|
DCCJ 5505, 5507, 5509, 5546及5582/2023
[2025] HKDC 1800
香港特別行政區
區域法院
民事訴訟2023年第5505號
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| 原告人 |
THE HONG KONG SETTLERS HOUSING CORPORATION LIMITED (香港平民屋宇有限公司) |
|
| |
及 |
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| 被告人 |
YAN KWOK YIP (甄國業) |
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香港特別行政區
區域法院
民事訴訟2023年第5507號
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| 原告人 |
THE HONG KONG SETTLERS HOUSING CORPORATION LIMITED (香港平民屋宇有限公司) |
|
| |
及 |
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| 被告人 |
CHO CHEUK CHEE AMY(曹綽芝) |
|
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香港特別行政區
區域法院
民事訴訟2023年第5509號
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| 原告人 |
THE HONG KONG SETTLERS HOUSING CORPORATION LIMITED (香港平民屋宇有限公司) |
|
| |
及 |
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| 被告人 |
KWAN WAI KIN (關偉建) |
|
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香港特別行政區
區域法院
民事訴訟2023年第5546號
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| 原告人 |
THE HONG KONG SETTLERS HOUSING CORPORATION LIMITED (香港平民屋宇有限公司) |
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| |
及 |
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| 被告人 |
MA MEI MEI (馬媚媚) |
|
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香港特別行政區
區域法院
民事訴訟2023年第5582號
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| 原告人 |
THE HONG KONG SETTLERS HOUSING CORPORATION LIMITED (香港平民屋宇有限公司) |
|
| |
及 |
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| 被告人 |
TAM WAI LAN (譚蕙蘭) |
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| 審訊日期: |
2025年9月22日, 25日及30日 |
| 原告人及關偉建補充陳詞日期 : |
2025年10月20日 |
| 判案書日期: |
2025年10月23日 |
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判案書
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A. 簡介
1.根據本席早前發出的案件管理命令,本五宗案件的審訊本來和DCCJ 5614/2023及DCCJ 39/2024的審訊一併進行。DCCJ 5614/2023及DCCJ 39/2024分別在開審前數日和審訊第二日達成和解。
2.原告人香港平民屋宇有限公司(「平民屋宇」)是在1952年以私人擔保有限公司方式註册成立的非牟利慈善機構。在下述的背景下,它在1964-67年間建成大坑西新邨。該邨是香港唯一的私人出租屋邨,為低收入家庭提供租金遠低於市場水平的私人租住房屋。
3.基於大坑西新邨已經變得相當破舊,缺乏電梯及其他設施,亦未有效使用該地段的發展潛力,自2010年代,已經有重建的需求。在2020年,平民屋宇與市區重建局終於達成了合作意向,並於2021年3月8日簽署了大坑西新邨重建項目的合作備忘錄,計劃最快5年內完成重建,提供共3,300餘個單位,比原有1,603個單位多出一倍,而其中2,058個單位,將會供市區重建局的「首次置業」計劃使用(「該重建項目」)。
4.為推展該重建項目,平民屋宇在期間有不同的協助提供給租戶,亦在2021年下旬安排了多個簡報會,並在2023年6月正式公佈租戶回遷安排及時間表的資料,向符合回遷資格的租戶提供回遷安排、租金津貼及搬遷津貼,及向不符合回遷資格的租戶提供特惠搬遷津貼[1]。平民屋宇在開案時指,超過99%的租戶已經自願交回單位的管有權。
5.自2023年底,平民屋宇以業權擁有人及業主的身份,向未交回單位管有權的租戶開展訴訟,包括本五宗案,要求收回他們單位的空置管有權。其間,其中一位被告租戶[2],就平民屋宇向選擇回遷租戶只發放一次性租金津貼的決定及將她逐出其單位的決定,提出司法覆核許可申請,被高等法院駁回[3]。
6.本五宗案的被告人,涉及的單位及該單位的租約到期日,如下:
| 案件 |
被告人 |
單位 |
租約到期日 |
DCCJ 5505/2023
(「5505案」) |
甄國業
(「甄先生」) |
民興樓217室 |
2021年10月31日 |
DCCJ 5507/2023
(「5507案」) |
曹绰芝
(「曹女士」) |
民興樓430室 |
2021年9月30日 |
DCCJ 5509/2023
(「5509案」) |
關偉建
(「關先生」) |
民興樓530室 |
2022年7月31日 |
DCCJ 5546/2023
(「5546案」) |
馬媚媚
(「馬女士」) |
民強樓104室 |
2022年6月30日 |
DCCJ 5582/2023
(「5582案」) |
譚蕙蘭
(「譚女士」) |
民樂樓307室 |
2023年4月30日 |
7.平民屋宇由馮柏楝資深大律師,陸栩然大律師及罹鈞培大律師代表。甄先生及曹女士就親自行事。馬女士及譚女士由杜加栩大律師代表。關先生在審訊前部份都是由杜加栩大律師代表,在結案陳詞前,在關先生不得推翻之前由杜大律師代他確認的理據與立場的條件下,本席容許關先生的申請,撤去其代表律師,改為親自行事完成結案陳詞。
B. 背景
8.各被告人對基本歷史背景及各自家庭的入住背景,都有一定的倚賴。就這些背景的基本事實,平民屋宇與各被告人没有爭議,爭議的是對它們的演釋和看法。
B.1. 基本歷史背景
9.於1952年9月3日,一群社會賢達成立平民屋宇這個非牟利慈善機構,旨在為當時居住環境惡劣及有需要的人提供安置,包括在1953年,因石硤尾大火而無家可歸的棚戶區居民。
10.各被告人強調及倚賴成立平民屋宇的慈善宗旨及目的。他們載於平民屋宇公司章程,包括第3(a)、(c)及(f)條[4]:
“3. The objects for which the Company is established are:-
(a) To apply to the Hong Kong Government for sites on such terms and conditions as may be agreed between the Government and the Company for the building of huts and houses for the occupation by settlers approved by the Government and by other residents whose total incomes do not exceed an amount from time to time decided by the Company (such settlers and such residents being hereinafter referred to as “approved occupiers”).
…
(c) To develop and turn to account any sites or any land acquired by or in which the Company is interested, and in particular by laying out and preparing the same for building purposes, constructing, altering, pulling down, decorating, maintaining, furnishing, fitting up and improving buildings, and by paving, draining, letting on building lease or building agreement, and by advancing money to and entering into contracts and arrangements of all kinds with builders, approved occupiers and others.
