劉 對 陳及另一人

Read the full judgment text of FCMC 16498/2016 on BabelCite. This Family Court judgment was delivered on 21 April 2022 before 黃瑞珊.

Family law – maintenance – variation of consent order – material change of circumstances – full and frank disclosure – adverse inference – calculation of means – interim periodical payments – reduction of maintenance – no order as to costs.

Legal issues: Variation of Consent Order · Full and Frank Disclosure · Maintenance Calculation

Outcome: Application granted; maintenance reduced from HK$33,500 to HK$10,000 monthly.

Cites 7 cases

Case No.FCMC 16498/2016[2022] HKFC 91
Court
Family Court
Date21 Apr 2022
Judge黃瑞珊
Case Document
100%Judiciary

FCMC 16498/2016

[2022] HKFC 91

香港特別行政區

區域法院

婚姻訴訟案件編號2016年第16498宗

————————————————

  呈請人

  第一答辯人

  第二答辯人
  ————————————————  
主審法官: 區域法院暫委法官黃瑞珊內庭聆訊(非公開聆訊)
聆訊日期: 2022年1月26日
呈請人結案陳詞日期: 2022年2月16日
判案書日期: 2022年4月21日

—————————————

判案書

(更改贍養費)

—————————————

1.第一答辯人(「男方」)在2021年3月24日提出申請,要求更改法庭在雙方同意下2018年7月26日所作出的中期贍養費命令(「該命令」)。

2.根據該命令,男方須支付呈請人(「女方」)每月13,000元,作為女方訟案待決期間的贍養費,以及每月20,500元,作為家庭唯一的女兒的臨時贍養費。

3.男方現申請更改上述金額,將之減少至每月共8,000元(當中女方訟案待決期間的贍養費由13,000元改為2,000元,而女兒的臨時贍養費則由20,500元改為6,000元。)

4.申請理由是:

「由於薪金每月只有$14,962.5,而自己亦要生活和開支,加上疫情嚴峻,揾兼職困難,開支沒減還加,工作亦大不如前,所以希望家人能體諒 ,申請調低贍養費,共渡時間。」

5.女方反對上述申請,且不同意男方所指收入降低了。

背景

6.代表女方的鄭律師在開案陳詞中簡述如下︰

(乙)   背景

2. 雙方在2002或2003年在男方母親所持有的屯門物業大興花園X期X樓X的物業(「大興花園」)開始同居生活,家庭子女在2011年12月9日出生。雙方也在2011年12月31號在香港正式註冊結婚,即他們在同居生活後9年後才誕下家庭子女及正式註冊結婚。

3. 在結婚後及誕下家庭子女前,女方一直倚靠銷售員的工作維生。在家庭子女兩歲後即2014年3月開始,女方便應男方要求下沒有工作全職照顧男方及家庭子女及完全倚賴男方在經濟上的支援及需要。

4. 女方今年41歲。男方今年42歲,他大學畢業後便開始幫他父親打理物流業務生意。根據女方案情,男方除了幫他父親外,他自己也開設了其他公司來經營物流生意及其他生意包括豬肉批發,漁排及理甲店等等。

5. 在2013年頭因男方認識了第二答辯人即他現時同居女友所以搬離前婚姻居所及與女方開始分居。男方及第二答辯人在2015年6月30日以港幣3,380,000以分權擁有形式(男方佔75%而第二男方(第二答辯人)佔25%)購買了在屯門盈豐園的物業(「盈豐園」)。此盈豐園物業現在是三方在本案中的初步議題爭議的資產。他們兩人並在2016年6月16日誕下一名兒子。

6. 分居後女方及家庭子女的生活開支也是由男方完全負責支付。

7. 女方在2016年12月20日正式以不合理行為存檔本離婚訴訟呈請書。之後雙方同意把離婚呈請書的理由改為雙方分居超過兩年。暫准離婚令在2017年5月19日頒佈。至於家庭子女的管養權則在2017年10月6日判與女方及男方共同擁有及照顧及管束權則歸女方及界定探視權給男方。

法律原則

7.鄭律師在開案陳詞中向法庭正確指出適用於此案的法律原則︰

更改贍養費命令(Variation of maintenance order)

13.    從一些案例中的分析,法庭一般在更改一個由雙方同意下頒佈的贍養費命令會比一個不是由雙方同意下頒佈的命令更加嚴謹及困難。法庭一般不會輕易接受一個更改雙方同意下頒佈的贍養費命令的申請,除非想要求更改的一方能夠向法庭證明雙方同意命令頒佈後出現一個很重大或不可預見的實際或環境上改變令到法庭在公平原則下必須更改該同意命令。

14.    在LWS v MHS [2018] HKFC 14 at §20一案中,法庭說明︰—

"20. Pertinently,section 11 of the MPPO does not say that a consent order on periodical payment cannot be varied. But where the periodical maintenance is embodied in a consent order,the original order would not usually be varied unless there has been a material change of circumstances... " (emphasis added)

15.    在CWH v CSMS [2018] HKFC 123 at §24一案中,法庭說明

"24. ... The court has a broad discretion in applications relating to variation. In so doing,the court should also bear in mind that an application to vary the terms of a settlement embodied in a consent order are not to be lightly entertained unless the party seeking to disturb the same can show good and substantial cause ... " (emphasis added)

16.    在HCCT v TYYC [2008] 5 HKC 86 at §§42-48一案中,法庭說明︰—

"42. On the first point,I need not repeat what the Vice President has said. I wish to highlight what Stock JA said in L v C [2007] 3 HKLRD 819 at para 42,p 842C,

'The courts must be astute in this field to guard against the manipulative litigant who seeks to undo an agreement … and to bear in mind the factors,quite clear now as a result of developed authority,which might go to vitiate such agreement ... '

43. I hasten to add that the courts in the family jurisdiction must be equally astute to guard against unmeritorious applications for variation by litigants who have second thoughts about settlements they have knowingly reached on their own volition.

44. Nowadays,with the introduction of family mediation and FDR in our Family Courts,a large proportion of applications for ancillary relief are settled. It is recognized by judges,lawyers as well as those involved in counselling parties that in most cases,the interests of parties in matrimonial proceedings are better served by resolving ancillary relief disputes by agreed solutions adopted by the parties rather than having some judgments imposed on them.

45. Further,in many instances,one or both parties are acting in person. Lack of legal representation should not be regarded as a vitiating factor in an ordinary case.

46. Therefore it would go against the modern ethos of family dispute management if the court were to entertain lightly an application to vary the terms of a settlement embodied in a consent order.

47. I think the following approach suggested by Stock JA at para 42 of L v C [2007] 3 HKLRD 819 at p 841,with slight modifications,can equally serve as a good guidance for deciding whether an application for variation of periodical payments in a consent order should be entertained.

'an agreement [on periodic payments] is 'presumptively [not to be varied without material change of circumstances]'the burden being on the party seeking to achieve a different [terms] to show good and substantial cause why the compact should not be respectedand ... the scope for so doing is one directed at an injustice in the circumstances in which the agreement came to be concluded or in clear injustice occasioned to one of the parties by reason of event unforeseen at the time of the agreement were the agreement to be enforced to its letter. '"  (emphases added)

17.    在AEM v VFM [2008] 3 HKLRD 36 at §14.8一案中,法庭在討論有關一些特別在雙方同意下所達成的協議來講︰—

"8.   At the same time the basis and intended effect of the original order are relevant factors to which the court on variation should pay regard and there should not be a radical departure from the approach taken by the parties themselves when they had entered into an agreement embodied in a consent order: Boylan v Boylan [1988] 1 FLR 282." (emphasis added)

18.    這是一個根據《婚姻程序及財產條例》第11條下的申請,陳忠基法官在FCMC 16044/2009的案件中已把有關法律原則清楚及明確地在他2016年3月30日中的判詞第17至20段列出如下︰

17. The powers to vary a periodical payment order are expressly provided for by section 11 of Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance,Cap. 192 (“MPPO”):

"(1) Where the court has made an order to which this section appliesthesubject to the provisions of this sectionthe court shall have power to vary or discharge the order or to suspend any provision thereof temporarily and to revive the operation of any provision so suspended."

