Hau Cho Shing v. Hau Chi Wing and Others

Read the full judgment text of HCA 167/2016 on BabelCite. This High Court CFI judgment was delivered on 21 June 2018.

1. By summons dated 16 August 2017 (the “ Summons ”), the defendants sought an Order that (1) the Statement of Claim dated 19 January 2016 be wholly struck out; and (2) further or alternatively, paragraph 2 of the Injunction Order be discharged. By my Decision handed down on 29 March 2018, I dismissed the defendants’ application. I also invited submissions on the issue of costs. Submissions have subsequently been received from the parties. It is urged upon me on behalf of the defendants that the

Cited by 1 case

Case No.HCA 167/2016[2018] HKCFI 1385
Court
High Court CFI
Date21 Jun 2018
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

HCA 167/2016

[2018] HKCFI 1385

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

ACTION NO 167 OF 2016

______________

BETWEEN
  HAU CHO SHING (侯灶成) Plaintiff
and
  HAU CHI WING (侯志榮) 1st Defendant
  HAU SIK MING (侯鍚明) 2nd Defendant
  HAU SIK CHEONG (侯錫昌) 3rd Defendant

______________

Before: Deputy High Court Judge Keith Yeung SC in Chambers
Date of Written Submissions by the Plaintiff: 9 April 2018
Date of Written Submissions by the Defendants: 19 April 2018
Date of Decision on Costs: 21 June 2018

____________________________________

DECISION ON COSTS

____________________________________

1.By summons dated 16 August 2017 (the “Summons”), the defendants sought an Order that (1) the Statement of Claim dated 19 January 2016 be wholly struck out; and (2) further or alternatively, paragraph 2 of the Injunction Order be discharged. By my Decision handed down on 29 March 2018, I dismissed the defendants’ application. I also invited submissions on the issue of costs. Submissions have subsequently been received from the parties. It is urged upon me on behalf of the defendants that the costs of the application should be in the cause, and that there should in any event be no immediate taxation or summary assessment. On behalf of the plaintiff, it is submitted that there is no valid reason why costs of the application should not follow the event. The plaintiff also seeks a summary assessment and payment of the assessed sum forthwith.

2.I have considered the submissions.  The application was taken out by the defendants.  Part of it has been abandoned.  The balance has been dismissed.  Ordering costs to follow the event is an option.  There is no conduct on the part of the plaintiff or other circumstances which may suggest that that option is not an appropriate one. 

3.I am however not prepared to order summary assessment and forthwith payment.  The plaintiff is legally aided.  The defendants are not.  I bear in mind Order 62, rule 9C(1)(b). In any event, the usual taxation at the conclusion of the action will not prejudice the plaintiff.  The same cannot be said in respect of the defendants. 

4.I therefore order that the costs of and incidental to the defendants’ application by the Summons be to the plaintiff, to be taxed if not agreed, and that the plaintiff’s own costs to be taxed in accordance with the Legal Aid Regulations.

  (Keith Yeung SC)
  Deputy High Court Judge

Written Submissions by Mr Anthony P W Cheung, instructed by Rene Hout & Co, assigned by Director of Legal Aid, for the plaintiff

Written Submissions by Ms Alison Choy, instructed by K Y Lo & Co, for the 1st to 3rd defendants

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