…
(f) To sell or let to approved occupiers any of the huts, houses, flats, buildings or any part of the property and rights of the Company upon such terms and conditions as the Company may from time to time determined.”[5]
11.當時,平民屋宇向政府提出及請求撥出土地,以容許平民屋宇興建石屋平房以安置災民。當時政府批出地段作安置,並承諾所有平民屋宇在核准之地段上所建租賃或租購之平房由建成日起計十年內,政府不予干涉,除非因公共目的需用該地,倘有此等事情發生,政府當出資在他處建屋補償[6](「1952年政府承諾」)。
12.平民屋宇於是在包括位於現在大坑西新邨之光民村,興建石屋平房安置災民。該等平房主要以兩種方式分配予居民:(a) 出售:以1,492元一次過付款授給居民,或 (b) 租購:以分期付款方法按月繳交35元,七年之後交滿84期一共2,940元後,該平房歸於居民所有。
13.在1958年,當時政府計劃收回光民村平房,以作建造大坑東至石峽尾之間的道路及作永久的發展。平民屋宇與政府達成共識 [7],包括:(1) 平民屋宇建議以多層式大廈安置其平房位於永久發展用地而又不希望政府長久安置的租戶,(2) 政府同意撥出合適的土地予平民屋宇,以安置上文第(1)段所述的租戶;此外,政府亦承諾撥出其他合適土地予該平民屋宇,讓其擴展業務,(3) 平民屋宇同意協助政府即時清拆位於大坑西的平房,以便興建連接大坑東及石硤尾的道路,並於稍後清拆位於日後可能需要作永久發展的土地上的其他平房,(4) 在平民屋宇提供長久安置居所前,政府承諾把因該清拆而要遷出的租戶暫時安置在徙置屋邨,但租金安排如下,(5) 對向平民屋宇還未完成租購繳款的租戶,他們在還未向平民屋宇完成繳款的剩餘期間,向政府繳交標準租金,對已經完成所有繳款的租戶,他們在十年期裏餘下的時間,不須要向政府繳交任何租金;在十年期過去後,所有租戶都要向政府繳交標準租金(「遷出光民村租金安排」)[8]。
14.於1961年5月,政府以優惠價格向平民屋宇授予了新九龍內地段4479號,即九龍大坑西(「該地段」)。該地段之批地條件列明:
(a) 特殊條件2(a)規定,平民屋宇必須在該地段上按照其章程所規定的宗旨,為低收入人士建造並完成不少於1,600個單位。
(b) 特殊條件2(d)規定:
“(d) The grantee shall not sell, assign, mortgage or charge the said land or any part thereof or enter into any agreement so to do without the consent in writing of the Government given in respect of each and every such disposition who as a condition of granting consent may impose such restrictions terms and conditions whether in respect of the amount of the sale price or the amount to be raised on mortgage (at the case may be) or in respect of the form of any assignment, mortgage or charge or other deed or document by which any transaction is effected or otherwise as he may see fit provided always that nothing in this clause contained shall be deemed to apply to or restrict the letting of the flats or other dwellings on the land by the grantee to the tenants who will reside therein, the grantee through its Executive Committee being fully empowered to control the management of the said flats or other dwellings and the letting of the flats or other dwellings on short term tenancies.”[9]
15.於同年年中,政府徙置處(Resettlement Department)取消向大坑西徙置區平房發出的佔用許可證[10],並正式發出清遷通知及安置的安排,包括提及「香港平民屋宇有限公司經已表示,大坑西徙置區住戶將來可遷回該區內新建大廈居住,惟欲遷回之住戶必須與外界人仕同樣受該公司所訂之租住章程所管制。該區內受遷拆之全體認許住戶名單將於遷拆日期前由本處送交該公司。」[11]。
16.多位被告人在其抗辯書引述及依賴平民屋宇時任秘書兼司庫李福樹先生在1961年5月26日致謝慧荷先生之信[12]。本席將該信的全部內容引述:
“敬覆者頃接
閣下來函並附徙置事務處清拆屋宇通函壹份已悉一切查該通函內容所載乃屬香港政府發展計劃之一部其原意擬將該地區改建為更完善及可安置更多居民之屋宇將來一俟建築完成對原有之居民當可優先安置諒 閣下亦希望有此完善之屋宇得以久居也至閣下與敝公司所簽訂之合同雖仍有效但該合同開始已載有條文如左:
「現政府已允撥給此項地段與本公司并予保證凡本公司在核准之地段上所建租賃或出售之房舍由建築完成日起計在拾年內政府不予干涉除非該地因公共目的需用時不在此限但倘有此等事情發生政府當出資在他處建屋以補償之」
敝公司與政府所訂定之合約亦如上述現政府在有條件下收回閣下之屋宇實無可厚非尚希盡力協助玆特先行函覆并將附件退還容日敝公司當有正式通告送達此致
九龍大坑西光民村第三區第129B號謝慧荷先生 …”(原有强調)
17.在1964年至1967年間,平民屋宇在該地段上建成共7座7至10層高的住宅大樓,最後在1981年,民泰樓亦落成,即今日的大坑西新邨,一共提供1,603個單位。自此之後,選擇回遷到大坑西新邨的光民村住戶及一些申請及獲批准的合資格人士與平民屋宇定時簽訂租約,成為大坑西新邨的租戶。
B.2. 各被告人家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景
18.關於5505案(甄先生,民興樓217室),甄先生的家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景如下:
(a) 甄先生之祖父甄聖樹[13]與平民屋宇簽署日期為1956年4月24日關於光民村第3區地段第93號房舍的“Agreement for Hire-Purchase”(「甄聖樹租購合約」) [14],當中的前言記載了1952年政府承諾及其他有關條款包括:
“WHEREAS the Corporation has applied to Government for sites in resettlement areas as well as outside resettlement areas on which to build cottages or houses for rent or hire-purchase :
AND WHEREAS Government has granted the Corporation such sites and has further undertaken that no house built by the Corporation on an approved site for rent or hire-purchase would be disturbed by Government before the expiry of ten years from the date of its erection unless the land was required for a public purpose in which event the house would be re-provisioned elsewhere at the expense of the Government:
…
1. The Corporation will let and the Occupier will take on hire as from the date hereof (or as from the 1st day of March 1953) ALL THAT house or cottage being HOUSE NO. 93 on the District 3, Kwong Man Village site.