18. How those powers are to be exercised is stated in section 11(7):

"(7) In exercising the powers conferred by this section the court shall have regard to all the circumstances of the caseincluding any change in any of the matters to which the court was required to have regard when making the order to which the application relates andwhere the party against whom that order was made has diedthe changed circumstances resulting from his or her death."

19. The proper approach to such an application has been succinctly summarized in Raydan and Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters,18th Edition,Chap.18.21:

" ... The court considers the application to vary on the basis of the means of the parties as they stand at the time when the case is before itand approaches the matter as if it were assessing the payments de novo. It follows that the principles governing the assessment of periodical payments will in broad measure apply to applications to vary: the overriding objective is fairness. Discrimination between the sexes must be avoided. The court should consider not only the descending income of one party but also any ascending income of the otherand take into account of any increase or decrease in responsibilities or liabilities on the part of each party including obligations to a new family. Whilst the court deprecated the notion that a husband and father could evade his financial responsibilities it would have regard to reality; there was life after divorce and a payer was entitled to order his affairs in such a way as to balance his responsibilities to his existing family with his proper aspirations for a new futurein particularthat he should have accommodation suitable for proper staying contact In considering the application the court might have regard to the availability of social security benefits to the wifeand childrenif there was no practical alternative. Financial mismanagement by the payer or the payee may be one of the relevant circumstances to which the court is required to have regard under s 31(7)and conduct on the part of a wife post the substantive ancillary relief order can be weighed in the balance in an application for a variation of periodical payments. "

20. This approach was examined and endorsed by the Court of Appeal in AFM v VFM (Variation of Maintenance) [2008] HKFLR 106 at 111:

"3.  The traditional approach to variation was not to re-fix afresh the amount of maintenance but to consider the amount of change in the actual means of the parties so that the new order should merely be increased or decreased roughly in proportion to the change in the means: Foster v Foster [1964] 3 All ER 541Jackson's Matrimonial Finance and Taxation 7th Ed. Ch.3.131.

4.   The modern approachas required by section 11(7)is for the Court to consider all the circumstances of the cases. The Court is not required to proceed from the starting point of the original order but look at the matter afresh: Flavell v Flavell [1997] 1 FLR 353 at 357B following Lewis v Lewis [1977] 1 WLR 409 and Garner v Garner [1992] 1 FLR 573.

5.   Any change in any of the matters to which the Court was required to consider when making the original order was one of the circumstances to be considered.

6.   Almost invariablyan application to vary an earlier periodical payment order will be brought on the basis that there has been some changes in the circumstances since the original order was madefor examplecontinuing inflation; the increased costs in supporting a growing child and that one party may be more adversely affected than another by the increase in the costs of living: Garner v Garner.

7.   An increase in the wealth of the husband was a relevant factor to be taken into account: Premavera v Premavera [1991] 1 FLR 16 and Cornick v Cornick (No.2) [1995] 2 FLR 490.

8.   At the same time the basis and intended effect of the original order are relevant factors to which the Court on variation should pay regard and there should not be a radical departure from the approach taken by the parties themselves when they had entered into an agreement embodied in a consent order: Boylan v Boylan [1988] FLR 282."

19.    基本上法庭會在所有更改申請聆訊中重新審視所有證據,但法庭也需要考慮如果更改的命令是同意命令,法庭也需要考慮在同意命令頒佈後所發生的任何重大或不可預見的實際或環境改變來作為處理更改申請時的一個重要考慮因素。

20.    雖然以上之案例是有關更改最終贍養費命令,但是法庭一般也接受同樣的法律原則也適用於更改候訊期間贍養費的命令: CD v LWS [2020] HKFC 206

《公開建議書》

8.鄭律師在開案陳詞指,因為男方及其父親拒絕支付訟案期間的贍養費及女兒的學費,所以女兒從2020年9月開始,已被迫從國際學校轉讀本地學校以繼續升學,因此不需要支付學費。除此以外,女方與女兒的經濟狀況基本上沒有什麼轉變。

9.鄭律師在女方的《公開建議書》陳述如下︰-

32.    女方在她更新的表格E把她的每月開支列出[B/940]。因為男方從2020年1月開始拒絕遵守雙方在2018年7月26日之同意命令支付候訊期間贍養費,女方也被迫把每月開支減低。根據她的更新表格E。她每月開支如下︰-

 一般開支  $9,300
 個人開支  $7,000
 子女開支  $7,050
 總數  $23,350.00

33.    若以平均分擔來計算,女方及家庭子女的一般開支每人每月應為港幣4,650。所以女方的需要為每月港𣀱11,650,而家庭子女的需要為每月港幣11,700。

34.    女方為了節省法庭時間及金錢,現在建議她同意把2018年7月26日之同意命令更改如下︰—

a.  男方需向女方支付女兒的臨時贍養費金額為每月港幣$11,700包括課外活動費用及補習班費用由2021年4月1日起並在每月第一日或以前支付直至法庭另有命令上述贍養費須存入女方的上海匯豐銀行戶口號碼XXXX;

b. 男方需向女方支付候訊期間贍養費金額為每月港幣$11,650由2021年4月1日起並在每月每日第一日或以前支付直至法庭另有命令位子上述養費需通肻女方代表律師交付法援署長並受制於法律援助署第一押記。

10.男方在其《公開建議書》中表示,他只同意支付共八千元的贍養費。

爭議事項

11.由於男方並不爭議女方及女兒的合理需要,此案唯一的爭議點是男方的收入有否大幅下降。

證供

12.男方在是次申請中共存檔了以下文件:

(i)    男方本人用作支持申請的誓詞[1]

(ii)   男方的第二份表格E《經濟狀況陳述書》[2]

(iii)  男方回答女方兩份問卷的兩份回覆書[3]

13.女方則提交了一份非宗教式誓詞[4]

女方的案情

14.男方在庭上作證指,他現時的收入為每月16,000多元,兼職收入則約為五千元,所以並沒有能力支付該命令的贍養費金額。

15.鄭律師在開案陳詞中指,男方所有存檔的支持文件均顯示,從2018年7月26日到現在,男方並沒有出現任何重大或不可預見的實際或環境改變。鄭律師又指︰

「26. ...相反地根據女方的說法他的經濟狀況法甚至比2018年7月26日還好的。有關文件證據,可先以比對男方在此案中所存檔的兩份表格E︰—

  2017年3月27日的表格E 2021年3月24日的表格E
欠債 50,156.44 [A/71] 0 [B/861]
總資產 1,214,157.24 [A/71] 1,224,304 [B/861]
每月收入 13,644.17 [A/72] 21,209.50 [B/862-3]
每月支出 57,243.00 [A/75] 29,000 [B/861]

27.    女方也會倚賴男方在這訴訟中拒絕及故意不對女方所發出之問卷提供所有答案及有關的文件而對他作出不利推論(adverse inference)。」

16.根據女方案情,男方擁有多家公司,但聲稱這些公司已經停運及解散;然而男方沒有提供相關文件。

17.鄭律師在庭上呈上以下列表(「列表」):

男方已承認或女方認為與男方有關的在香港或境外的公司列表

  公司名稱 成立日期 成立地點 董事 股東 註冊辦事處地址
1. 富榮XXX有限公司
(FULLWIN XXX Co. Limited)
前稱宏匯XX有限公司
(RIVA XX Limited)
03.05.1999 香港 03.05.2019男方妹妹(「妹妹」)及鄔XX為董事直至現在 03.05.2019男方 (50%)
妹妹 (50%)
03.05.2020 鄔XX (10%)
妹妹 (90%) 直至現在
Room 17A,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
2. 富榮物流(香港)有限公司
Fullwin XXX Co.,Limited
24.11.2006

已告解散日期
14.03.2013
香港 男方 男方 Room 17A,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
3 捷富物流香港有限公司
Jetrich XXX Company Limited
17.03.2009 香港 男方父親 男方父親 Room 17A,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
4. 峻貿有限公司
Success Trade Inc Limited
25.10.2013 香港 12.08.2016
妹妹獲委任為董事
耀高XX有限公司(Radiant XXX Limited ) 至 06.12.2016 轉給妹妹[276]
妹妹為唯一股東直至現在
Room 20,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
25.10.2016
劉X萍
妹妹
21.04.2017
劉X萍辭職
妹妹停任
男方獲委任為董事
男方為唯一董事直至現在
5. 天智利有限公司
Sky Cloud Limited
26.02.2014
已告解散日期07.12.2018

