人。
第八十九条 权利和义务一并转让的，适用本法第七十九条、第八十一条至第八十三条、第八十五条至第八十七条的规定。
第九十条 当事人订立合同后合并的，由合并后的法人或者其他组织行使合同权利，履行合同义务。当事人订立合同后分立的，除债权人和债务人另有约定的以外，由分立的法人或者其他组织对合同的权利和义务享有连带债权，承担连带债务。
第六章 合同的权利义务终止
第九十一条 有下列情形之一的，合同的权利义务终止：
（一）债务已经按照约定履行；
（二）合同解除；
（三）债务相互抵销；
（四）债务人依法将标的物提存；
（五）债权人免除债务；
（六）债权债务同归于一人；
（七）法律规定或者当事人约定终止的其他情形。
第九十二条 合同的权利义务终止后，当事人应当遵循诚实信用原则，根据交易习惯履行通知、协助、保密等义务。
第九十三条 当事人协商一致，可以解除合同。
当事人可以约定一方解除合同的条件。解除合同的条件成就时，解除权人可以解除合同。
第九十四条 有下列情形之一的，当事人可以解除合同：
（一）因不可抗力致使不能实现合同目的；
（二）在履行期限届满之前，当事人一方明确表示或者以自己的行为表明不履行主要债务；
（三）当事人一方迟延履行主要债务，经催告后在合理期限内仍未履行；
（四）当事人一方迟延履行债务或者有其他违约行为致使不能实现合同目的；
（五）法律规定的其他情形。
第九十五条 法律规定或者当事人约定解除权行使期限，期限届满当事人不行使的，该权利消灭。
法律没有规定或者当事人没有约定解除权行使期限，经对方催告后在合理期限内不行使的，该权利消灭。
第九十六条 当事人一方依照本法第九十三条第二款、第九十四条的规定主张解除合同的，应当通知对方。合同自通知到达对方时解除。对方有异议的，可以请求人民法 院或者仲裁机构确认解除合同的效力。
法律、行政法规规定解除合同应当办理批准、登记等手续的，依照其规定。
第九十七条 合同解除后，尚未履行的，终止履行；已经履行的，根据履行情况和合同性质，当事人可以要求恢复原状、采取其他补救措施，并有权要求赔偿损失。
第九十八条 合同的权利义务终止，不影响合同中结算和清理条款的效力。
第九十九条 当事人互负到期债务，该债务的标的物种类、品质相同的，任何一方可以将自己的债务与对方的债务抵销，但依照法律规定或者按照合同性质不得抵销的除外。
当事人主张抵销的，应当通知对方。通知自到达对方时生效。抵销不得附条件或者附期限。
第一百条 当事人互负债务，标的物种类、品质不相同的，经双方协商一致，也可以抵销。
第一百零一条 有下列情形之一，难以履行债务的，债务人可以将标的物提存：
（一）债权人无正当理由拒绝受领；
（二）债权人下落不明；
（三）债权人死亡未确定继承人或者丧失民事行为能力未确定监护人；
（四）法律规定的其他情形。
标的物不适于提存或者提存费用过高的，债务人依法可以拍卖或者变卖标的物，提存所

[peterpaul]

Thanks for the info. It may be good to have this on file somewhere...

That said, it is time for a rebuttal.

A contract is only good if it is enforceable, usually by/in a court. Are you actually going to use the money, spend the time, endure the hassle, and accumulate the stress that would occur because you tried to take an employer to court (that is assuming the court system would even contemplate thinking about actually, possibly, maybe, considering hearing your case...)?

[Will_MN]

Yes, a court will take your case. I have had to fight with 2 "schools" since I have been here.
1. School was resolved without filing court costs, but it required constant trips to the FAO and PSB.
2. One was resolved after I submitted the paperwork in court with all the laws sited they broke, and they chose to settle out of court. The court accept the case without a problem.

One important tip buy a tape recorder or MP3 voive recorder and record everything! Record all meeting with everyone. Chinese all site laws that do not exist, and tell you, you are quilty of a lot of crimes, but that is because they are protecting your school and trying to scare you. Once they know you have everything on tape, they will not scare or threaten you any longer.

[Will_MN]

Sorry about the above spelling mistakes!

Another point!
They do not believe foreigners will take the time to do this. This is why they know they can get away with it. If we all start protecting ourselves and following the law, even if we all don't stay the whole time. But just start by putting these schools on record with the government, their connections will not protect them. If we don't they will continue to do this to the next foreigner. If every foreigner packs up and runs at his / her own expense it just means next time the school will think they will do it again.
Most schools do have guanxi, but that usually only is strong in their city or province. If an offical's name is mentioned above that level the official will usually tell the school they will not get involved any longer. Or if you record the threats or lack of response to their duty, you can report them and usually they will do their job.
Don't get me wrong there are some great places to work here! I love China and I know I can't fix all the problems and I don't want to. But when it comes dealing with these "schools" I am just tired, I have seen an ex school on this site screw over 5 or 6 more foreigners and I just ran away when they cheated me first. If I had just fought them maybe the others would not have had to deal with what happened. So I do blame myself.
And, after my each of my contracts endsand I apply for a new job, I hear so many lies and half promises by these schools, and it is a crap shoot as to whom will be honest.