2. The Occupier will during the continuance of the letting pay to the Corporation … DOLLARS 35 every month by way of rent …
…
14. During the continuance of this letting the Occupier shall have the option of purchasing from the Corporation the premises comprised in this letting. … On payment of such purchase price the letting shall come to an end and the said premises shall become the property of the Occupier and the Corporation do all such acts and things as may be necessary for vesting the said premises in the Occupier subject to the terms and conditions of the permit issued by the Government.
15. If the Occupier shall duly perform and observe all the stipulations and conditions in this Agreement … and shall in the manner aforesaid pay to the Corporation monthly sums by way of rent amounting in aggregate to the sum of Dollars Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty ($2,940) and shall also pay to the Corporation all other sums of money which may become payable to the Corporation by the Occupier under this Agreement the letting shall come to an end and the said house shall become the property of the Occupier …”
(b) 於1964年,甄聖樹向平民屋宇提交「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[15]。該申請書明確要求由負責繳納「租金」者填報。另外,在該申請書 (F) 欄備考,甄聖樹特別填寫「小孫甄國嚴剛由台灣返港懇請准予加入戶口并配十人住屋一間」[16]。
(c) 現有文件顯示,平民屋宇與甄孔衡[17]就民興樓217室最遲於1973年3月12日,簽訂一份租約[18],當時每月租金為港幣125元[19]。
(d) 大約於1982年9月8日,甄聖樹的兒子甄趙華向平民屋宇提交另一份「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[20]。在1982年11月2日,平民屋宇與甄趙華就民興樓217室簽訂租約[21]。當時每月租金為港幣310元。在租約中的租戶家庭清單中[22],李宜珍(Lee Yee Chun)被列為甄趙華的妻子,而甄先生則為他的兒子。租戶家庭清單的用意是由於在租約第2(21)條下該單位僅供租戶及附表所列家庭成員居住[23]。
(e) 在1991年10月2日,甄趙華妻子李宜珍向平民屋宇提交「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[24]。甄先生繼續列入租戶家庭清單中[25]。
(f) 在1997年1月28日,甄先生、甄國宏、甄麗冰及馬麗嫦致函及簽署信件,表示由於李宜珍去世,同意由甄國端申請做該單位的新戶主[26]。
(g) 在1997年10月9日,甄國端正式向平民屋宇提交他的「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[27]。
(h) 在1998年6月17日,平民屋宇與甄國端就民興樓217室簽訂租約[28],當時每月租金為港幣1,200元[29]。甄先生繼續列入租戶家庭清單中[30]。
(i) 在2019年4月21日,甄先生向平民屋宇提交他的「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[31]。
(j) 在2020年1月22日,平民屋宇與甄先生就民興樓217室簽訂租約[32](「5505租約」),當時每月租金為港幣1,200元[33]。民興樓217室租約的到期日為2021年10月31日[34]。
(k) 至少在2020年1月至2023年8月期間,甄先生均有繳交租金[35]。
(l) 在2023年6月2日,平民屋宇通知甄先生他符合回遷資格[36]。
(m) 在2023年8月31日,平民屋宇代表律師發出「終止租約通知書」,通知甄先生5505租約將於2023年9月30日終止,及須於該日前遷出該單位[37]。
19.關於5507案(曹女士,民興樓430室),曹女士的家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景如下:
(a) 平民屋宇與曹玉笙,即曹女士的祖父[38],於1956年3月28日就光民村第1區地段第11號房舍簽署“Agreement for Outright Sale”[39](「曹玉笙銷售協議」),當中的前言記載了1952年政府承諾及其他有關條款包括:
“WHEREAS the Corporation has applied to Government for sites in resettlement areas as well as outside resettlement areas on which to build cottages or houses for rent or hire-purchase or for outright sale :
AND WHEREAS Government has granted the Corporation such sites and has further undertaken that no house built by the Corporation on an approved site for rent or hire-purchase would be disturbed by Government before the expiry of ten years from the date of its erection unless the land was required for a public purpose in which event the house would be re-provisioned elsewhere at the expense of the Government:
…
1. In pursuance of such Agreement and in consideration of the sum Dollars [illegible] to the Corporation now paid by the Purchaser (the receipt whereof the Corporation hereby acknowledges) the Corporation hereby assigns unto the Purchaser ALL THAT house or cottage situated at being HOUSE NO …, TO HOLD the same unto the Purchaser his executors administrators and assigns absolutely SUBJECT to the terms and conditions of the Permit issued by the Government and Subject to the payment of the annual fee hereinunder mentioned.
2. …
3. The Purchase hereby covenants with the Corporation that the Purchaser will henceforth pay to Government such Permit Fee as is from time to time lawfully payable and will perform and observe the terms and conditions of the Permit issued by the Government.”
