吳 對 朱

Read the full judgment text of FCMC 3361/2021 on BabelCite. This Family Court judgment was delivered on 4 August 2023 before 區域法院暫委法官彭家光.

Matrimonial proceedings – Ancillary relief – Asset division – Delay – Breakup agreement – Equal sharing principle – Petitioner aged 80, Respondent aged 81 – Marriage since 1967 – Separation around 1999 – Dispute over 1999 property transfer agreement – Court found no binding agreement but acknowledged intent for support – Respondent sold matrimonial home in 2018 after receiving legal notice – Court found intent to dissipate assets – Petitioner delayed application for 20 years – Court awarded Petitioner 20% of family assets (HK$2,560,000) – Clean break order – No order as to costs

Legal issues: Validity of 1999 Breakup Agreement · Asset Dissipation (5/F Sale Proceeds) · Division of Assets and Delay

Outcome: Respondent to pay Petitioner HK$2,560,000; Clean break; No order as to costs

Cites 4 cases

Case No.FCMC 3361/2021[2023] HKFC 152
Court
Family Court
Date04 Aug 2023
Judge區域法院暫委法官彭家光
Case Document
100%Judiciary

FCMC 3361 / 2021

[2023] HKFC 152

香港特別行政區

區域法院

婚姻訴訟案件編號2021年第3361宗

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呈請人 
   
答辯人 

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主審法官: 區域法院暫委法官彭家光內庭聆訊(非公開)
審訊日期︰ 2023年4月25至27日
答辯人結案陳詞︰ 2023年5月11日
呈請人結案陳詞︰ 2023年5月25日
判決日期︰ 2023年8月4日

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判 案 書
(附屬濟助 )

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1.本席在下文稱呈請人為“男方”,答辯人為“女方”。

背景

2.男方現年80歲。女方現年81歲。在1967年,訴訟雙方在香港公開擺酒結婚。他們共有三名家庭子女。大女兒在1968年出生;兒子在1970出生;小女兒在1973年出生。在1982年,男方以其名下以180,000元購入一個位於東邊街之住宅單位(在下文稱‘4樓’)。在1986年,女方以其名下以70,000元購入一個位於干諾道西之車位(在下文稱‘車位24號’)。在1987年,訴訟雙方聯名以250,000元購入另一個位於東邊街之住宅單位(在下之稱‘5樓連天台’)。在1996年,女方與兒子聯名以4,428,000元的代價購入一個位於衛城道的住宅單位(在下文稱‘2樓B室’)及地下車位(在下文稱車位‘141號’)。首期付款為1,428,000元。女方的說法為女方以積蓄付300,000元,兒子亦用積蓄付250,000元,首期餘款由男方支付。男方的說法為首期付款都是由他支付。購入2樓B室和車位141號後,訴訟雙方以2樓B室為婚姻居所,男方負責每月按揭還款直至2003年。在1999年,男方將其名下於4樓和5樓連天台之業權和利益無償轉讓給女方。

3.在2018年3月,男方將原訟傳票在FCMP 58/2018案下存檔,要求法庭頒令訴訟雙方的新式婚姻存在和受認可。在2018年6月,女方以5,700,000元將5樓連天台出售。在2020年8月11日,根據《婚姻制度改革條例》(第178章)第8條,在FCMP 58/2018案,法庭頒令在1967年舉行的公開儀式為按法律舉行者,訴訟雙方的新式婚姻存在和受認可。

4.在2021年4月,男方以分居2年提交本離婚呈請。在呈請書,男方要求女方將名下下述物業全部業權轉讓予男方,包括︰-

(a)  4樓

(b)  5樓連天台

(c)  車位24號

(d)  2樓B室

(e)  車位141號

5.在2022年8月11日,法庭頒下暫准離婚令。

證據

6.訴訟雙方提交了表格E、問卷、回覆書和誓章。他們都親自作供。男方並沒有傳召證人,女方則傳召了兒子作供。

公開建議

7.在2023年4月11日提交之開案陳詞,男方之公開建議為︰

(1)  將4樓以不少於5,040,000元或訴訟雙方同意的價格出售,淨得作平均分配;

(2)  將車位24號以不少於2,160,000元或訴訟雙方同意的價格出售,淨得作平均分配;

(3)  把女方將5樓連天台出售所得收益5,700,000元,追加回在女方名下的資產內,用作平均分配給訴訟雙方;

(4)  把在婚姻期間男方買給女方之數條鑽石頸鍊、數枚鑽石介子、1隻勞力士18K女裝手錶、1隻勞力士金銀女裝手錶,這些貴重私人物品亦追加在女方的資產內,用作平均分配;

(5)  把女方收起男方之1隻18K金勞力士手錶、1隻鋼勞力士手錶、4枚鑽石介子及1枚結婚介子,這些貴重私人物品亦追加在女方的資產內,用作平均分配;

(6)  清楚了斷;

(7)  女方須付男方附屬濟助事宜的訟費,包括所有保留訟費,連同大律師證書。

8.在正式開審前,男方修訂他的公開建議為女方付男方4,800,000元,訴訟雙方清楚了斷,各自負責自己之訟費。

9.在2023年4月18日之開案陳詞,女方說她的立場是男方本不應該得到任何附屬濟助,但作為和解女方願意向男方支付一筆款額500,000元,作為一個完全及清楚了斷的安排,但男方須支付女方附屬濟助事宜的訟費,包括所有保留的訟費連同大律師證書。

10.在正式開審前,女方提出將她支付男方之一筆款額增加為1,500,000元。女方說,1,500,000元已經是一個非常寬大的建議。因為男方自己說,男方的每月個人開支總額為7,300元,減去男方每月得到的高齡津貼3,715元,男方每月需要生活費為3,585元。男方現齡80歲,12年的生活費只為3,585元×12×12=516,240元。1,500,000元足以應付男方生活費,另男方可有接近1,000,000元作為在本案中的律師費。

11.按訴訟雙方聯合提交的爭論點陳述書,本案主要爭論點包括︰-

(1)  在1999年,男方將4樓及5樓連天台兩個物業轉到女方名下,其目的是否作為訴訟雙方在終止婚姻關係上財務及資產的完全了斷?是否日後各自為政,不得再向對方追討任何金錢或資產?若然答案是已經作出完全了斷,是否法庭則不再需要考慮下列問題。

(2)  若然男方將兩個物業轉到女方名下,並非訴訟雙方在終止婚姻關係上財務及資產的完全了斷︰

(a)  上述兩個物業(其中5樓連天台已出售)是否應撥入家庭財產計算?

(b)  車位24號由誰人出資購買?是否應撥入家庭財產計算?

