Mario Rosario (“Mario”), a permanent resident in Hong Kong, owns a small wine cellar in Central selling top-end wines and Scotch under the name “Mario & Company”. Joseph Lai (“Joseph”) would like to invest in “Mario & Company”. In a conversation with Mario on 3 February 2016, Joseph said:
“I think your business is good. That’s why I want to get involved. But I don’t want to be a partner. What should we do? I know nothing about the law.”
Advise Joseph on what can be done to invest in “Mario & Company” without becoming a partner (i.e. a partner in a partnership). Also advise on the advantages and disadvantages of not forming a partnership.