(b) 於1964年8月12日,曹玉笙向平民屋宇提交他的「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[40]。當中列明該申請書應由負責繳交「租金」者填報[41]。在家人現況一表中,趙珍被列為曹玉笙的妻子,曹可炘被列為兒子,曹麗華被列為養女[42]。
(c) 最遲在1973年3月12日,平民屋宇與曹玉笙就民興樓430室簽訂租約[43],當時每月租金為港幣60元[44]。
(d) 於2014年2月19日,平民屋宇收到曹女士母親梁順明及其女兒曹雪瑩交來兩份「更改戶主/家庭成員申請表」,表示梁順明女士及曹雪瑩已成功申請公屋德朗邨,所以向平民屋宇申請取消在大坑西新邨的戶籍並遷出[45]。
(e) 於2014年10月12日,平民屋宇收到曹女士交來一份「更改戶主/家庭成員申請表」,表示其母親梁順明及其長姐曹雪瑩已經申請公屋及搬離該單位,因此由曹女士申請成為該單位戶主[46]。
(f) 於2014年12月3日,平民屋宇收到曹女士[47]交來一份「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[48],在該申請書中列明應由負責繳交「租金」者填報[49]。曹女士填寫職業為美容顧問,每月平均收入為港幣33,987元[50]。
(g) 於2015年2月26日,平民屋宇與曹女士就民興樓430室簽訂租約[51],當時每月租金為港幣560元[52]。
(h) 於2017年12月20日,曹女士向平民屋宇提交「更改戶主/家庭成員申請表」,申請增加其丈夫鄭志平同住於該單位[53]。
(i) 於2019年11月27日,平民屋宇與曹女士就民興樓430室再次簽訂租約(「5507租約」)[54],當時每月租金為港幣560元[55]。民興樓430室租約的到期日為2021年9月30日[56]。
(j) 在租約日期結束後,至少在2023年2月至2023年7月期間,曹女士均有繳交租金[57]。
(k) 於2023年7月24日,平民屋宇通知曹女士一家不符合回遷資格[58],原因為曹女士及其丈夫並非以該單位作為其唯一居所[59]。
(l) 於2023年8月31日,平民屋宇代表律師發出「終止租約通知書」,通知曹女士5507租約將於2023年9月30日終止,及須於該日前遷出該單位[60]。
20.關於5509案(關先生,民興樓530室),關先生的家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景如下:
(a) 於1956年6月2日,李超[61] 與平民屋宇就東頭村第12區地段第55號房舍簽署“Agreement for Hire-Purchase”[62](「李超租購合約」)。它的相關條款,與上面18(a)段引述了在甄聖樹租購合約內的條款一樣,所以不在此再覆述。
(b) 於1964年9月14日,李超向平民屋宇提交他的 「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[63],內裏清楚列明由負責繳交「租金」者填報[64]。在家人現況一表中只有陳好被列為李超的妻子[65]。
(c) 最遲在1973年3月12日,平民屋宇與李超就民興樓530室簽訂租約[66],當時每月租金為港幣60元[67]。
(d) 於1976年10月5日,李超向平民屋宇提交一封信件,內有一張有關其家庭成員持續增加而重新填報的成員名單[68]。李超指出,關先生自幼父母相繼身亡,向平民屋宇申請增加關先生為李超的誼子成為其家庭成員,希望平民屋宇批准關先生可居住在該單位。
(e) 於1977年1月25日,平民屋宇與李超就民興樓530室再次簽訂租約[69],當時每月租金為港幣71元[70]。關先生以誼子身份列入租戶家庭清單中[71]。
(f) 於1989年9月20日,李超向平民屋宇提交一封信件指出其妻子已離世,通知平民屋宇把其戶籍取消 [72]。
(g) 於2001年8月17日,平民屋宇的職員發現有人搬離大量傢俱,當日便向李超以電話查詢[73]。李超當時回答,他因為健康理由搬到觀塘居住,而該單位則由關先生的哥哥居住,及後關先生則會返回該單位居住。平民屋宇的職員於同日下午2時15分約見關先生並清楚說明該單位只供認可人士居住,否則平民屋宇會收回該單位,關先生當時表示明白及同意會遵守。
(h) 在2013年6月27日,關先生向平民屋宇提交一份「離世家庭成員報告表及新戶主申請表」[74],內容指因李超經已離世,關先生要求申請成為戶主。
(i) 在2020年7月31日,平民屋宇與關先生就民興樓530室簽訂租約(「5509租約」)[75],當時每月租金為港幣560元[76]。民興樓530室租約的到期日為2022年7月31日[77]。
(j) 在租約日期結束後,至少在2023年2月至2023年7月期間,關先生均有繳交租金[78]。
(k) 於2023年6月2日,平民屋宇通知關先生他不符合回遷資格,原因為關先生並非以該單位作為其唯一居所[79]。
(l) 於2023年8月31日,平民屋宇代表律師發出「終止租約通知書」,通知關先生5509租約將於2023年9月30日終止,及須於該日前遷出該單位[80]。
21.關於5546案(馬女士,民強樓104室),馬女士的家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景如下:
(a) 於1956年8月29日,程羅音與平民屋宇就光民村第“H.S”區地段第27號房舍簽署“Agreement for Hire-Purchase”[81](「程羅音租購合約」)。它的相關條款,也與上面18(a)段引述了在甄聖樹租購合約內的條款一樣,所以也不在此再覆述。
(b) 於1964年8月10日,程羅音丈夫洪子明[82]向平民屋宇提交「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[83]。當中清楚列明該申請書應由負責繳交「租金」者填報[84]。後來,洪子明一家獲分配一個6人單位[85]。
(c) 最遲在1973年4月26日,平民屋宇與洪子明就民強樓104室簽訂租約[86],當時每月租金為港幣85元 [87]。
(d) 在1973年12月18日,洪子明向平民屋宇提交一封信函交代其女兒轉名事宜,以助平民屋宇更新登記 [88]。
(e) 在1983年12月20日,洪子明再簽訂一份為期兩年的租約[89]。
(f) 於大約2007年7月18日,洪炳漢以洪子明的兒子身份就該單位向平民屋宇提交一份「更改住戶/家庭成員申請表」[90],內容是指戶主洪子明患了老人癡呆症,並附上由醫院管理局發出的醫生證明。而洪炳漢同年亦提交「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[91],申請成為戶主。
(g) 在2008年5月23日,平民屋宇與洪炳漢就民強樓104 室簽訂一份為期兩年的租約[92],當時每月租金為港幣680元[93]。馬女士以妻子身份列入租戶家庭清單中[94]。
(h) 於2010年6月28日,洪炳漢同時向平民屋宇提交了兩份「更改住戶/家庭成員申請表」,分別為其媳婦及孫兒申請加人成為該單位的家庭成員[95]。
(i) 於2017年6月20日,馬女士向平民屋宇提交的「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[96],該申請書應由負責繳交「租金」者填報[97]。根據平民屋宇當時在備考上寫上,因原租戶過身,該單位的租約批予其妻子[98]。
(j) 於2017年7月25日,馬女士與平民屋宇就民強樓104室簽署為期兩年的租約[99],每月租金為港幣680元[100]。於2019年7月17日,馬女士再與平民屋宇就民強樓104室簽署為期兩年的租約[101]。
(k) 在2021年12月24日,馬女士與平民屋宇就民強樓104室簽訂為期一年租約(「5546租約」)[102],當時每月租金為港幣680元[103]。民強樓104室租約的到期日為2022年6月30日[104]。
(l) 在租約日期結束後,至少在2023年2月至2023年7月期間,馬女士均有繳交租金[105]。
(m) 於2023年6月23日,平民屋宇通知馬女士,除了馬女士女兒因非以該單位作為其唯一居所不符合回遷資格[106],馬女士一戶其他4人均符合回遷資格 [107]。
(n) 於2023年8月31日,平民屋宇代表律師發出「終止租約通知書」,通知馬女士5546租約將於2023年9月30日終止,及須於該日前遷出該單位[108]。
22.關於5582案(譚女士,民樂樓307室),譚女士的家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景如下:
(a) 於1966年3月19日,李堃向平民屋宇提交「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[109]。當中列明該申請書應由負責繳交「租金」者填報[110]。在家人現況一表中,譚女士列為李堃的妻子,還有李浩強、李浩堅、李浩富、李浩昌為其子女,潘好為李堃的岳母[111]。
(b) 於1970年4月22日,李堃以民樂樓307室戶主的身份向平民屋宇提交及重新填寫其居住家屬,增加了其女兒李玉琴為該單位家庭成員[112]。
(c) 於1972年8月10日,平民屋宇與李堃就民樂樓307室簽訂為期3年的租約[113],當時每月租金為港幣132元[114]。
(d) 於1995年2月3日,李堃向平民屋宇提交信件[115],指其兒子李浩堅已婚並已遷出該單位,請平民屋宇取消其居住權。李浩堅亦有於信上簽名確認。
(e) 於1995年2月27日,李堃再次向平民屋宇提交了一封信件,指其岳母潘好於1994年11月22日於廣州市孫逸仙紀念醫院病逝,並附上其死亡證副本,請平民屋宇取消其戶籍[116]。
(f) 於2012年3月27日,譚女士以李堃的妻子的身份就民樂樓307室向平民屋宇提交一份「離世家庭成員報告表及新戶主申請表」,內容是指戶主李堃已離世[117]。
(g) 於2014年1月28日,譚女士亦提交了「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」[118],申請成為戶主。申請書清楚列明,應由負責繳交「租金」者填報[119]。
(h) 於2021年5月26日,平民屋宇與譚女士就民樂樓307室簽訂租約(「5582租約」)[120],當時每月租金為港幣860元[121]。民樂樓307室租約的到期日為2023年4月30日[122]。
(i) 在租約日期結束後,至少在2023年2月至2023年7月期間,譚女士均有繳交租金[123]。
(j) 於2023年8月15日,平民屋宇通知譚女士她符合回遷資格[124]。但是,譚女士的3名兒子及1名女兒因非以該單位作為其唯一居所及/或在香港擁有住宅物業[125],而不符合回遷資格[126]。及後,惟平民屋宇基於特別恩恤及體諒,對其女兒個案予以寬大處理,允許其女兒獲回遷資格[127]。
(k) 於2023年8月31日,平民屋宇代表律師發出「終止租約通知書」,通知譚女士5582租約將於2023年9月30日終止,及須於該日前遷出該單位[128]。
C. 平民屋宇收回各單位空置管有權的理據
23.平民屋宇提出收回各單位空置管有權的理據簡單直接。 馮資深大律師指出下列没有爭議,亦無庸置疑的基本事實。
24.第一,平民屋宇為大坑西新邨之合法業主 (見該地段的批地條件[129]及土地登記冊紀錄[130])。
25.第二,沒有爭議的事實背景,是各被告人的上一代家庭成員,就相關單位,自1970年代開始,都與平民屋宇簽訂租約,一直以租戶身份交租及分別佔用相關單位。况且,在各被告人的抗辯書及證人陳述書中,從未質疑相關租約的訂立和其有效性:
| 5505案 (甄先生) |
5505案答辯書[131]並未否認租約的有效性或訂立。
甄國業證人陳述書第12段也承認自已一戶「與平民屋宇簽署一份為期三年的租約,之後每一次隔三年或兩年便續簽租約」 [132]。 |
| 5507案 (曹女士) |
曹女士承認民興樓430室租約之有效性[133] |
| 5509案 (關先生) |
關先生承認民興樓530室租約的有效性[134] |
| 5546案 (馬女士) |
馬女士承認民強樓104室租約的有效性[135] |
| 5582案 (譚女士) |
譚女士承認民樂樓307室租約的有效性[136] |
26.第三,毫無疑問相關租約已正式期滿。而沒有爭議的,是各被告人就相關單位都收到平民屋宇發出的「終止租約通知書」,分别通知他們相關租約將於2023年9月30日終止,及須於該日前遷出該單位。而各被告人都没有將他們的單位的空置管有權交還平民屋宇。
27.基於這些確定事實,依照最基本的法律原則,就是租約期滿後業主有收樓的權利,各被告人必須交還相關單位的空置管有權。馮資深大律師亦強調,平民屋宇雖然是非牟利機構,但這個身份並不影響平民屋宇作為業主收樓的權利。
D. 各被告人有責任成立拒絕交還空置管有權的理據
28.上面第24-26段提及的事實確實是没有爭議的。本席接納馮資深大律師的陳詞,基於這些事實,平民屋宇有權收回各被告人單位的空置管有權,除非各被告人能夠成立有效的理據來拒絕交還空置管有權,因此,舉證和成立有效的理據來拒絕交還空置管有權的責任在各被告人身上。
E. 各被告人拒絕交還空置管有權的論據
29.經各被告人在口頭開案陳詞確認後,他們仍然依賴的理據概括而言如下。
30.在5505案,甄先生親自行事,在其答辯書裏聲稱爺爺根據甄聖樹租購合約,已經交清款項,購入光民村93號屋,遷入大坑西新邨後,擁有民興樓217室,該單位是爺爺的遺產之一,現在屬於他的,他們的家庭已經住在該單位數十年,所交的所謂「租金」,只屬屋邨管理費。而現在平民屋宇強迫他遷出擁有的該單位,提出的賠償和安置非常不合理,因此他有權拒絕遷出。
31.在5507案,曹女士在審訊中親自行事,她確認依賴當時由律師撰寫的抗辯書裏提出的理據,就是基於光民村的歷史,祖父曹玉笙已經購買了光民村第11號屋,及後同意清拆該11號屋及回遷大坑西新邨,所以根據允諾不容反悔原則(promissory estoppel)和擁有人不容反悔原則(proprietary estoppel)不能夠在沒有回遷安排下,強迫曹女士遷走。況且,5507租約第II(26)條是無效的免責條款。在審訊中,曹女士多次強調,平民屋宇基於她的單位用電和用水量低,就斷定該單位不是她的唯一居所,而不考慮或提供理由為什麽不接受她已經提供的文件證據,證明她的媽媽生病和需要時常去覆診,及她提出的理由,就是因為要照顧媽媽,所以部份時間留在媽媽家裏照顧她的說法。曹女士認為平民屋宇拒絕她有回遷資格的決定,十分不公平,不合理,亦未有體恤她現在懷孕八個月,與丈夫關係又不好,令她感到難受。
32.5509案、5546案及5582案三位被告人由杜大律師代表。杜大律師在口頭開案陳詞時確認,這三案的被告人放棄抗辯書提出的其他理據,現在只依賴 (a) 有關租約第II(26)條是無效的,及 (b) 有關租約有隱含約定(an implied term),租戶有權繼續佔用有關單位除非他們欠交租金或不遵守租約的其他條款。基於平民屋宇的反對及有該隱含約定的申述只是在5582案經修訂的抗辯書裏提出[137],而未有在5509案及5546案經修訂的抗辯書裏提出,本席裁定該隱含約定理據只可以在5582案提出,而不可以在5509案及5546案提出。
33.如上面已提及,5509案關先生親自行事結案陳詞。他表達根據李超租購合約,他的家庭已經購入東頭村第12區第55號房舍,有其產權,但被淪為大坑西新邨租客,已經是被出賣和剝削,當時平民屋宇李福樹先生有永久居住的承諾,他應該有永久居權等等。如上面亦提及,關先生改為親自行事的條件,是他不可以推翻審訊期間杜大律師為他確認的理據與立場,所以本席在此只是記錄他的結案陳詞,而不會考慮他提出的,但杜大律師已經確定不依賴的理據。
F. 各被告人的反申索
34.在5507案、5509案、5546案及5582案的抗辯及反申索書中,曹女士,關先生,馬女士及譚女士都分別提出類似的反申索,要求法庭頒下三個宣告,宣告分别被告人及他/她的登記家庭成員是「被批准的安置戶」(”approved settlers”),有回遷及獲得金錢補貼資格,及不需要被篩選就能夠回遷同樣大細的單位。
35.在開案陳詞時,曹女士及杜大律師(代表關先生,馬女士及譚女士)都確認不會再繼續他們的反申索。
G. 有關的法律原則
36.就有關的法律原則,雙方沒有爭議。
G.1. 平民屋宇倚賴的法律原則
37.租約期滿後,業主有收樓權利。 就定期租約於其屆滿時,會因時間屆滿而自動終止,無須任何通知。在租期完結時,租客必須交還相關物業之佔用,除非其享有法定權利可繼續留住 (見:Woodfall: Landlord and Tenant (Volume 1), 第17.002段[138])。
38.租客不得挑戰業主無業權(Estoppel by Tenancy)。一般而言,租客基於租約而須受不容反悔之約束,不得爭議業主之業權。正如高等法院上訴庭張澤祐法官於Tang Man Kit and Foo Tak Ching v Hip Hing Timber Co Ltd(未經登載,CACV 137/2002,2005年5月13日)第52至53段所說:
“Estoppel