(c)  是否在1997年,男方將一個位於伊利近街之住宅單位(在下文稱‘16樓B座’)送給一位史女士(下文稱‘史女士’)?當時是否動用了3,700,000元?有關開銷是否應撥回家庭財產計算?

(d)  女方在上述兩個物業所付出的裝修費大廈維修費及天台維修費,是否應撥回家庭支出計算?

(e)  是否應將訴訟雙方所有銀行戶口權益撥入家庭財產計算?

(f)  是否應將訴訟雙方所有投資總值撥入家庭財產計算?

(g)  是否應將女方的退休金總值撥入家庭財產計算?

(h)  男方是否需要向女方還歸還女方所說200,000元欠款?

(i)  男方是否需要向女方歸還,在男方使用兩個物業期間,所欠付的差餉及各項費用?

(j)  訴訟雙方是否有隱瞞資產?女方是否有隱瞞婚姻期間男方買給她的鑽石頸鏈、鑽石戒指、勞力士手錶?

(k)  女方是否有如男方所說,收起男方勞力士手錶、鑽石戒指及結婚戒指?

(l)  訴訟雙方是否擁有收入、謀生能力及其他經濟來源?

(m)  訴訟雙方各自有什麼的經濟需要?

12.在法庭要求澄清下,男方確認他接受女方在2樓B室和車位141號,不佔任何業權和利益,也接受在本案中法庭無須將2樓B室和車位141號納入夫妻財產或女方的個人財產作考慮或作出任何分配。

13.又不論按訴訟任何一方之說法,訴訟雙方已分居多年。經考慮後,訴訟雙方接受各自現有的銀行戶口權益、退休金總值都不撥入夫妻共同財產計算。

《婚姻法律程序與財產條例》

14.在處理附屬濟助申請時,法庭首先要考慮香港法例第192章《婚姻法律程序與財產條例》(在下文稱為“條例”)第7條的條文。本席現將有關的條例節錄如下︰

「7.法庭在決定根據第4、5及6條作出何種命令時須顧及的事宜

(1)  法庭在決定應否就婚姻的一方而根據第4、6或6A條行使權力,以及若行使該等權力則應採取何種方式時,有責任顧及婚姻雙方的行為和案件的所有情況,包括顧及下列事宜 ——

(a)  婚姻雙方各別擁有的或在可預見的將來相當可能擁有的收入、謀生能力、財產及其他經濟來源;

(b)  婚姻雙方各自面對的或在可預見的將來相當可能面對的經濟需要、負擔及責任;

(c)  該家庭在婚姻破裂前所享有的生活水平;

(d)  婚姻雙方各別的年齡和婚姻的持續期;

(e)  婚姻的任何一方在身體上或精神上的無能力;

(f)  婚姻雙方各別為家庭的福利而作出的貢獻,包括由於照料家庭或照顧家人而作出的貢獻;

(g)  如屬離婚或婚姻無效的法律程序,則顧及婚姻的任何一方因婚姻解除或廢止而將會喪失機會獲得的任何利益(例如退休金)的價值。

15.就第7條的運用及有關的法律原則詳列於終審法院LKW v DD (2010)  13 HKCFAR 582 (中譯本)第56至80段。扼要來說,終審法院認同英國案例White v White [2001] 1 AC 596的公平公正的分配原則。終審法庭為附屬濟助申請定下5個步驟︰

(1)  辨清資產;

(2)  評估雙方的經濟需要;

(3)  決定運用平等分享原則;

(4)  考慮有沒有充分理由不作出平等分配;

(5)  決定分配結果。  

討論

16.本案一個主要爭論點為,是否在1999年訴訟雙方有女方所說之“分手協議”?

17.女方說,在婚姻期間,男方每晚在外花天酒地搵女人,將女方及子女留在家中從未盡過做丈夫的責任。在1997年,女方發現男方與史女士勾搭上。女方說,她又發現於1997年7月,男方在史女士名下以3,700,000元購入16樓B室送給史女士。史女士亦為男方誕下一名兒子。女方說,因男方婚外情一事,她服毒自殺,後經搶救檢回性命。女方多次要求男方弄清楚他們之間的關係,作出一個了斷,男方提出將4樓及5樓連天台轉讓給女方,條件是女方不得干涉男方與史女方同居,亦不能再向男方追討男方對女方之欠款200,000元,更不能在日後再向男方索取其他財產。女方接受男方提出的條件。在1999年,男方將4樓及5樓連天台分別轉讓到女方的名下。女方說,這一個安排是男方雙方關係的一個了斷,雙方都明白日後各自有各、互不拖欠、在財務上各自為政,日後不得再向對方追討任何金錢或資產。女方說,分手後男方再沒有向女方支付生活費用,女方亦沒有向男方索取生活費。女方說,早在轉讓兩個物業前,雙方已分房而睡,沒有一齊吃飯,視對方為陌路人。在分手協議及轉讓兩個物業之後,男方再沒有在2樓B室過夜。在2000年一個晚上,發生男方強迫女方和他做愛的事件,女方拒絕並鎖上房門,男方卻大叫大嚷,並且作出流氓的行為,向街外大叫侮辱女方的言語。之後,男方甚少回到2樓B室,數月後更將所有私人物品搬走。

18.兒子說,記得小時候,全都是女方在照顧他們三姊弟妹,男方甚少照顧他們,亦常常不在家,男方對女方的態度亦非常差,漠不關心。由大約1990年至1995年,兒子到加拿大升學。在1996年兒子回來香港。他說,當時父親答應“送間樓連埋車位俾佢”,又吩咐他唔好返加拿大,女方也贊成,於是他答應留在香港。因為兒子收入有限,個人申請按揭可能會遇到因難,女方持有物業,所以女方與兒子聯名購入2樓B室及地下車位141號,首期1,428,000元。兒子支持女方的說法,就是女方出資300,000元,兒子也付了250,000元作為首期,樓價餘款由按揭貸款支付,男方答應負責每月按揭還款。兒子又說,父親與史女士有婚外情,史女士為他生子一個孩子,與及父親在1997年買了16樓B座送給史女士一事,家中個個都知道,女方亦曾經因這一件事自殺。兒子又支持女方的說法,就是在1999年訴訟雙方作出了斷,男方將4樓及5樓連天台轉到女方名下,作為了斷雙方關係的代價,從那時起,訴訟雙方各自為政,各有各的生活,已再沒有視對方為夫妻,男方亦搬往與史女士同居,甚少回到他們的家中。