香港
男方 男方 Room 17A,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
6. 泓達貿易有限公司
Wide Tech Trading Limited
01.09.2014
已告解散日期24.01.2020
香港 01.09.2015 第二答辯人委任為董事 COMKIT LIMITED (50%) 至23.09.2014 轉給第二答辯人 Room 17A,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
答辯人父親
第二答辯人至解散
父親(50%)
第二答辯人 (50%) 至解散
7. 朗高有限公司
Long Goal Limited
25.02.2015 塞舌爾
(Seychelles)
男方 男方 塞舌爾
(Seychelles)
8. 誠信XXX有限公司
Ultra Faith XXX Limited
01.06.2015 香港 答辯人母親 01.06.2016
母親(70%)
杜X芳(30%)
Room 20,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
26.06.2017 杜X芳
(30%)轉至佘X俊
19.09.2017
佘X俊(30%) 轉至母親
19.09.2017
母親(100%) 至現在
9. 誠豐XX有限公司
Harvest Way XXX Limited
08.06.2016
香港
29.07.2016
劉XX辭職
委任黃卓X、第二答辯人及佘XX為董事
08.06.2017
黃卓X(30%)
第二答辯人 (40%)
佘XX (30%)
Room 20,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
15.09.2017
黃卓X及佘XX辭職
06.11.2017
黃卓X (30%) 及
佘XX(30%)轉至第二答辯人
15.09.2017
第二答辯人為唯一董事直至現在
第二答辯人(100%) 至現在
10. 匯陞發展有限公司
World Sun XX Limited
15.09.2016

已告解散日期27.08.2021
香港 25.05.2017
蘇XX辭職男方委任為董事
02.06.2017 百利來代理人有限公司(Baililai Nominees Limited) 轉給男方 Room 20,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
男方為唯一董事至解散 男方 (100%) 至 解散
11. 峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司
Success Trade (HK) Trading Limited
20.10.2016 香港 20.10.2017 答辯人母親
第二答辯人
20.10.2017
母親(50%)
第二答辯人 (50%)
Room 20,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
17.09.2019 母親(50%) 轉給第二答辯人
28.08.2017
母親辭職
第二答辯人為唯一董事直至現在
第二答辯人(100%) 至現在
12. 富德物流有限公司
Fruit Time XXX Limited
17.01.2017 香港 18.08.2017
第二答辯人委任為董事
17.01.2018
母親 (20%)
第二答辯人(80%)
Room 20,Kwai Fung Crescent,Kwai Chung,N.T.,H.K.
17.01.2018
母親
第二答辯人
17.01.2020
母親(20%) 陳文X (80%) 直至現在
23.09.2019
第二答辯人辭職陳文X委任為董事
母親
陳文X為董事直至在

18.鄭律師的說法其實是︰

(1)     峻貿有限公司(列表中的第四家公司)成立後,有一家SUCCESS TRADE (HONG KONG) LIMITED峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司(第十一家公司),由第二答辯人擁有,而峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司一直在運作,所以男方有隱瞞資產。

(2)     男方在簽署2017年的同意傳票時,其薪金和負債均與現在相若。

19.鄭律師在開案陳詞裏向法庭指出以下適用之法律原則︰

(丁)  不利推論(Adverse Inference)

21. 有關不利推論的法律,陳忠基法官在FCMC 4193/2010的案件中已把有關法律原則清楚及明確地在他2016年3月30日中的判詞第114至122段列出如下︰—

114. One cannot over emphasise this duty to make full and frank disclosure of the parties' financial means and assets which implicitly underlines Step 1 of the section 7 exercise to be taken by the court to identify the parties' assets as detailed above by the Court of Final Appeal in LKW supra,the importance of which has also been stated in Rayden and Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters,18th edition at Chap 17.28:

"The importance of the duty of both husband and wife to make disclosure of their assets which is fullfrank and clear cannot be over emphasised. Unless a court is provided with correctcomplete and up-to-date information on the matters to whichunder s 25 of the MCA 1973it is required to have regardit cannot lawfully or properly exercise its discretion in the matter ordained by that section. The duty of each party is absoluteand it must be discharged regardless of whether the application for ancillary relief is adjudicated upon by the court after full evidence has been heardor settled after an exchange of financial information between the parties leading to a consent order.  The duty is also a continuing one; a party must not mislead the other party and the court into assuming that his financial situation is unchanged if it in fact has changed. Any material change in the financial situation of either party occurring between the filing of their Form Es and the final dispatch of the claims by the court must be brought to the notice of the other party and the court at the earliest opportunity. A party who seeks to negotiate and secure a settlement without informing the other party about a material change in his or her financial circumstances runs the risk thatif a settlement is reached and a consent order is madethe consent order will be set aside by the failure to provide fullfrank and timely disclosure. Shortcomings in disclosure will be visited by orders for costs against the offending partyoften on the indemnity basis. Furthermoredeviation from the standard of disclosure required may be visited by the court drawing adverse inferences against the party in default. "

115. This principle has been emphasised in the authorities and particularly succinctly in J-P C v J-A F [1955] P215,[1955] 2 All ER 617,CA when the English Court of Appeal stated:

"The obligation of the husband in maintenance proceedings is to be fullfrank and clear in his disclosure of his means to they courtand any shortcomings in this respect can and normally should be visited at least by the court drawing inference against him on matters the subject of shortcomings."

116. In Baker v Baker [1995] 2 FLR 829,where the Court of Appeal held that the trial judge was entitled to draw adverse inference against the husband and the standard of proof in a case where material non-disclosure was alleged was the ordinary balance of probabilities,Olton LJ emphasised that failure of such duty to make full and frank disclosure would severely undermine the integrity of the legal process at 837B:

" ... I wish to add a passage only by way of emphasis. Under statute and from authority…there is a duty upon a party in proceedings such as these to make a full and frank disclosure of all matters relevant to the assessment of the financial position of the parties and the relief to which a spouse is entitled. The integrity of the legal process would be severely undermined if a party were permitted (and seen to be permitted) to evade that duty by a deliberate and stubborn refusal to make such disclosure to the other party andmore importantto the court."

117. Such approach is wholly supported by authorities,starting with the classic case of J-P C v J-A F supra when Sach J stated the classic passage at p227:

"In cases of this kind where the duty of disclosure comes to lie on a husband; where a husband has - and his wife has not - detailed knowledge of his complex affairs; where a husband is fully capable of explaining and has had opportunity to explainthose affairsand where he seeks to minimize the wife's claimthat husband can hardly complain ifwhen he leaves gaps in the court's knowledgethe court does not draw inference in his favour. On the contrarywhen he leaves a gap in such a state that two alternative inferences may be drawnthe court will normally draw the less favourable inference - especially where it seems likely that his able legal advisers would have hastened to put forward affirmatively any factshad they existedestablishing the more favourable alternative."

118. A case in point is F v F [1994] 1 FLR 359 where the wife petitioned for divorce following a 5-year marriage,but before her application for ancillary relief was heard,the husband was declared bankrupt. The wife then sought an annulment of the bankruptcy order on the basis that the husband had presented his financial position in a fraudulent manner and had deliberately failed to disclose assets including those located abroad. In holding that the husband's explanation of his financial position was fundamentally implausible and that the bankruptcy order was an abuse of the process of bankruptcy and must be set aside,Thorpe J (as he then was) ordered him to pay a lump sum of £150,000 to the wife,and gave his reasons at 367C:

"So if he has conducted his affairs throughout the marriage in such a covert fashion as to relieve him of the ordinary obligations of citizenship to support the State through tax contributionif he has conducted these proceedings in a vain endeavour to maintain that camouflageif in consequence the obscurity of my final vision results in an order that is unfair to him it is better that than that I should be drawn into making an order that is unfair to the wife. If at the end of this case he feels that the lump sum that I order is unfair in reflection of his present retrenchment then he should remember that he has brought that consequence upon himself by the fashion in which he has chosen to arrange his affairs over the course of the last decadecoupled with the fashion in which he has chosen to conduct these proceedings."