52. As pointed out by the editors of Hill and Redman’s Law of Landlord and Tenant (17th Ed.) Para 88, this estoppel has two aspects –
(1) A tenant is prevented or estopped from denying the right of his landlord to grant the lease and, conversely, a landlord is prevented or estopped from denying the title of his tenant under the lease.
(2) A person who has no legal estate in the land may nevertheless purport to grant a lease of that land; in that event, there is created between him and his purported tenant a tenancy by estoppel which binds them and their respective successors in title just as if the landlord had a sufficient interest to grant the lease.
53. The position is best stated by Lord Denning MR in Industrial Properties (Barton Hill) Ltd and Others v Associated Electrical Industries Ltd [1977] 1 QB 580:
‘If a landlord lets a tenant into possession under a lease, then, so long as the tenant remains in possession undisturbed by any adverse claim – then the tenant cannot dispute the landlord’s title. Suppose the tenant (not having been disturbed) goes out of possession and the landlord sues the tenant on the covenant for rent or for breach of covenant to repair or to yield up in repair. The tenant cannot say to the landlord: “You are not the true owner of the property.” Likewise, if the landlord, on the tenant’s holding over, sues him for possession or for use and occupation or mesne profits, the tenant cannot defend himself by saying: “The property does not belong to you, but to another.’”
39.該原則於Woodfall: Landlord and Tenant (Volume 1) 第1.037段,撮要如下:
“It is one of the first principles of the law of estoppel, as applied to the relations between landlord and tenant, that a tenant is estopped from disputing the title of his landlord. This applies to written and oral tenancy agreements as well as to leases under seal. Thus a lessee cannot dispute his lessor’s title by setting up an adverse title, whilst retaining possession and by executing a lease he admits a will under which it is recited that the lease was granted … Every person who comes in under another, whether as tenant, licensee or otherwise, is estopped from denying the title of the person under whom he enters. A tenant cannot dispute the validity of his lease by setting up the title of an earlier tenant ... After the tenancy has come to an end the former tenant continues to be estopped from disputing the title of his former landlord in respect of the period for which he had had possession unless (i) during that period he was disturbed by title paramount or (ii) after the end of the period a claim is made against him by title paramount in respect of some part of the period so that he becomes in peril of an adverse claim.”[139]
40.合約不容反悔原則(Estoppel by Contract)。合約雙方可以在合約中訂明某一事實狀態為該交易基礎,無論該事實狀態是否屬實,當在合約文件中作出此等協議時,日後雙方皆不得否認所協定之事實,就該協定事實不容反悔。在Peekay Intermark Ltd v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd [2006] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 511, Moore-Bick LJ 在第56段說:
“There is no reason in principle why parties to a contract should not agree that a certain state of affairs should form the basis for the transaction, whether it be the case or not. For example, it may be desirable to settle a disagreement as to an existing state of affairs in order to establish a clear basis for the contract itself and its subsequent performance. Where parties express an agreement of that kind in a contractual document, neither can subsequently deny the existence of the facts and matters upon which they have agreed, at least so far as concerned those aspects of their relationship to which the agreement was directed. The contract itself gives rise to an estoppel.”