19.男方否認女方所說的“分手協議”。男方說,在1999年他把名下於4樓和5樓連天台的業權和利益轉讓與女方,這是因為當時女方發現男方有婚外情,訴訟雙方的關係變差,男方希望透過把名下的物業轉讓與女方,能令她安心,令她不用擔心男方把財產給予別人,來幫助重建對他們婚姻的信任。男方說,在1999年男方將兩個物業轉讓給女方之後,男方繼續使用兩個物業,用來經營魚翅海味生意。男方說,由1999年至2008年,訴訟雙方仍同居於2樓B室,每天會到酒樓飲早茶,晚上到酒家吃晚飯,然後回家。訴訟雙方亦經常到文娛中心看粵曲演唱會。在家中同枱吃飯,同床共枕,女方亦會幫男方洗衣服及做家務。直至2008年11月,男方搬離2樓B室,他才與女方分居。男方說,在此以前,他從未在史女士家中過夜。男方說,按女方所說,女方可以取得所有的家庭財產,但男方卻無法取得任何一項物業,男方當時沒有其他財產,根本不可能會跟女方定下這麼不公平及對男方完全不利的協議。

20.就訴訟雙方以上所說,本席有以下之考慮︰-

(1)  男方說,在 2008年以前他每晚都回2樓B室與女方過夜,訴訟雙方恩愛如昔,一同飲早茶、聽粵曲、一同吃飯、同床共枕。並無爭議,由1997年起男方與史女士有婚外情,育有一名兒子。也無爭議 ,女方經常因婚外情責罵男方,又曾因婚外情自殺入院。對男方的說法,從情理上考慮,本席認為並不可信。經小心考慮全部證據後,本席接受女方及兒子所說,在大約1999年後,訴訟雙方已經分居,不接受男方所說,直至2008年11月訴訟雙方才分居的說法。

(2)  按以上的裁斷,本席也並不接受男方所說,他將名下於4樓及5樓連天台的權益轉讓女方是用以重建訴訟雙方之婚姻關係之說法。

(3)  男方否認女方所說,當年訴訟雙方有協議,此後互不相干,日後在財政上各自為政,也不得向對方追討任何金錢和資產。並無爭議,在訴訟雙方分居後,男方仍繼續負責2樓B室和141車位之每月按揭供款,女方和兒子仍在2樓B室居住,男方又仍免租佔用4樓和5樓連天台,本席認為這些不爭議的事實,都與女方以上所說訴訟雙方已在金錢和資產上清楚了斷的說法並不相符。經小心考慮以上各點後,本席不接受女方所說訴訟雙方已有清楚了斷的口頭協議的說法。

(4)  從情理上考慮,本席認為當年男方和女方分手時,將4樓和5樓連天台轉讓給女方,這是讓在訴訟雙方分居後,女方和三名家庭子女日後的生活有所依靠。

(5)  男方說,男方不可能會將當時全部財產轉讓給女方。對於男方以上的說法,本席有保留。首先,並無爭議也不容爭議,當時男方經營魚翅海味生意,收入甚豐,每月達10萬至20萬。按當年轉讓文書所寫,4樓和5樓連天台之轉讓代價分別只是96萬和45萬共141萬(女方從未支付),這對男方來說,只是數個月之收入。又以男方之豐厚收入的背景來衡量,在當年,男方是否除4樓及5樓連天台以外另有資產,對此本席存疑。又不容爭議,多年來男方並沒有向女方追討或要求攤分4樓和5樓連天台,男方說他是已經耗盡了所有積蓄,難以繼續維持生活下才向女方作出本申請。本席認為這可見在過去多年來,男方有其資產和收入可用作應付生活開支。

(6)  男方否認女方所說,自分居後,男方便沒有付女方生活費。從情理上考慮,既然訴訟雙方已分居,男方又將其名下4樓和5樓連天台的權益轉讓女方,在分居後男方停止向女方支付生活費的機會頗大。在過去,男方負責4樓和5樓連天台之差餉付款。在1999年,將上述兩個物業轉讓女方後,男方隨即停止支付差餉。在2001年11月,政府在小額錢債審裁處取得3份欠交差餉的判決,並在2002年11月14日,取得針對4樓和5樓連天台的押記令,後來由女方清還所欠款項、利息、及訟費。及後4樓及5樓連天台接到政府屋宇署發出的維修令,及5樓天台漏水,兩個單位裝修費、大廈維修費、天台維修費超過450,000元,都是女方支付。本席認為以上事例,也可見分居後,男方已停止替女方支付日常生活開支。女方又說,雖然男方在庭上說,他支付女方家用至2008年,但在其誓章,男方只是說他在80年代至90年代付家用每月10,000元[1],卻並沒有提及在2000年後有向女方付生活費每月10,000元,或至2003年之後,減為每月5,000元,直至2008年等說法。早於2021年8月5日存檔的表格E,女方已指出,在女方多次要求男方斷絕與史女士之往來遭男方拒絕後,男方拒絕付家用給女方。本席接受,若男方不同意以上的說法,不會不在誓章中,加以回應或澄清。經小心考慮以上各點後,本席接受女方所說,在分居後男方便沒有付家用給女方。

21.雖然本席不接受女方所說訴訟雙方有一個清楚了斷的分手協議,但本席接受訴訟雙方在1999年分居同時約定,男方將4樓及5樓連天台轉讓給女方,作為女方日後生活的依靠。換言之,當時訴訟雙方對此安排的意圖,應是男方並不打算在日後向女方要求取回。現在法庭是否應執行這一點安排呢?

22.就有關家事法庭處理涉及婚前協議和分居協議的適用法律原則,女方引用SPH v SA [2014] 3 HKLRD 497,FACV 22/2013一案,終審法院以下之討論︰

32.  In Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42, [2011] 1 A.C. 534 a wealthy German heiress entered into an ante-nuptial agreement with her prospective husband, who was French.  The agreement was subject to German law and provided (inter alia)  for separation of property and also for a waiver of claims of maintenance on termination of the marriage.  When the marriage broke down, the husband, despite the terms of the agreement, brought a claim for ancillary relief, seeking an order for a lump sum and periodical payments. The UK Supreme Court decided that, although it was the court and not any prior agreement between the parties which would determine the appropriate ancillary relief when a marriage came to an end, the rule that agreements providing for the future separation of the parties to a marriage were contrary to public policy was obsolete and no longer applied; the court should give weight to an agreement, made between a couple prior to and in contemplation of their marriage, as to the manner in which their financial affairs should be regulated in the event of their separation in circumstances where it was fair to do so; in appropriate circumstances, the court could hold the parties to the agreement even when the result would be different from that which the court would otherwise have ordered; on an application for ancillary relief the court should apply the same principles when considering ante-nuptial agreements as it applied to post-nuptial agreements.