119. These principles have been endorsed by the Court of Appeal in Baker v Baker supra,when Butler-Sloss LJ (as she then was) stated at p835D:

"Mr Posnansky pointed to an utterly false case and asked us to consider why the husband was lying and what did he have to hide. If the cupboard was bareit was in his interests to open it and display its meagre contents. But on the contrarythe husbanddespite his protestations to the contrarycontinued to live a life of an affluent man. I agree with the submissions from Mr Posnansky that if a court finds that the husband has lied about his meanslied about other material issueswithheld documentsand failed to give full and frank disclosureit is open to the court to find that beneath the false presentationand the reasons for itare undisclosed assets. Willmer LJ said in Payne v Payne [1968] 1 WLR 390at 396:

'In such circumstances it is well established that the court is entitled to draw inference adverse to a husband who has not made a proper disclosure of his available resources.'

The judge carefully considered the relevant criteria set out in s 25(2) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973including the shortness of the marriage. In my judgmentthere was ample evidence upon which the judge was entitled to draw inference adverse to the husband and to make findings that there were assets available to meet the order he made. To accept Mr Holman's alternative proposition thatunless the assets can be shown positively to be available an order cannot be madeflies in the face of the principles enunciated in the judgment of Sach J and would send a clear message to spouses unwilling to make full and frank disclosure. It would indeedas Mr Posnansky saidbe a cheat's charter…"

120. At 837E. Otton LJ also said:

"the husband cannot complain if the judge following authority explored what was before him and drew inference which may turn out less fortunate than they might have been had he been more frank and disclosed his affairs more fully. Such inferences must be properly drawn and reasonable. "

121. This point was emphasised in the more recent case of Al-Khatib v Masry [2002] 1 FLR 1053,where it was held that there was a compelling case for drawing adverse inference against the husband in the light of his utterly misrepresentative and untruthful disclosure of his means even at trial,the very substantial scale of his concealment and deceit,the court's inability in the absence of corroboration to accept as the truth anything that the husband said unless it was either an admission or otherwise contrary to his interests,and his evident determination that the wife should receive no ancillary relief beyond that embodied in an earlier interim order,that the court would draw the inference that the husband had sufficient assets to satisfy the wife's claim; and whilst the court was only entitled to draw inference from the evidence before the court,which was limited,but did include evidence from the husband's friends and business acquaintances documentary evidence as to the scale of commissions earned by the husband,evidence as to the value of certain properties and investments held by the husband,and the scale and determination of the husband's attempts to divest himself of his assets and to remove his assets from the reach of the court,inferences properly to be drawn were that the husband's business activities had been and continued to be on the kind of grandiose scale indicated by the evidence of his business associates,and that the extent of his earnings and his wealth derived from the business activities had been and continued to be vastly greater than he had ever been prepared to admit.

122. While the materials before the court did not justify a finding that the husband was worth as much as £200 million as the wife claimed,Mumby J held that it did justify a finding that the full extent of the family assets was very comfortably in excess of £50 million,and probably more,and it was held that if the conclusion reached,having regard to the probable size of the family fortune and the husband's conduct,was in fact unfair or unjust to the husband,then the husband had only himself to blame,as His Lordship explained at para 89:

"I acceptof coursethat part of Mr Deacon's submissionbased on the passage front Butler-Sloss LJ's judgment (in Baker v Baker above)to the effect that I can properly draw adverse inferences only if there is some proper basis for them in findings of fact correctly arrived at in the light of admissible evidence.  I rejecthoweverMr Deacon's further submission thateven if there is proven non-disclosureinference as to the existence of assets 'must be based on credible evidence as to the existence of such assets.' That submissionif I have correctly understood itseems to be in reality but a repetition of the submission from Mr Holman (as he then was) which Butler-Sloss LJ was at such pains to reject.  Indeedput in these terms Mr Deacon's submission seems to mewith all due respect to himto fly in the face of the Lady Justice's acceptance in the passage quoted that 'it is open to the court to find that beneath the false presentationand the reasons for itare undisclosed assets'. "

案情討論

20.除了第四家公司比較重要因而必須先處理外,本席會根據列表上的次序一一作出討論。

峻貿有限公司

21.根據鄭律師的論點,男方在其第一份《經濟狀況陳述書》(表格E)及第一份《問卷回覆書》中都指男方並沒有權益,而在回覆書中[5],男方指實質擁有人為男方本人的妹妹。擬備這兩份文件時,男方是有律師代表的,但在回覆女方的第二份問卷中,男方卻有以下陳述︰

關於峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司之成立是於2013年本人與第二答辯人最初是業務上往來的普通朋友,直至於2014年初知道她與前公司合作得不愉快,故本人叫第二答辯人出來自立門戶,另組新公司,營運業務,經她考慮後不久便應承本人的計劃,並立即成立峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司,並同時將她部份前公司客戶轉移過竣貿公司,開始經營中港業務,由於當時第二答辯人唔想比前老闆及一些行家知道她另起爐灶,所以她向外界透露她在竣貿公司任職經理,而當時要請妹妹擔任峻貿公司是代股東一職只是權宜之計,妹妹股東在名義上亦只是掛名的虛銜,沒有實權,而事實上峻貿公司之一切運作包括聯絡客戶及公司賬目來往等全部都是由本人及第二答辯人各自操控自己的客戶,峻貿公司與父親及妹妹無關,請問何來說得是陳氏家族之名稱,直至2017年我其中一個客戶特然失踪更令峻貿涉及一宗官司追討案索償高達400萬元多,欠款現在峻貿的財務是外於虧損狀態中[6]

22.首先,本席相信男方其實是錯把峻貿有限公司寫成峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司。原因是峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司是在2016年才成立,男方妹妹的名字也從來沒有出現在峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司。

23.鄭律師指由於男方經常改變立場,而其證詞亦前言不對後語,所以質疑男方說謊。

24.男方在庭上解釋,因為公司開業時他本人仍然欠債,包括朗高(第七家公司)的債務,所以並不打算自己「出面」。此外,由於他誠信破產,所以沒有人願意與他合伙。而因為「肥水不流別人田」,他將公司給了妹妹,而並收取「Consult Fee」。

25.男方在庭上作證時解釋︰

答:係囉。咁跟住肥水不流別人田,咁就畀個妹,「不如妳做董事,我做consult,我畀啲客戶妳」,咁啱啱七百幾頁嗰度都有講嘅,就係話「大家閣下自理,做自己嘅客戶」。

答:咁跟住去到第二答辯人喇,大家做,咁佢就講緊另外一件案嘅,不過呢個我哋之後先再講喇,唔好咁複雜喇,就係嗰個所謂嘅案中案嗰個計--層樓嘅問題,咁呢個我哋放埋一邊先。直至到點解又再轉番100 per cent我呢,而係法拉利當時嗰單案,嗰個客戶係我嘅,而我就係帶咗入嚟呢間公司,咁所以為咗承擔番個責任呢,咁我就話「咁妳不如當間公司讓番畀我囉,咁就算數」。[7]

     

問:即係你表格第一份表格E同埋你嗰個第一份問卷嘅答案,嗰啲答案係假㗎囉喎,錯㗎囉喎?

答:係,應該你咁你唔可如果咁樣講,你可以話假嘅,但唔可以話錯,唔係假,因為有好多嘢喺度變緊嘅,因為當其時嘅情況,大家呢度都寫得好清楚嘅,就係大家做番自己嘅客戶,而我當其時17年,大家可以參考番就係法拉利案呢單嘢喇[8]。(「法拉利案件」)

答:其實幾份都冇錯喎,因為一路都變緊㗎嘛,喺度,直至到去到而家最後嘅,就係我係呢一間公司owner囉[9]

26.至於在法拉利案件中,有人冒認法拉利的首席財務官騙取金錢,法拉利知悉後,隨即申請禁制令,發現錢已被分發到不同公司,包括峻貿有限公司。根據男方的證言,他因為這場官司現時仍欠80多萬元,而亦因為法拉利案件,峻貿有限公司仍未能被註銷[10]

27.然而,根據鄭律師的說法,峻貿有限公司並非如男方所言在2016年已停止運作,因為明顯地在法拉利案件中,峻貿有限公司在2017年3月31日先後收取了兩筆美金,分別為3,860,000美元和160,000美元。

28.男方的解釋是︰

問:所以,我向你指出,其實你喺呢度講,2016年Success Trade Inc Limited已經停止運作,又係錯㗎喇?