41.慣例不容反悔原則(Estoppel by Convention)。簡而言之,就是雙方基於一項共同及一致之假設而訂立某項交易或法律關係,並依此而行動、進入及推進交易,那麽任何一方就不能夠單方面背離該共同假設,導致對對方不公平及遭受不利。終審法院於First Laser Ltd v Fujian Enterprises (Holdings) Co Ltd (2012) 15 HKCFAR 569再次確定該原則,並在第79段撮要說明成立該原則的要素:
“79. In Unruh v Seeberger (2007) 10 HKCFAR 31 Mr Justice Ribeiro PJ re-stated the essential elements of an estoppel by convention:
(1) the parties entered into some transaction or legal relationship on the basis of an assumption that was shared by or common to them both, and it was the element of commonality of the assumption that marked out estoppel by convention as a distinct form of estoppel;
(2) it must be shown that assumption was communicated between the parties and acted upon, and there must be some mutually manifest conduct by the parties;
(3) there was no necessity for the parties to believe that the assumed state of affairs was true, nor was there any necessity for the parties to have been mistaken;
(4) what is important is for them to act in the belief, manifested by words or conduct, that they are both proceeding with the transaction on the basis of the same shared assumption;
(5) the contents of the common assumption must be sufficiently certain to enable the court to give effect to it;
(6) estoppel by convention is concerned with a common assumption relied upon as a basis upon which the persons sharing such assumptions enter into a transaction or legal relationship; and
(7) there must be an attempt by one party to depart from the common assumption which departure would be unjust because of the part taken by him in occasioning its adoption by the other party, and the other party would suffer detriment arising out of his having entered into the relevant transaction on the basis of the common assumption if the opposite party were afterwards allowed to set up rights inconsistent with the assumption.”
G.2. 被告人分别倚賴的法律原則
42.允諾不容反悔原則(Promissory Estoppel)。終審法院於Luo Xing Juan v Estate of Hui Shui See (2009) 12 HKCFAR 1第55至57段,指出允諾不容反悔原則可於以下情況下成立,及相關的考慮:
“55. A promissory estoppel may be said to arise where (i) the parties are in a relationship involving enforceable or exercisable rights, duties or powers; (ii) one party (“the promisor”), by words or conduct, conveys or is reasonably understood to convey a clear and unequivocal promise or assurance to the other (“the promisee”) that the promisor will not enforce or exercise some of those rights, duties or powers; and (iii) the promisee reasonably relies upon that promise and is induced to alter his or her position on the faith of it, so that it would be inequitable or unconscionable for the promisor to act inconsistently with the promise.
56. While it is necessary for the purposes of exposition to identify the separate elements of the doctrine, it should be borne in mind that when applying them to the facts, each element does not exist in its own watertight compartment to be kept separate from the others. Each element acquires its meaning and content in the context of the other elements. This was emphasised by Robert Walker LJ in Gillett v Holt in relation to proprietary estoppel in the following terms:
“... the doctrine of proprietary estoppel cannot be treated as subdivided into three or four watertight compartments. ... [The] quality of the relevant assurances may influence the issue of reliance, ... reliance and detriment are often intertwined, and ... whether there is a distinct need for a ‘mutual understanding’ may depend on how the other elements are formulated and understood. Moreover the fundamental principle that equity is concerned to prevent unconscionable conduct permeates all the elements of the doctrine. In the end the court must look at the matter in the round.”
57. Thus in the present case, the meaning of the words or conduct constituting the promise or assurance has to be understood in the light of the parties’ particular relationship and especially in the light of the legal rights or powers exercisable, and known to be exercisable, by the promisor. As the learned authors of Spencer Bower put it, one should put in focus “not simply the actions of the promisor but the proper interpretation to be placed on those actions given the shared background and knowledge of the parties.”
43.簡而言之,要成立允諾不容反悔,需要成立以下三點:
(a) 當事人雙方之間存在一種涉及可強制執行或可行使之權利、義務或權力的法律關係;
(b) 一方(「允諾人」)透過言辭或行為,向另一方(「受允諾人」)作出,或合理地理解為作出,一項清楚且無歧義之承諾或保證,即允諾人不會行使或執行上述若干權利、義務或權力;及
(c) 受允諾人合理地依賴該項承諾,並因此改變原本之處境,以致若允諾人日後背離承諾,則屬不公允或違反良心。
44.擁有人不容反悔原則(Proprietary Estoppel)。該原則有三項核心要素(見Thorner v Major [2009] 1 WLR 776,第29段):
(a) 土地擁有人向聲稱擁有人不容反悔原則適用者作出了陳述或保證;
(b) 該聲稱擁有人不容反悔原則適用者合理地依賴了該陳述或保證;及
(c) 因該合理之依賴,使該聲稱擁有人不容反悔原則適用者蒙受損害。
45.就這些要素,Thorner v Major 有進一步說明:
(a) 相關陳述或保證必須由「土地擁有人」或其獲授權代理人作出(Thorner第29段);
(b) 相關陳述或保證必須涉及指稱作出陳述或保證者所擁有(或擬將擁有)之特定物業(Thorner第61段);
(c) 該相關陳述或保證必須具備足夠清晰性和必須清楚無歧(Thorner第15及56段);及
(d) 聲稱不容反悔原則適用者對該相關陳述或保證的依賴在相關的所有情況下須要是合理的 (Thorner第15段)。
46.就聲稱擁有人不容反悔原則適用者蒙受損害這要素而言,在Szeto Chak Mei (The Sole Administratrix of the Unadministered Properties of the Late Szeto Chiu, Deceased) v Chan Lam Shan(未經登載,HCMP 836/2012,2016年3月1日)第37-41段,暫委法官Cooney SC總結相關原則,如下:
(a) 陳述或保證與所主張之損害之間,必須存在充分因果關係;
(b) 只限於源自合理信賴之損害方屬相關;倘若損害出自不合理之信賴,則應排除;
(c) 損害不必限於金錢支出或可量化之財務損失,只要屬「實質性」即可。法院應於陳述人試圖反悔之時審視損害問題,判斷損害是否足夠重大,應視乎若允許反悔是否構成不公,換言之,於各情況下否定陳述是否屬「違反衡平良心」行為;
(d) 如損害或失去之利益僅屬推測性,則不應構成相關損害;惟僅因承受之利益只屬「可能」而非「大概」,並不必然否定其可構成不容反悔之基礎;
(e) 於整體審視損害時,法院須一併考慮申索人在因信賴而採取之行為中所同時獲取之利益。因「損害」之成立,須視乎在允許允諾人自由反悔情況下,申索人之整體境況是否較其未曾採取該行為時更差。倘若申索人因該行為已獲得之「抵消利益」足夠重大,則可能阻卻擁有人不容反悔原則之適用。
47.最後,就濟助而言,衡平法之目的始終是防止或糾正違反良心之行為,於許多案件中,一旦衡平權利確立,履行允諾通常是補救之起點;惟基於實際操作、雙方間之公正、及對第三者之公平,或有需要授予較低或不同之濟助(見Guest v Guest [2024] AC 833 第94段[140])。
48.就有關租約第II(26)條是無效的論據,杜大律師依賴衡平法的原則,判定該條是「不合情理交易」(Unconscionable Bargain),所以是無效。杜大律師引用Freeway Finance Company Limited v Lai Sau Kei(未經登載,HCA 561/2014, 黎達祥聆案官)第137段:
“137. In para 8-133 of Chitty on Contracts (supra), the learned authors pointed out that:
“The doctrine of unconscionable bargains seems to be limited in three ways. The first is that the bargain must be oppressive to the complainant in overall term; the second that it may only apply when the complainant was suffering from certain types of bargaining weakness; and the third that the other party must have acted unconscionably in the sense of having knowingly taken advantage of the complainant.””