33.  In particular, an agreement would carry full weight only if each party had entered into it of his or her own free will, without undue influence or pressure, having all the information material to his or her decision to enter into the agreement and intending that it should be effective to govern the financial consequences of the marriage coming to an end; and the court should give effect to an agreement which was freely entered into by each party with a full appreciation of its implications unless in the circumstances prevailing it would not be fair to hold the parties to the agreement. Enforcement of the agreement could be rendered unfair by the occurrence of contingencies unforeseen at the time of the agreement or where, in the circumstances prevailing at the time of separation, one partner would be left in a predicament of real need while the other enjoyed a sufficiency.

34.  The particular matters which were stressed by the Supreme Court were these.  The court when considering the grant of ancillary relief was not obliged to give effect to nuptial agreements—whether they were ante-nuptial or post-nuptial.  The parties could not, by agreement, oust the jurisdiction of the court.  The court must, however, give appropriate weight to such an agreement.  But it was the court, and not any prior agreement between the parties, that would determine the appropriate ancillary relief when a marriage came to an end, for that principle was embodied in the legislation. [2], [7].

35.  The Supreme Court said:

“68 If an ante-nuptial agreement, or indeed a post-nuptial agreement, is to carry full weight, both the husband and wife must enter into it of their own free will, without undue influence or pressure, and informed of its implications. …

69 … the Court of Appeal was correct in principle to ask whether there was any material lack of disclosure, information or advice. Sound legal advice is obviously desirable, for this will ensure that a party understands the implications of the agreement, and full disclosure of any assets owned by the other party may be necessary to ensure this. But if it is clear that a party is fully aware of the implications of an ante-nuptial agreement and indifferent to detailed particulars of the other party's assets, there is no need to accord the agreement reduced weight because he or she is unaware of those particulars. What is important is that each party should have all the information that is material to his or her decision, and that each party should intend that the agreement should govern the financial consequences of the marriage coming to an end.

71 … The first question will be whether any of the standard vitiating factors: duress, fraud or misrepresentation, is present. Even if the agreement does not have contractual force, those factors will negate any effect the agreement might otherwise have. But unconscionable conduct such as undue pressure (falling short of duress)  will also be likely to eliminate the weight to be attached to the agreement, and other unworthy conduct, such as exploitation of a dominant position to secure an unfair advantage, would reduce or eliminate it.

72 The court may take into account a party's emotional state, and what pressures he or she was under to agree. But that again cannot be considered in isolation from what would have happened had he or she not been under those pressures. The circumstances of the parties at the time of the agreement will be relevant. Those will include such matters as their age and maturity, whether either or both had been married or been in long-term relationships before. For such couples their experience of previous relationships may explain the terms of the agreement, and may also show what they foresaw when they entered into the agreement. What may not be easily foreseeable for less mature couples may well be in contemplation of more mature couples. Another important factor may be whether the marriage would have gone ahead without an agreement, or without the terms which had been agreed. This may cut either way.

73 If the terms of the agreement are unfair from the start, this will reduce its weight, although this question will be subsumed in practice in the question of whether the agreement operates unfairly having regard to the circumstances prevailing at the time of the breakdown of the marriage.”

39.  There have been signs of approval of Radmacher v Granatino in this court in LKW v DD [2010] HKEC 1727, (2010)  13 HKCFAR 537 (per Ribeiro PJ at [53], [105], obiter since the appeal did not concern an ante-nuptial agreement).  In the view of this court, the principles enunciated in Radmacher v Granatino should also be regarded as the law in Hong Kong. In common with the UK Supreme Court, we see no reason for distinguishing between ante-nuptial agreements and separation agreements.

40.  As we have said, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal has already accepted in L v C [2007] 3 HKLRD 819 that the old rule that agreements providing for future separation are contrary to public policy is obsolete, and we endorse its judgment. We agree with the UK Supreme Court that this should not be restricted to separation agreements. None of the supposed distinctions between them can any longer be supported, although we accept that there may be circumstances where it is appropriate to distinguish between an ante-nuptial and a separation agreement. As the UK Supreme Court said (at [61])  the circumstances surrounding the agreement may be very different dependent on the stage of the couple's life together at which it is concluded, but it is not right to proceed on the premise that there will always be a significant difference between an ante-nuptial agreement and a separation agreement.

23.在所說的分手協議的討論和訂立的時候,男方並沒有得到獨立的法律意見,訴訟雙方也並沒有完全地各自地披露自己的經濟狀況。女方說,既然當年訴訟雙方都覺得沒有索取獨立法律意見的需要,又是自願地達成協議,再加上在當年明顯地男方更有經濟實力,處於上風,所以並不存在對男方任何不公平的情況。

24.對於女方以上的說法,本席有以下之看法︰-

(1)  並無證據,訴訟雙方當時明白,他們各自在附屬濟助上應有之權利。所以,在當年他們並無尋求獨立之法律意見,這是一個重要之考慮;

(2)  女方自己的案情是女方持家有道,開源多謀,存有私己積蓄。又女方父親去世時遺下100,000元給女方,其母親去世時遺下約150,000元給女方。所以,對於訴訟雙方所說他們當時的經濟狀況,本席均有所保留。因此,在當年訴訟雙方沒有完全地披露各自的財政狀況,這應是另一個重要的考慮;

(3)  根據以上各點考慮,本席不打算執行男方不會向女方要求攤分4樓或5樓連天台之安排。

25.就男方現在的附屬濟助要求,本席在以下會按LKW v DDSPH V SA等案的指引作出討論。

辨清資產

26.按上文的考慮,本席將4樓算為家庭資產。訴訟雙方同意4樓之市值為5,040,000元。

27.在2018年6月,女方以5,700,000將5樓連天台出售。男方指女方出售物業,是意圖令男方的申索失敗。對此,女方否認。

28.就女方的說法,本席有以下之看法︰-

(1)  女方說 ,她並沒有收到男方代表律師2018年1月15日或2018年10月16日的信件。兒子作供說,他從信箱收取了兩封信,覺得內容無稽,不用理會,所以將信件棄掉,並沒有交給女方。在第一封信,男方要求與女方補辦結婚登記手續;在第二封信更要求女方將5樓連天台轉讓給男方。這些信件的內容,不但絕非無稽,更涉及女方重大利益。本席認為從情理上考慮,兒子不會不將律師來信交給女方。經小心考慮以上各點後,本席不相信女方及兒子這一點證供。本席認為女方已在適時收到男方的律師信。

(2)  雖然在2018年1月的律師信中,並沒有提及財產的申索,但相信女方應會就律師信的內容尋求法律意見,隨之也很可能會知道男方很可能打算與女方離婚及作出附屬濟助要求。

(3)  女方說,她將5樓連天台出售的主要原因為當時她須進行子宮手術,有一定危險,所以將物業變現並將所得其中4百萬交給兒子和小女兒。女方進行子宮手術,所花費用只為約4萬,女方並無將物業變現的經濟需要。