答:唔係㗎,真係,有啲佢…

問:咁點樣2017年4月仲收到幾百萬,仲有幫人根據你所講…

答:嗰啲…

問:…係幫人哋買緊豬肉呀?

答:其實你搞清楚先喇,唔係數大,個生意就大㗎,呢一筆…

問:你話「停止運作」呀?

答:呢一啲錢呢,其實嗰陣時停止運作,咁戶口仲喺度,有啲客戶係幫幫手,咁咪一單半單,就係咁樣出咗事之嘛,其實要攞,真係要冇audit嘅,我攞番晒啲嘢出嚟畀大家睇,亦都可以,係咪?但係而家個問題就係,就係因為為咗一千幾百嘅收入,就係連自己嘅錢都冇埋,甚至乎裡面嘅錢都唔係我,我就係啲人,香港嘅職業就係咁樣呢,嗰啲錢打入我哋香港戶口,我哋香港戶口就打番去外面,就幫國內嘅客戶去買肉、買肉,你中間嘅報酬可能係一千幾百鈫,就係咁多錢㗎咋,咁跟住之後就畀人哋中咗喇,呢啲全部有晒法庭證明呀「盛」、各樣嘢,唔係呃人嘅,係咪先?

問:咁點解你…

答:咁你又冇得話我係呃㗎喎,你成日話我係呃,我亦都披露晒出嚟,你話如果我係冇披露,而畀你發現,咁我就係話呃啫,係咪先?你就成日一口定話我係呃你,而我做嘅嘢亦都好合理、合法㗎,係咪先?

29. 本席接納峻貿有限公司在2016或2017年間已經停運,亦接納男方的解釋,即因為法拉利案件,男方欠下很多的債。這家公司即使完全屬於男方,本席亦接納這是一家負資產的公司。

30.至於第一家公司,鄭律師質疑男方才是該公司的真正擁有人。男方的解釋是:—

問:…係咪都係代持,好似Success Trade咁?

答:咁呢個你就要問番佢哋喇嘛,呢個我知道呢,呢個富榮公司,我當時點解會有做呢一個主持人,其實即係講真,公還公、私還私,有時你份人工,老竇話「喂,你幫我開間公司喇」,咁佢嘅公司開咗咁多名,咁我開間公司,我咪同佢開間公司囉。咁到之後,我都話,我都冇牽涉嗰啲業務囉,咁佢哋要點轉都唔關我事。不過,我係有講過,鄔即係鄔XX係我個朋友嚟嘅,我話「喂,我有啲嘢幫手喎,我老竇話想搵個人夾一夾,你有冇計呀?」咁佢話「Okay呀,冇問題呀,咁你咪用我名」,就係咁樣完咗呢件事。係,我而家咁樣講,可以係真係可以係好「柴娃娃」,但係呢個就係事實,我只可以咁樣講嘅啫。

問:我向你指出,其實呢啲公司,呢間公司富榮船務有限公司,其實嗰50 per cent股權,其實一百妹妹都係代你持有嘅啫,同意嘛?

答:唔同意。如果佢代我持有嘅話,我可以問佢攞錢喇,我可我根本我可以證明到我同佢嘅戶口完全係個別嘅,係唔會有甚麼你畀我錢、我畀你錢,係冇嘅。

31.本席接納男方的解釋,原因是並沒有證據證明這家公司是屬於男方本人。

32.在庭上鄭律師並沒有質疑第二、三及第五家公司的資料是否真確;他亦接納第三家公司是屬於男方父親的。

33.男方曾在庭上解釋,第五家公司在成立後未能開立公司戶口,所以從沒有運作過。

34.至於第六家公司,鄭律師質疑男方才是該公司的真正擁有人,因為該公司聯同其他公司曾出現在男方的卡片上。對此,男方有以下解釋:—

問: 2020年。咁呢間公司係咪都係其實你先係個實質擁有人呢?

答:我而家咁樣睇就真係唔關我事喇,呢啲佢哋自己傾㗎喇,我連有呢一間公司,我都唔知。

問:呢間公司…

答:約莫佢哋約莫佢哋有交收…

問:呢間公司,呢間公司,以我記憶,曾經喺你嘅卡片度出現過?

答:哦,咁樣啲卡片真係你都知喇,印張卡片,印得愈多愈好,同埋嗰張卡片唔係我印嘅,係當其時可能杜小姐為咗結識我嘅客戶,咁就印埋間公司落去,好睇啲,嗰啲卡片已經銷毀晒㗎喇,冇咗㗎喇,已經。

問:銷毀咗,但係我哋都有一張,所以亦都可以畀到法庭,就係話…

答:有,冇問題,可以keep,呢樣嘢[11]

35.男方進一步解釋說:—

D)  泓達貿易有限公司成立的原因,由於第二2014年開始業務上升,一遍好景下還有太多資金從中國匯款入香港,故此第二答辯人再成立多一間泓達貿易公司,主要是方便中國客戶匯款到香港再轉匯去外國作買賣之用,當時銀行開設戶口困難,而第二答辯人更知道本人的父親銀行業績良好關係,可利用父親這優點,便要求本人父親擔任泓達代股東之職位,可讓銀行開設新戶口容易和繼續經營中國業務。直到現在此公司亦已停止運作[12]

36.本席接納男方的解釋,原因是並沒有證據證明這家公司屬於男方本人。

37.至於第七家公司,是一家在塞舌爾群島成立的有限公司(「朗高」)。根據男方的解釋,因為該公司是海外公司,所以毋需核數。

38.但鄭律師在結案陳詞中就朗高這家答辯人的公司有以下陳述︰

呈請人已向法庭帶出Long Goal Ltd是有代答辯人支付他私人信用卡支出[A/463-465],但在他提供的Long Goal Ltd非核數帳目中並沒有看見這些支出[A/535- 537]。這證明他所提供有關 Long Goal Ltd 非核數的帳目是不可靠的。還有他所列出Long Goal Ltd的每月收人與Long Goal Ltd在中信銀行的月結並非吻合。他在Long Goal Ltd非核數的帳目中的每月收入比Long Goal Ltd在中信銀行月結單的收人遠低。答辯人只說這間公司已沒有運作但他並沒有提出任何證據來支持。相反法庭應該記得他在文件中也說Success Trade Inc Limited已在2016年停止運作[B/985],但在法拉利一案中已清楚證明他是講大話,因為法拉利一案是發生於2017年4月。而法拉利一案所牽涉的金額超過港幣4,260,000 [Exhibit P2-B]。

39.對此,男方的解釋如下:

答:我其實唔係唔知,錢的確係喺度攞,但係啲數係真係亂嘅,當年,所以先至用下用下,究竟係用大咗吖,定係蝕咗錢呢,最後都係收工收場,呢個就係我嘅解釋喇。

問:我向你…

官:最後都係咩嘢話?

答:最後對唔住,最後都係做唔掂喇,即係因為我自己本人操守問題、用大咗唔知吖,定係點樣樣呢,就係咁樣樣呢件事就每日即係咁樣差落去喇,因為負擔都大喇嘛。

問:我向你指出,其實你除咗你自己嘅收入,你報咗嗰啲,有好多你嘅支出,私人嘅支出,都會係由你嘅公司或者你其他有連繫嘅公司去支付嘅,你同意嘛?

答:哦,咁唔同意喇。如果你話Long Go(?),我同意嘅。

40.男方在庭上亦解釋了他為何簽署2017年的同意傳票,同意支付港幣33,000元︰

問:咁但係你個問題就係,即係話,簡單啲嚟講,你以前呢,你肯畀嗰兩萬幾?