(4)  女方說,就將5樓連天台出售後所得之款項︰-

(1)  由2018年至2020年中,她用去其中600,000元;

(2)  500,000元用於股票投機;

(3)  4,000,000元給了兒子和小女兒。

(5)  女方並無交代究竟她是怎樣使用上述600,000元之詳情,所以本席不接受這個說法。女方現有股票投資價值395,267元,本席接受這便是所說500,000元股票投機的餘款。在2021年底,女方做了換膝蓋之手術花了400,000元,但這已是在2021年底之事。

(6)  本席也認為,就將淨得其中4百萬交給兒子和小女兒一事,女方未能作出合理之解釋。

(7)  在2018年1月,女方收到男方律師信。在2018年3月28日。男方代表律師更將FCMP 58/2018 案之原訟傳票以放入2樓B室之信箱方式送達女方。在2018年5月7日,女方親自行事出席第1次提訊。在2018年6月,女方便以5,700,000元將5樓連天台出售。本席認為,這應絕非巧合之事。本席相信,女方將5樓連天台出售,又將所得款項之大部份給予兒子和小女兒,這是意圖轉移資產,令男方打算提出之附屬濟助申索失敗。

(8)  經小心考慮以上各點,本席將女方出售5樓連天台所得算為家庭財產。訴訟雙方都並無提交證據說明出售的費用和開支之金額,在這樣的情況下,本席算其為不多於100,000元之數。

29.女方說,她以私己錢出資購入車位24號作為個人投資,又一直由她收取租金,所以反對將車位24號算為家庭財產。男方否認女方有私人儲蓄或有父母遺產之說法。他說,購入車位24號都是男方之資金。

30.女方交代了其父生前是跌打師傅,其母生前在街頭做小生意,本席相信其父母略有積蓄的說法。又並無爭議,在1978年女方將一個位於北角的單位出售並有所收益。從本案的不容爭議背景來看,本席接受女方持家有道,勤儉為人的說法。又從女方有買賣物業的經驗看來,女方所說她是聽從一名醫生朋友和一名髮型師朋友的建議,買入車位24號作為投資,這也是可信者。經小心考慮以上各點,本席接受女方所說,她以私己錢購入車位24號作投資的說法。

31.資產的來源可以是一個在辨清資產時,將某項資產不包括在分享原則裡的理由。但如在前述LKW v DD案,終審法庭說︰

92.  然而,有另一個重要因素對上述因素有影響,這就是婚姻的持續期,即第7(1)(d)條提到的因素。Hale勳爵指出:“資產來源的重要性會隨着時間的過去而淡化”。Hale勳爵解釋說:

“當家庭裡各成員之間人際上和經濟上的互相倚賴越來越多,要分清楚甚麼東西從甚麼地方來便越來越難。”

93.  因此,如果是一段短暫的婚姻,法庭很可能傾向於把其中一方在結婚前得到的資產,或者在婚姻期間從完全和婚姻無關的來源得到的資產當作可以不包括在分享原則裡的非婚姻財產。但是,如果婚姻經歷了長時間,這些因素的分量便很可能大大減少。

32.在1967年,訴訟雙方擺酒結婚,此後共同生活。在1986年,女方以其名下以70,000元購入車位24號。至1999年,訴訟雙方分居。由結婚至分居,婚姻持續期超過30年,車位也是在期間購入。訴訟雙方的婚姻持續期絕非短暫。本席認為,不論在當年購入車位24號的資金來源自女方或男方,車位24號應算為家庭資產。

33.男方說,女方隱瞞,在婚姻期間男方送給女方數條鑽石頸鏈、數枚鑽石戒指、一隻勞力士18K女裝手錶、一隻勞力士金銀女裝手錶、又收起男方一隻18K金勞力士手錶、一隻鋼勞力士手錶、四枚鑽石戒指及一隻結婚戒指。女方否認男方所說送給女方之貴重個人物品,也否認有收起男方之個人物品。除個人之供詞外,男方不能提供任何客觀之證據他曾送女方所說之貴重個人物品。本席認為男方不能成功舉證他這一點說法,也不予以接受。就男方個人貴重物品,雖然男方有其說法,本席認為,在分居時,從常理來說,男方不會不取回所說之貴重物品。經小心考慮所有證供後,本席也不接受男方這一方面的說法。

34.作一小結,家庭資產包括4樓,市值為5,040,000元,出售5樓連天台淨得5,600,000元及車位24號,雙方同意市值為2,160,000元以上共為12,800,000元。

男方的經濟需要

35.男方現年80歲。在婚姻期間,男方經營海味魚翅店,至2003年,因沙士生意一落千丈,在2005年(或2006年)結業。男方說,在其後兩年,他當的士司機。由2011年至2015年,他是餐飲集團餐飲店的顧問。在2016年,男方退休。從那時起,依靠積蓄過活。至2017年底已耗盡了所有積蓄。

36.按2021年5月31日之表格E,除高齡津貼每月3,715元以外,男方並無收入。他填報之每月開支如下︰-

一般開支
項目 金額$
公共設施雜費 100
100
個人開支
外出膳食費用 6,000
交通費 100
服裝/鞋費 600
個人儀容(包括理髮和化妝品) 100
娛樂費/禮物 400
7,200

37.現男方與史女士同居於史女士為登記租客之公屋單位,他並沒有租金開支。針對男方填報之外出膳食費用每月6,000元,女方認為奢侈。她說,每天150元即每月4,500為合理金額。女方同意男方所填報之其他開支。本席認為,平均每天出外膳食費用200元並非不合理。本席接受男方之每月總開支為7,300元。

女方的經濟需要

38.女方完成中學二年級。年少時曾經投考女警及在學校做書記及打理校務工作,晚上兼職。在男方停止支付家用後,女方曾經在一所麻雀館做煮飯工作,亦曾成為一個家庭的小孩保姆,亦有教太極作為兼職。此外,女方有租金收入。女方現年81歲,早已停止工作。

39.按日期為2021年8月5日之表格E,女方從4樓和車位24號有租金收入分別每月11,000元和4,300元。作供時女方說,現4樓之租金只為每月9,000元。她另有高齡津貼每月3,715元。除上述收入外,她沒有其他收入。女方與兒子同住2樓B室,並無租金等一般開支。她填報的每月個人開支如下︰-

個人開支
項目 金額$
外出膳食費用 8,000
交通費 6,000
服裝/鞋費 4,000
個人儀容 200
娛樂費/禮物 1,000
假期消費 1,000
醫療/牙齒護理費 4,000
給兒子 6,000
30,200