答:唔。

問:係咪?兩萬幾三…

MR CHENG:$33,000。

問:三萬幾,就因為你有外來協助?

答:當時嘅外來協助就係嗰個朗高嘅公司,其實仲有啲錢可以畀你轉下轉下,咁自己根本上自己都唔知自己使大咗,去到慢慢、慢慢差落去、慢慢差落去,就已經完咗喇。

41.男方的意思是,當時他除了有外來協助外(詳情見下文第77段),朗高也可以提供後援支付女方的贍養費。

42.就朗高而言,由於呈堂的未經核數師審核的財務報表顯示,朗高於2017年12月已欠債超過港幣1,000,000元,本席信納朗高已沒有多餘的錢支付女方的贍養費。

43.鄭律師對第八及第十二家公司所提出的論點也一樣,即兩家公司都曾出現在男方的卡片上[13],加上,兩家公司的註冊地址相同:即第二答辯人與男方母親共同持有的物業地址。對此,男方有以下解釋︰

問:就係話你亦都喺卡片度有--印有你係呢間公司,同意?

答:即係都係返番嗰句囉,facebook有嘅嘢,冇可能全部都係我㗎嘛,係咪?

問:咁係你嘅post出嚟嘅話就係你post出嚟㗎喇,除非你話…

答:哦,我post出嚟就係我有份嘅,哦,咁樣,咁我真係以後要好小心喎,我真係唔識呀,因為呢啲法律上嘅嘢。

問:呢間就係由你媽媽做董事嘅?

答:唔。

問:跟住就同一個杜XX?

答:唔。

問:頭先你話你唔知邊個?

答:唔知。

問:但係個地址就用你屋你大興嗰個地址?

答:但係佘XX就係曾經個我聽佢哋講呢,佘因為佘XX,我都識佢嘅,就曾經係有做過,佢哋有合作過做嘢,但係點解會用咗我阿媽個戶口個地址呢,呢件事,我就真係完全唔知喇。

問:呢間嘢亦都喺你個卡片度出現過?

答:哦,都係講番啱啱個問題囉。

問:同意嘛?

答:呢個我同意喺我卡片出現過,但係我又唔同意佢同我有關係喇[14]

44.本席接納男方的解釋,原因是並沒有證據證明這家公司屬於男方本人。

45.至於第九間公司,鄭律師並沒有質疑該公司的資料是否真確。就鄭律師對第十家公司提出的質疑,男方有以下回應︰

問:第十,匯聲發展有限公司,呢間我又今朝有講過喇,你同意你喺第一個表格E度就冇講到你有呢間公司嘅,同意嘛?

答:呢個匯聲吖嘛,係咪呀?

問:係。

答:匯聲,係呀,同意。

問:但係你表格E嘅第二份,你就話自己係個公司嘅100個per cent嘅擁有人,同意嘛?

答:唔。因為呢件事呢我係咪可以解釋㗎,其實?

問:唔係,你同唔同意先喇?

答:我同意呀。

問:咁你亦都冇將呢啲匯聲發展有限公司,喺2021年之前所交嘅報表,因為你自己第一份表格E就話自己唔係喇,咁所以你亦都冇交…

答:因為一路都開唔到戶口囉,都冇用過,同埋亦都冇用,開唔到戶口,用嚟做咩嘢呀[15]

46.鄭律師在盤問時指出,第十一家公司是第二答辯人代男方持有的,原因是該公司的名字與第四家公司的名字相似,再加上其註冊地址同樣為第二答辯人與男方母親共同持有的物業的地址。

47.鄭律師在盤問男方時指出,上述列表中的第四和第八至十二家公司的註冊地址相同,同為13樓20室。另外,鄭律師亦質疑男方在第一份表格E中沒有提及某些公司,例如第十家公司。男方在庭上回應指,數家公司(例如第十家公司滙陞和第五家公司天智利公司)成立後未能開立銀行戶口,所以該等公司從沒有運作過。

48.本席接納他的解釋,畢竟在香港開立公司戶口並不是容易的事。

49.鄭律師又指峻貿有限公司曾經借出八十萬元予第二答辯人和男方,以買入盈豐園一個單位,然而當時男方並不是董事,卻有權簽發支票,所以雖然名義上其他的公司並非由男方持有,但他是透過其妹妹或其他人持有峻貿(香港)貿易有限公司。

50.但男方對所有這些指控一一加以否認。

51.男方在庭上解釋說︰

綜合以上4間公司,富德(第十二間公司),誠豐(第九間公司),泓達(第六間公司),峻貿(第十一間公司)除了本人是在富德做文員外,各公司都有不同業務範圍,都是與本人無關,它們所得的利潤都不是屬於本人,又何來說得是陳氏家放的股東呢?」

52.本席接納他的說法。

53.有關男方在表格E中承認的每月約15,000元收入,根據他在該表格E的説明,該些收入是他父親擁有的捷富物流(香港)有限公司所支付的。但男方在盤問時的回應和他提供的文件均顯示,其實現在他每月的穩定收入,是由一家名為富德物流的有限公司所支付。男方於盤問時說他不會理會是哪一家公司向他支薪。

54.鄭律師提出質疑指第十二家公司是現時支薪予男方的公司,但男方卻在表格E上表示,他的薪金是由第三家公司支付的。鄭律師提出︰

法庭需要考慮富德物流有限公司的擁有人在2018年1月7號還是由母親及第二答辯人分別持有20%及80%股權,而第二答辯人也是該公司的董事直至2020年1月17日第二答辯人才把她80%股份分別轉與母親及父親及在2019年9月23日辭去董事一職。

55.就此論點而言,本席雖然理解鄭律師為何提出上述質疑,但本席認為男方的薪金不論是由第三或第十二家公司支付,此兩家公司都不屬於男方本人,而是屬於他的直系親屬或第二答辯人。本席相信男方所言,他並不理會薪金是由哪一家公司支付。此外,本席認為並沒有證據顯示男方的薪金比他所披露的多。

56.鄭律師亦提出因為第四和第八至第十二家公司的註冊辦事處地址均為20室,而第十二家公司是現時支薪予男方的公司,所以該些公司必然是男方所持有的。

57.從土地註冊處的查冊紀錄明顯可見,第二答辯人與男方母親在2019年以300多萬元購入20室。鄭律師的論點似乎是第二答辯人由一開始作為一位文員,搖身一變成為盈豐園單位的業主,並持有20室一半業權,以及身兼多家公司的董事及股東,所以第二答辯人只是代男方持有該等資產;對此,本席並不認同。

58.本席認為第二答辯人之前是甚麼職業並不重要,而她後期持有資產就等如是代男方持有的說法有些牽強。

59.女方又指男方擁有一艘快艇,而男方則指自己不是該艘快艇的擁有人。

60.由於女方只呈上一張快艇的照片,所以本席並不接納男方擁有一艘快艇的說法。

61.女方亦指男方擁有一個大興花園的車位。男方否認,指管理費收據寫上他本人的名字是因為該車位靠近他的住所。

62.本席接納男方的解釋,原因是女方呈上的土地註冊處查冊紀錄顯示男方母親為該車位的業主[16]

63.女方又提出既然男方是香港賽馬會競駿會會員,有能力支付1,400元會費,何以沒有能力支付贍養費。

64.男方的解釋是︰

13) 競駿會是多年前在朗高有限公司的舊客戶,他是國內人,彭XX先生,他想當馬會會員,所以支付其費用,但香港早前因社會運動及疫情都有幾年未來香港,所以馬會戶口一直未有使用,亦沒有任何消費

65.根據女方呈上的銀行月結單,馬會戶口除了月費外,事實上並沒有任何其他支出,因此,本席接納男方的解釋。

66.另外,女方指控男方擁有一個魚排。

呈請人得悉答辯人的榕樹澳魚排在颱風後已維修好並正常運作,並不是答辯人在回覆書中之陳述未再金錢為魚排維修。現向本人出示及展示標明為證物“LFT-3”,一份在2021年5月14日的Facebook Post。此Facebook Post確認榕樹澳魚排服務仍然存在Facebook Post中的陳生正是答辯人,答辯人的電話號碼便是93771167。