40.男方同意女方填報之個人儀容、娛樂費/禮物及假期消費,共每月2,200元。但他對女方其他填報的項目都並不同意。就這些有爭議的項目,本席在下文作討論。

外出膳食費用

41.女方說,她常和子女外出膳食,也常由她付款。兒子已自立及有不錯之工作收入,兩名女兒已婚又並非同住。本席接受,女方之合理外出膳食費用應與男方相若,即為每月6,000元。

交通費

42.女方說,她的腳不好,不方便乘巴士出入,所以常以的士代步。女方曾做換膝蓋手術。本席接受女方以的士代步。雖然如此,本席認為平均每天200元的士費為過份。本席接受,每天平均100元即每月3,000元。

服裝/鞋費

43.女方說,她穿矯形鞋每對千多元。雖然如此,相信女方不需要每個月買多對矯形鞋。女方沒有工作,無須花費在服裝打扮上。本席接受合理金額為每月2,000元。

醫療/牙齒護理費

44.多年來,女方使用政府醫院服務,花費不多。但女方說,此外她有看中醫物理治療、每次收費1,000元。女方年紀不少,各種醫療及牙齒護理相關的費用相信也不能少。本席接受,每月4,000元為合理。

給兒子

45.本席接受,女方無須每月付款給兒子,也剔除此項費用。

46.換言之,女方之每月開支總額為17,200元。

47.從以上可見,家庭資產足以滿足訴訟雙方之經濟需要並有餘。常任法官李義在判詞第74段指出︰-

「74. 第二步是法庭評估雙方的經濟需要。如上文所述,法庭考慮第7條所述各事項時,通常到這一步便停止,因為總資產可能不夠使法庭進展到下一步,或者甚至不夠滿足雙方的需要。如果是這樣,便沒有條件運用任何分享原則。舉例來說,要照顧妻子和子女的需要可能已經立即佔去多過一半總資產。在此情況下,“需要”,就因沒有任何其他選擇,便成為決定性因素。如果只有少量資產,或許不可以有“清楚了斷”,而可能需要法庭作出定期付款命令。」

48.本席在下文繼續就是否運用平等分享原則,即在LKW v DD 終審法庭定下的第(3)及第(4)個步驟作討論。

運用平等分享原則

考慮是否有良好理由偏離

49.女方說,在接手經營海味魚翅店後,男方每晚在外花天酒地揾女人,將女方及家庭子女留在家中,未盡過做丈夫的責任。後來,因男方搭上史女士,訴訟雙方達成分手協議,男方日後不得再向女方追討金錢或資產,所以法庭應拒絕男方現在之附屬濟助要求。兒子的證供也是小時候,男方甚少照顧三名子女,常常不在家,對女方也漠不關心。

50.在前文,本席決定不會執行男方不會向女方要求取回4樓或5樓連天台的安排。

51.本席相信男方是忙於經營生意,經常在外應酬娛樂。訴訟雙方的婚姻持續期長達數十年,婚後男方是家庭經濟支柱,涉案的物業也是在婚姻期間購入。也不容爭議,多年來在經濟上,男方對女方和家庭子女在經濟上之支持,可以說是充足的。譬如,兩名子女在加拿大讀書,男方每年付20多萬加元的學費及生活費,替兒子及小女兒購買汽車每人150,000元,支付2樓B室首期百多萬元及裝修費幾十萬元,又支付2樓B室由在1996年購入後之按揭還款每月30,900元,直至2003年沙士,海味魚翅生意收入大減才停止。女方在家主理家務照顧兒女,男方在外工作供養家庭。本席認為,訴訟雙方對家庭福利都有相當之貢獻,運用平等分享原則作為起步點,這是無可厚非的。

52.女方說,如果法庭打算判給男方任何附屬濟助,女方要求法庭考慮以下事件並將涉及之款項撥回家庭財產計算︰-

(i)  男方當年欠女方的200,000元債項。

(ii)  男方用作購買16樓B室的款項及/或出售物業的利益。

(iii)  女方因男方沒有支付差餉,在DCMP 2064/2000案付24,399.80元,及小額錢債審裁處案付12,620.23元。

(iv)  兩個東邊街物業的大廈維修費、天台維修費及裝修費450,000元。

53.又女方要求法庭考慮以下訴訟雙方的行為︰

(a)  男方與史女士在一起並生了一個孩子,現時仍然與史女士同居。

(b)  在搭上史女士之後,在1997年男方用自己財力為史女士購入物業,對物業出售後的收益隻字不提。

(c)  在分居後,停止向女方支付家用,男方獨資經營海味魚翅生意,每月賺取可觀的收入,與史女士過著豪華的生活。

(d)  在男方停止支付每月生活費後,女方為了不影響子女生活,曾經在麻雀館做煮飯工作、為一個家庭的小孩作保姆、及晚上教太極作兼職。女方多年來辛勤工作、節儉、及生活樸素才可以保住財產及物業。

(e)  男方的行為曾引致女方自殺,女方檢回生命後精神大受打擊,有一段時間需要接受精神科醫生治療,每晚須服食安眠藥,之後加入教會方能重新振作,渡過難關,重回平靜生活。

(f)  經過多年,在散盡自己家財後,男方突然向女方提出離婚及附屬濟助申請。

54.男方說,在1997年,史女士以其名下購入16樓B座,首期付款和以後的按揭供款,都由史女士在內地做生意的家人資助,男方並沒有付分文。男方說,雖然史女士在酒樓工作,月入在20,000元以下,但史女士在國內的爸爸是生意人,所以有能力資助史女士購入16樓B室。在2006年,史女士將16樓B室,以2,780,000元出售,虧了大約1百萬。男方說,據他所知當時史女士之爸爸的財務狀況不理想,史女士也因經濟需要所以無奈將16樓B室蝕讓。現史女士住公屋單位。女方說,所有用以購入16樓B室之首期付款及按揭供款,都是由男方負責的,也要法庭將這一點加以考慮,但就其說法,女方無法提供可信的支持證據。史女士以個人名下購入16樓B室,若女方說實質上史女士並非付款人,女方有舉證責任。經小心考慮以上各點,本席認為女方未能成功舉證她以上這一點說法,也不予以接受。

55.男方與史女士在1996年誕下一名兒子,兒子在香港完成大學學士課程,之後又到瑞士進修,但男方說他從未支付過一分一毫養育及教育兒子,有關費用全是史女士和她的家人支付。無疑地作為父親男方有供養兒子的責任,事實上他為幾名家庭子女付巨額的海外教育費用。又史女士在酒樓工作,並無爭議其月入在20,000元以下,除16樓B室以外,並無證據史女士曾經持有其他貴重之資產。但按男方所說,史女士的家人有資助史女士之開支。也並無爭議,在2003年以後,男方之海味魚翅生意大不如前,更在2005年或2006年結束營業,男方是否仍有能力日後在經濟上支持其非婚生兒子到海外升學,這是一個不小的疑問。在結束海味魚翅生意後,男方仍有工作和收入,直至退休。多年來,男方與史女士和非婚生兒子同住。在情理上,對男方所說未付一份一毫的說法,本席認為,也不能全盤接受。但事實上男方在經濟上有多少付出,又如有的話這些付出是否屬不合理而應撥回,對此女方有舉證責任,現在來說是無從稽考,也難以如女方所要求作出撥回。