此外,大約在今年5月中,呈請人的朋友曾到前榕樹澳魚排,現向本人出示及展示標明為證物“LFT-4”,2張榕樹澳魚排之照片。此照片清楚顯示出榕樹澳魚排已經維修好。相片中顯示魚排編號為51050-1正是答辯入登記名下的魚排。現向本人出示及展示標明為證物“LFT-5” ,一份獲准進行魚排休閒垂釣的魚排資料。

67.對此,男方指︰-

(1)   這個Facebook Post不是由本人發出的,但漁排從早前約4月的確有運作,當中收入用作抵債之用,因本人欠鄧xx先生錢,而鄧先生認為漁排可以有收入,故此鄧生願意支付漁排維修費,所以漁排暫時抵押給鄧生,本人亦代鄧生管理漁排,同時鄧生亦有支付本人工資。

(2)   漁排運作中,作為抵債之用,本人代運作亦有工資可收。

68.男方在盤問下回應說:

MR CHENG:法官大人,佢呢個就係我--佢話,根據佢嘅講法呢,就係佢因為爭鄧生錢,咁所以佢就將呢個魚排就押咗畀佢,咁佢繼續運作,因為呈請人都提供咗好多facebook或者咩嘢嘅係陳生喺度運作緊呢個魚排嘅,而呢個魚排根據政府嘅licence都係陳先生所擁有嘅,我哋亦都呈咗堂㗎喇。所以,其實我哋嘅講法就係個魚排係屬於佢嘅,佢亦都係講法係而家唔屬於佢喇,又押咗鄧生,因為爭鄧生錢。

問:咁你同意,你呢個魚排嘅收入亦都冇考慮到喺你嘅表格...

答:有考慮㗎,因為呢個當其時--上年就係對方嘅律師有講過,即係大家有……

問:唔係,你首先同唔同意,你喺表格E,第二張,呢度係冇寫到魚排嘅收入,而你喺最屘嗰份答問卷嘅問題,你就話鄧生有畀番錢畀你運作?

答:有呀,承認呀,因為呢個係時間性……

問:幾多錢喥呀?

……

問:咁你話幾百至一千鈫一日喇?

答:係。

問:咁你一個月有幾多日可以開到工呀?

答:你預四--八日,四至八日喇,同埋係--唔係每個月㗎,係講緊係三--唔係每個月㗎,因為冬天係冇㗎,咁就係你預暑假囉,三個月喥囉,三、四個月囉。

問:所以,我向你指出,你其實都--除咗表格E所披露嘅收入之外,仲有其他嘅收入,同意嘛?

答:都同意嘅,係。因為呢個係時間性嘅問題呀,所以就冇寫咗落去,呢個係上一庭同--直至到現在,中間呢幾個月發生嘅事情嚟嘅。

官:就係鄧生畀你嘅?

答:係喇。[17]

69.男方在庭上亦提到所謂的兼職是指來自漁排的收入。

70.本席接納有關說法,因為沒有證據顯示他來自漁排的收入超過他所申報的。

71.男方在庭上承認大興花園單位是由男方母親免費提供給他和女方,以及雙方的女兒居住,而水費、管理費和差餉也是由男方的母親支付;車位也是。公事上,男方父親也提供車輛給男方使用。男方父親亦曾經替雙方的女兒支付了一年國際學校學費。然而,因為女方拒絕和解這宗案件,所以最近一兩年關係變差了,男方母親希望把大興花園單位收回,而男方父親也停止了資助。

問:你頭先話唔使畀吖嘛,唔係爭佢……

答:咁呢個係以前嘅事吖嘛,以前好環境,可能我得閒家用畀多啲 ,咁阿媽鬆手啲,而家--講真,而家咩嘢環境都知 ,冇錢畀囉就係,係咪先?

問:咁我向你指出,根本你係一路都唔使畀嘅。

答:暫時係喇。

問:咁你媽媽有冇正式入告票告你呀?

答:有呀,不過佢就係恃住個孫份上,佢冇開到file咋,律師信齊晒㗎喇。

問:我知,你攞咗出嚟喇,我問你有冇正式入稟法庭告你呀?

答:咁我唔知佢辦手續辦到邊喇,但係真係出咗律師信㗎喇,已經。

72.鄭律師在結案陳詞中質疑,男方母親發了一封律師信追討男方從2014年起所欠的大興花園單位租金,實為無私顯見私的做法。

73.鄭律師亦在結案陳詞中指,男方母親發律師信給男方是自編自導的做法︰

15.男方在他的表格E第四部份第一次列出的現時每月開支把租金一萬元納入為他每月的開支。在這個問題上女方作出了很詳細的盤問,這一萬元是有關於男方母親名下之大興花園。這個物業是雙方及家庭女兒從2002或2003及家庭女兒出世後已經在此單位免費地居住。根據女方的說法,男方一直是無需支付任何租金給他的母親。女方也在盤問時向男方指出他在2017年3月7日之表格E並沒有說他需要支付母親任何租金。但他只在最後一份的問卷回答書中呈堂一封由男方母親的律師向男方發出的律師信追討男方從2014年開始的口頭協議支付該單位租金總數為港幣86萬元[B/1112]。根據女方的說法,這根本是男方及他的母親自編自導及為了這案件而作出的行為,目的是為了給女方壓力及令男方在文件上需要支付每月一萬元的租金支出。女方要求法庭作出一個事實裁定根本男方是不需要支付這每個月的租金。如果這個支出不是一定需要的,男方便會每月多出一萬元來支付候訊期間贍養費。」

74.本席不同意這論點。雙方在2002或2003年開始在大興花園單位同居至2011年12月才結婚,本席認為如男方仍在大興花園居住但不需要支付租金給他母親是可以理解的。然而,男方2013年搬離婚姻居所至今,女方一直與女兒居住在大興花園單位,畢竟已接近9年的時間,而男方或女方仍然拒絕支付一分錢的話是說不過去的。即使本席的理解是錯誤的,但本席認為︰

(1)  若真的需要收取租金,但男方從沒有支付過,則何來有多餘的港幣10,000元去支付給女方呢?

(2)  若不需要收取租金,女方及女兒能夠在雙方分居後免費在大興花園單位居住也是支付贍養費的一種形式。

75.男方與女方2011年結婚至2013年分居都是居住在男方母親在大興花園的物業。對於男方2015年與第二答辯人購買位於盈豐園的物業,第二答辯人在其抗辯書中表示她向國內一客戶借取相關款項,而因為與本案無關,所以本席認為毋須節錄,但值得一提的是,雖然法律上男方佔該物業業權75%,而第二答辯人則佔25%,但第二答辯人在其抗辯書中指,男方要求第二答辯人向恒生銀行申請按揭貸款港幣1,630,000元,但卻從來沒有協助還款,所以根據共同意向推定信託 (Common intention constructive trust),第二答辯人在盈豐園物業的實益擁有權為70%。

76.本席認為第二答辯人的說法有多真確要待正審才能定奪,但就現階段而言,因為盈豐園物業是第二答辯人、她與前夫所生的大兒子、她與男方所生的兒子、男方和兩隻狗居住的地方,並非用作收租,所以第二答辯人沒有收入可增加男方的付款能力。

77.至於男方為何會在該命令落實時同意支付港幣33,000元,對此男方指當時還有朗高可以給他調動金錢,還有他的父母及第二答辯人提供協助。

78.鄭律師在結案陳詞中質疑,男方只是在盤問時才突然說出他其中一個申請更改候訊期間贍養費的理由,就是他的父母可能不會繼續支援他。這個說法,呈請人認為只是男方在盤問下編造出來的,因為他事前在該申請的支持誓章中並沒有把這個理由詳細説出,而實際上根本沒有任何證據顯示男方的父母或第二答辯人不會繼續經濟上支援他;反觀來說,男方母親發了一封律師信追討男方從2014年起所拖欠的大興花園單位租金,這才是無私顯見私。因此,呈請人希望法庭不接納男方所指他不會繼續得到其父母、第二答辯人或其他人或公司經濟上支援的說法。

79.本席不認同這論點。女方似乎沒有質疑男方的父母的確在經濟上支持男方,這包括男方父親借了港幣621,120元給男方支付臨時贍養費。至於關係變差是因為這場官司這一說法,本席相信亦理解,原因是女方在庭上作證時也承認:

問:爺爺係咪畀過一年嘅國際學校學費㗎?