56.女方說,在婚姻期間,過年時,男方會向女方借款用作現金週轉。在2009年,訴訟雙方討論所說分手協議時,男方欠女方200,000元。男方否認有女方所說借款之事。男方經營海味魚翅生意,女方所說過年男方需要現金週轉,應是一個可信的說法。又本席接受女方有所說私己錢的說法。經小心考慮以上各點,本席接受女方有借款200,000元給男方的說法。又女方說,她付清了當年差餉欠款,利息及訟費共3萬多元。女方說,當時男方使用4樓和5樓連天台,這些差餉欠款、利息及訟費應由男方負責。又後來女方所付物業單位裝修,大廈公共維修費用共45萬。本席接受,法庭在作出一個怎樣的附屬濟助命令時,應將以上各點加以考慮。

57.女方又說,法庭在考慮應否偏離公平分配的原則時,延誤申請離婚及附屬濟助是一個非常重要的考慮因素。

58.有關延誤申請 ,女方引用了LSM v CMP,FCMC 7040/2011 (2014年9月19日)案,其中法庭有以下之討論︰

Whether there are Good Reasons for Departing from Equal Division

211.  The family court has an inquisitorial role.  In my view, a very important factor that must be taken into account is the delay of the parties in the present ancillary proceedings. As for the effect of the delay, again in Rossi v Rossisupra, where there was undue delay on the part of the husband in pursuing his ancillary relief claim, Mr Mostyn QC, as the Deputy Judge of the English High Court, said:-

25.  In some cases delay will receive at least some reflection by the characterisation of assets acquired after separation as non-matrimonial. But as I have tried to explain above, this is by no means an invariable consequence. The question is whether delay per se should be reflected in the exercise of the discretion.

26.  In Jackson's Matrimonial Finance and Taxation (7th Edition)  at Paragraph 5.7 it is stated:

Whatever the length of the marriage, a claim may fail if it is left dormant for too long, in which case one factor may be that the husband's assets have been built up with another woman. It has been said that after a long lapse of time a party to a marriage should be entitled to take the view that there would be no revival or initiation of financial claims against him; the longer the lapse of time the more secure he should feel in the rearrangement of his financial affairs and the less should any claim be encouraged or entertained.

27.  The authorities for these propositions are all very old: Foster v Foster (1977)  7 Fam Law 112, Chambers v Chambers (1979)  1 FLR 10 and Fraser v Fraser (1981)  3 FLR 98. I consider them to have equal validity in the post-White era.

28.  These propositions were foreshadowed in the even earlier case of Chaterjee v Chaterjee [1976] Fam 199 where Ormrod LJ stated:

Delay, if it really is delay in the sense of prejudicing the other party, may have an important influence on the justice of the case. So may conduct which can be described as "lulling" the other party into the belief that all claims have already been dealt with. Similarly it may be unjust to interfere with property rights after a lapse of a reasonable and proper manner in the belief that the financial consequences of the divorce have been settled.

29.  A vivid example of the vice of delay is the decision of Booth J in D v W (Application for Financial Provision: Effect of Delay) [1984] 14 Fam Law 152. There the delay was 6 years and the parties were found equally responsible for it. That aside the applicant wife had a meritful claim. She was seeking to recover the value of her half share of the former matrimonial home. That half share was worth £14,000. On that basis she would waive the £2,000 unpaid periodical payments that H owed her. Booth J stated:

There are certain detrimental consequences of delay. The first is that delay engenders bitterness and hostility between the parties which is detrimental to the whole fairly and, in particular, to any children of the family. The husband in this case is aggrieved at the attack that is now made upon the home in which he has been living for the past 10 years. The wife, on the other hand, feels deprived of her money and the right to live there. The delay inevitably increases costs. It leads to a multiplicity of affidavits which are filed in order to deal with the ever-changing position of each of the parties. Inevitably, it lead to an exchange of correspondence over a protracted period between solicitors and, no doubt, also leads to attendance of the parties upon the solicitors. And all those matters adds up in costs.

Further, with the change in property values and with inflation as it is in our present economic situation, as well as with the changes in the parties' own situation and the commitments they take upon themselves, the whole case can be materially altered, and the ability of the parties to cope with any orders that the court might otherwise properly have made upon the merits of a case may be put in jeopardy. Indeed, delay can put the court in the simple position of not being able to do justice between the parties according to the merits of each case. Unless it can be clearly shown that one party bears the greater responsibility for the delay that does the other, the court may be left with no alternative but to make an order which does not reflect the merits of the case.

In the result Booth J felt that all she could do was to award the wife a mere £2,500 (inclusive of the arrears of maintenance). I would emphasise the risk of injustice that is caused by delay. The longer the time that passes the more likely it is that documents will disappear and memories cloud with the result that there is a greatly enhanced risk of the court rendering imperfect justice.

30.  Almost every other field of civil litigation has statutory anti-delay measures in the form of limitation periods. Even where limitation periods do not exist the equitable of doctrine of laches may apply to debar a delayed claim. Limitation periods and the doctrine of laches embody the public policy consideration expressed by Wood J in Chambers namely that the longer the lapse of time the more confident a party should be that no claim will be initiated against him, and the more secure he should feel that his financial structures will not be disturbed. It seems to me that there is no substantive difference between the dicta in Chaterjee and Chambers and the oft-quoted formulation of the doctrine of laches by Sir Barnes Peacock (later Lord Selborne)  in Lindsay Petroleum Company v Hurd (1873)  5 App Cases 221 at 239:

Now the doctrine of laches in Courts of Equity is not an arbitrary or a technical doctrine. Where it would be practically unjust to give a remedy, either because the party has, by his conduct, done that which might fairly be regarded as a waiver of it, or where by his conduct and neglect he has, though perhaps not waiving that remedy, yet put the other party in a situation in which it would not be reasonable to place him if the remedy were afterwards to be asserted, in either of these cases, lapse of time and delay are most material. But in every case, if an argument against relief, which otherwise would be just, is founded upon mere delay, that delay of course not amounting to a bar by any statute of limitations, the validity of that defence must be tried upon principles substantially equitable. Two circumstances, always important in such cases are the length of the delay and the nature of the acts done during the interval, which might affect either party and cause a balance of justice or injustice in taking one course or the other, so far as relates to the remedy.