答:係,畀過一年嘅。

問:收尾點解佢冇畀呀?

答:爺爺開--同我開咗個條件,就叫我唔好再打呢場官司,佢話如果再咁打落去呢,就唔會畀,咁我就唔--我想堅持番呢場官司,咁所以佢就都真係唔畀囉,所以就咁樣喇。 [18]

80.男方在庭上作證時,也有以下陳述︰

問:其實都講過,以我所知好似--爺爺、嫲嫲上過去叫佢走,你知唔知有呢件事呀?

答:我知道,佢係傾,同佢,但係嗰一次,我老竇急尿急到瀨,佢都係唔畀我阿爸、阿媽(即係業主)入屋嗰度傾,都係喺個門口度開條罅「得喇,下次講喇,下次講喇」,咁呢啲又點講呢?講真,如果唔係因為呢件事,我阿爸、阿媽反應係唔會咁大嘅,我都覺得自己忤逆呀 [19]

81.本席認為男方父母未必會循民事程序去追討男方的欠款,但是他們不再向女方提供金錢上的協助是可以理解的。

82.正如男方在庭上表示︰

問:即係你有一啲比較上富有啲嘅親戚或者女朋友,如果根據你嘅講法,咁點解忽然間冇咗呢?

答:因為呢件事喇,因為都對屋企人嚟講,或者甚至乎對女朋友嚟講,佢覺得呢件事都係一件好漫長,包括我自己都係好煩嘅事,咁所以可能大家嘅關係喺--其實係呢一、兩年嘅事,都變差咗嘅,同埋...

問:你講係邊個同邊個?

答:即係我同屋企、同埋同現時嘅女朋友,其實我而家同現時嘅女朋友,除咗我係個仔嘅老竇之外呢,可能算係有名無實啩,即係個關係係變差嘅。[20]

83.男方在庭上作證時指他並沒有供養第二答辯人和他所生的兒子。

問:即係你嘅證供,就係你女朋友自己都經濟獨立嘅?

答:係呀。

問:即係佢有錢嘅?

答:可以囉,我相信,我唔識講點樣係有錢定係冇錢喇,即係如果比起我嚟講,佢有錢過我喇。

問:鄭律師就係想話你嗰啲錢係你㗎?

答:係呀,我都明呀,但係唔係囉,因為如果你話嗰啲錢係我嘅,係我可以證明到或者大家都證明到個錢,可以「啡」晒落我個袋度嘅,咁我覺得--咁我冇得講㗎嘛,我直頭唔使佢講喇。[21]

84.至於負債方面,鄭律師在結案陳詞中提出︰

(iv)   負債

呈請人重新說明答辯人並未在他任何表格E中列出他有欠任何人的負債。他只是在盤問時才說因為他不懂怎樣填寫及再經法庭多番提醒下,他才把他的債務在他最後一份問卷回答書內列出[B/1109]。現在我們看一看他的負債表。

就有關他向鄔XX先生在2018年4月4日所借的八萬元,若根據他提供的借據說3年清還[B/1109]。他應該已經全部還清了。

就有關他2017年10月12日欠黃XX小姐九萬元,根據他的借據說2年清還[B/1112],他也應該已經全部還清了。

至於他說欠鄧XX先生總數50萬元,根據他在[B/1114及B/1115]的借據,總數只是為20萬元,及[B/1114]與及[B/1115]應該是同一張借據而並非兩張不同的借據。所以法庭也應該不接納他的證供。

85.本席同意鄭律師的說法,因此本席在考慮本案時不接納男方提出的所有欠債,原因是男方並沒有提交任何實質支持證據。

86.然而,本席接納男方並沒有多餘的收入可以繼續支付該命令的贍養費。正如鄭律師在開案陳詞所指,男方於法庭作出該命令時的收入為13644.17元;本席信納男方當時因為有父母和第二答辯人的協助,所以才同意支付港幣33,000元的贍養費。

87.正如上文所作的討論,本席信納男方現時已沒有外來協助。

88.鄭律師另外亦質疑男方逃避回答女方之前在問卷中提出的問題。

89.對此,男方有以下回應︰

問:呢個問咗你都兩--呢個第三次㗎喇,你同唔同意你係冇答過呢個問題㗎?

答:我有同意呀,都係嗰個問題囉,個官話完,識得點做,慢慢開始pick up番啲文件喇,我唔知道原來之前嗰啲都係要再答㗎,因為,但係如果--你而家--所以你問我,我係可以答你嘅。

……

問:呢份嘢,幾年前已經畀你㗎喇?

答:都係嗰句囉,我唔知道幾年前,而家要答番吖嘛,我都係嗰次畀嗰個官鬧完,我先至醒,先至慢慢做、慢慢做,因為真係講真,又要返工、又要「盛」嘅時間好--比較緊絀。同埋再講,當年一個月畀幾萬鈫贍養費,一年燒三十--五六十--四五十萬,自己唔使用咩,乜都用晒喇。

90.本席接納他的解釋。

91.根據男方呈上的《經濟狀況陳述書》[22],他的支出狀況是︰

個人開支

項目 金額($)
外出膳食費用 5,000
交通費 500
服裝/鞋費 0
個人儀容(包括理髮和化妝品) 0
娛樂費/禮物 0
假期消費 500
醫療/牙齒護理費 0
稅款 0
保險費 4,000
中期贍養費 8,000
供養父母 0
供養其他受養家屬 1,000
其他(請說明) 0
個人每月開支總額 港幣$19,000

92.這些數目是可以接受的。但由於男方還有港幣2,000的盈餘,所以本席批准該命令的金額改為10,000元,全數給予女兒。

93.至於女方,她在庭上表示她41歲,中四教育程度,2014年3月前在DIOR 任職銷售員,每月收入港幣30,000元。

94.雖然她表示因為女兒有讀寫障礙,所以需要花多些時間在女兒身上,但本席認為女兒已超過十歲,如果不是疫情關係,女兒的上課時間為早上8時15分至下午3時15分。女方應該尋求經濟獨立;畢竟男方已另組新家庭。

95.基於以上原因,以下是本席的命令:原有命令更改為男方須支付女方10,000元作為女兒的贍養費。

生效時間

96.本席認為男方失去其父母協助是在女方拒絕和解之後,即男方父親拒絕支付雙方女兒的國際學校學費之後,所以命令應由2020年9月起生效。

97.本席並不是因為女方拒絕和解而要懲罰(penalise) 女方,而是因為女方似乎知道男方父母為何拒絕資助男方。

命令

98.該命令的第3及4段更改為男方支付女方港幣10,000元作為女兒贍養費,首次付款2020年9月1日,直至法庭另行命令。

訟費

99.雖然男方勝訴, 但由於是次申請男方沒有律師代表,所以合理的命令是無訟費命令,包括所有是次申請的保留待決訟費。呈請人本身的訟費根據《法律援助規則》評定。

  (黃瑞珊)
  區域法院暫委法官

女方(妻子): 由鄭煥新 蔡秀蓮律師事務所代表

男方(丈夫): 無律師代表,親自行事


[1] 文件冊B848頁。

[2] 文件冊B849-881頁。

[3] 文件冊B984-1029頁, 文件冊B1063-1115頁。

[4] 文件冊B1030-1059頁。

[5] 文件冊A235頁。

[6] 文件冊A762-763頁。

[7] 見謄本第30頁。

[8] 見謄本第25頁。

[9] 見謄本第27頁。

[10] 文件冊B1064頁。

[11] 見謄本第49頁。

[12] 文件冊A763頁。

[13] 文件冊A479頁。

[14] 見謄本第50頁。

[15] 見謄本第51頁。

[16] 文件冊B1050頁

[17] 見謄本第16-17頁。

[18] 見謄本第72-73頁。

[19] 見謄本第64頁。

[20] 見謄本第67頁。

[21] 見謄本第69頁。

[22] 文件冊864頁