31.  Of course there can be no question of implying an actual limitation period into the law of ancillary relief (Twiname v Twiname [1992] 1 FLR 29). It is simply a question of how delay should be treated in the exercise of the statutory discretion.

32.  While of course no rigid rule can be expressed for the infinite variety of facts that arise in ancillary relief cases I would have thought, generally speaking, that it would be very difficult for a party to be allowed successfully to prosecute an ancillary relief claim initiated more than six years after the date of the petition for divorce unless there was a very good reason for the delay. I agree whole -heartedly with the statement of Wood J in Chambers that:

Where a marriage is irretrievably broken down, the parties are to be encouraged to deal with all outstanding issues as reasonably expeditiously and succinctly as possible.

212.  The old authorities referred to by Mr Mostyn QC are instructive.

213.  In Chambers v Chambers (1979)  1 FLR 10, the wife left the husband in 1956 to live with another man, by whom she had a son in the following year.  She made no claims for financial support against her husband until 1978 when, on the grant of a decree nisi for dissolution of the marriage she sought a lump sum order and an order for the sale of the former matrimonial home and a division of the proceeds of sale.  The relief was refused.  Wood J said, that on the breakdown of a marriage there should, if possible, be a clean break financially.  The financial issues should be decided within a reasonably short time of the break-down.  Further, after a long lapse of time, a party to a marriage should be able to take the view that there would be no revival or initiation of financial claims against him.  The longer the time the more secure he should feel in the arrangement of his financial affairs and the less should any claim against him be encouraged or entertained:  at p 13 at ii/iii.  The learned judge expressly referred to these considerations to fall within the words “all the circumstances of the case”.  The Hong Kong equivalence is section 7(1)  of MPPO.

214.  In Fraser v Fraser (1982)  3 FLR 98, the parties were married in 1952 and separated in 1964.  It was not until in 1977 when the husband obtained a divorce that the wife made a claim for financial provision.  The trial judge found that when the parties separated the husband was left firmly with the impression that he was not required to make the wife any periodical payments; and he decided it would be unjust to order periodical payments or a lump sum of any substance.  The wife’s appeal was dismissed.  In his judgment, Lord Denning, in dismissing the wife’s appeal, agreed with Chambers v Chambers (1980)  1 FLR 10 and said that “when a wife lives on her own and keeps herself for a long time, it is very unusual for her to be able to come down on the husband afterwards claiming that he ought to maintain her”: at p 99 at H

215.  What we have here is not a case where there was a delay in the application for ancillary relief after the divorce petition, what we have here is a long lapse of time between separation and divorce petition but the authorities show the same consideration applies.

216.  H could have taken out a petition for divorce and applied for ancillary relief in the last 20 years.  That aside, where appropriate, it would also be open to him to apply for maintenance under the Separation and Maintenance Orders Ordinance, Cap 16.

217.  I have no doubt that the court is entitled to have regard to the delay by the applicant in the exercise of the discretion:  see also S v S [1989] FCR 582, [1990] 2 FLR 252.

59.無疑地,在本案而言,男方之申請延誤是十分之嚴重。案例確立︰-

(a)  法庭在行使酌情權時,應該把這延誤反映出來;

(b)  無論一段婚姻是長是短,若訴訟一方長時期不提出申索,其申索就可能失敗,因為如果已經離婚的時間越久,對方就有理由認為已經沒有針對他的附屬濟助申索,可以重新提出;

(c)  「延誤」會構成「不公」的危機,時間越久,文件越有可能消失,記憶力越有可能變得模糊;

(d)  每件案件有其不同的案情,但一般來說,如果附屬濟助的申索延誤至離婚呈請書發出的6年後才提出 ,除非申請一方能提供十分好的理由或原因,否則申請一方很難成功。

60.本席接受 ,經多年後男方才作出本延誤申請對女方造成很多不利之情況,包括︰-

(a)  在當年,男方經營海味魚翅生意,每月有巨額收入,但現卻無法追查男方的收入;

(b)  女方的說法是男方當年過着奢華之生活,但現卻沒法追查男方當年的生活、涉及每月支出;

(c)  女方的說法是男方花了不少家庭財產在替史女士購入16樓B室及養育及教育非婚生兒子,也要求法庭將這一點加以考慮,但現卻沒法追查,也因此難以能成功舉證她的說法;

(d)  又如女方所說,訴訟雙方分居以來,她獨力承擔家庭開支,辛勤工作,樸素生活,才可保住她名下之財產,因長期站立而導致腳部出現問題,有一段時間需要接受精神科治療,每晚食安眠藥,想到現男方要攤分她克勤克儉才保住的財產,難免她會感到這對她十分不公平。

61.在另一方面,本席也有以下之考慮,包括︰-

(1)  本席不接受女方所說,男方不能解釋為何多年後才提出延誤申請。男方說,至約2017年底他耗盡所有積蓄,難以繼續維持生活,然後才作出本申請。本席認為,受生活所迫,男方無奈下才作出延誤申請,這可以說是情有可原之處;

(2)  如在上文所說,本席接受男方對家庭福利有相當之貢獻。特別來說,涉案之4樓和5樓連天台,都是在婚姻期間男方出資購入者;

(3)  現時男方的確在經濟上的確有很大的需要,所以也可以這樣說,男方是有一個值得法庭加以考慮的申請。

62.經小心考慮以上各點後,本席認為若將在上文所辨得之家庭資產之20% 攤分給男方,然後替訴訟雙方作一個了斷之安排,這不失為個公平的做法。男方可得為12,800,000元×20% =2,560,000元。男方現年80歲,其每月總開支為7,300元,減去高齡津貼3,715元,每月需要生活費為3,585元。上述2,560,000元相信足以應付男方日後生活所需。女方可得10,240,000元,這相信也足以應付女方日後各項開支。

頒令

63.本席頒令如下︰-

(1)  女方須在本命令頒發後28天之內付男方2,560,000元;

(2)  在上述第(1)段遵行後,訴訟雙方清楚了斷,各自保留名下之資產。

訟費

64.經考慮到法庭的頒令與訴訟雙方的公開建議都有一段距離,及訴訟雙方的案情中有許多主張並沒有為法庭接納,本席打算頒無訟費命令,包括所有保留訟費。以上的訟費命令是一個暫准命令,如與訟雙方在本命令頒布後14天內沒有任何申請,暫准命令將轉為絕對命令。男方本身之訟費按法律援助規例評定。

( 彭家光 )
區域法院暫委法官

呈請人:由李冠𩃀律師事務所轉聘梁希賢大律師及陳棋祐大律師代表

答辯人:由符彼得鄭鳳儀律師行轉聘劉啟賢大律師代表



[1] 文件冊P.120第18段