49.他亦引用澳州案例Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd v Amadio & Anor (1982-1983) 151 CLR 447 Mason J(當時官階)在第461-462頁的闡述:
“Historically, court have exercised jurisdiction to set aside contracts and other dealings on a variety of equitable grounds. They include fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence and unconscionable conduct. In one sense they all constitute species of unconscionable conduct on the part of a party who stands to receive a benefit under a transaction which, in the eye of equity, cannot be enforced because to do so would be inconsistent with equity and good conscience. But relief on the ground of “unconscionable conduct” is usually taken to refer to the class of case in which a party makes unconscientious use of his superior power or bargaining power to the detriment of a party who suffers from some special disability or is placed in some special situation of disadvantage, ...
... Relief on the ground of unconscionable conduct will be granted when unconscientious advantage is taken of an innocent party whose will is overborne so that it is not independent and voluntary, just as it will be granted when such advantage is taken of an innocent party who, though not deprived of an independent and voluntary will, is unable to make a worthwhile judgment as to what is in his best interest.
... the situations mentioned are no more than particular exemplifications of an underlying general principle which may be invoked whenever one party by reason of some condition of circumstances is placed at a special disadvantage vis-à-vis another and unfair or unconscientious advantage is then taken of the opportunity thereby created. I qualify the word “disadvantage” by the adjective “special” in order to disavow any suggestion that the principle applies whenever there is some difference in the bargaining power of the parties and in order to emphasize that the disabling condition or circumstance is one which seriously affects the ability of the innocent party to make a judgment as to his own best interests, when the other party knows or ought to know of the existence of that condition or circumstance and of its effect on the innocent party.”(杜大律師後加強調)
50.馮資深大律師指出,杜大律師亦不爭議,上訴庭於Tong Kwok Cheong v Tong Wai Lin [2014] 1 HKLRD 339第35段,同意及引用Boustany v Pigott (1995) 69 P & CR 298所闡明的原則:
“35. In Boustany v Pigott (1995) 69 P & CR 298, the Privy Council, in Lord Templeman’s judgment at p 303, agreed with the following statements of law:
“(1) It is not sufficient to attract the jurisdiction of equity to prove that a bargain is hard, unreasonable or foolish; it must be proved to be unconscionable, in the sense that ‘one of the parties to it has imposed the objectionable terms in a morally reprehensible manner, that is to say, in a way which affects his conscience’: Multiservice Bookbinding v. Marden [[1979] Ch. 84, 110].
(2) ‘Unconscionable’ related not merely to the terms of the bargain but to the behaviour of the stronger party, which must be characterised by some moral culpability or impropriety: Lobb (Alec) (Garages) Limtied v. Total Oil (Great Britain) Limited [[1983] 1 WLR 87, 94].
(3) Unequal bargaining power or objectively unreasonable terms provide no basis for equitable interference in the absence of unconscientious or extortionate abuse of power where exceptionally, and as a matter of common fairness, ‘it was not right that the strong should be allowed to push the weak to the wall’: Lobb (Alec) (Garages) Limited v. Total Oil (Great Britain) Limited [[1985] 1 WLR 173, 183].
(4) A contract cannot be set aside in equity as ‘an unconscionable bargain’ against a party innocent of actual or constructive fraud. Even if the terms of the contract are ‘unfair’ in the sense that they are more favourable to one party than the other (‘contractual imbalance’), equity will not provide relief unless the beneficiary is guilty of unconscionable conduct: Hart v. O’Connor [[1985] AC 1000] applied in Nichols v. Jessup [[1986] NZLR 226].
(5) ‘In situations of this kind it is necessary for the plaintiff who seeks relief to establish unconscionable conduct, namely that unconscientious advantage has been taken of this disabling condition or circumstances’: per Mason J in Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd. v. Amadio [(1983) 46 ALR 402, 413].”
51.簡而言之,僅僅證明某交易所謂苛刻、不合理或愚蠢或合約條款偏重某一方的利益,不足以引發衡平法之管轄權,必須證明其屬「不合情理」(unconscionable),包括以違反道德良心之手法強加不合理條款,構成衝擊良心之行為,及強勢一方之行為帶有道德上之責難或不當;只是談判力量不均,不足以招致衡平法之干預,唯有涉及不正當或勒索性地濫用權力,致於公義上不容許強者將弱者「逼至牆角」之情況下,法院方可干預。
52.Tong Kwok Cheong案第36段,亦闡明舉證該交易屬不合情理之交易的責任由尋求濟助一方承擔。
53.就隱含條款的適用法律,杜大律師引用英國最高法院在 Nazir Ali v Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago [2017] UKPC 2 第7段的陳述:
“It is enough to reiterate that the process of implying a term into the contract must not become the re-writing of the contract in a way which the court believes to be reasonable, or which the court prefers to the agreement which the parties have negotiated. A term is to be implied only if it is necessary to make the contract work, and this it may be if (i) it is so obvious that it goes without saying (and the parties, although they did not, ex hypothesi, apply their minds to the point, would have rounded on the notional officious bystander to say, and with one voice, “Oh, of course”) and/or (ii) it is necessary to give the contract business efficacy. Usually the outcome of either approach will be the same. The concept of necessity must not be watered down. Necessity is not established by showing that the contract would be improved by the addition. The fairness or equity of a suggested implied term is an essential but not a sufficient pre-condition for inclusion. And if there is an express term in the contract which is inconsistent with the proposed implied term, the latter cannot, by definition, meet these tests, since the parties have demonstrated that it is not their agreement.”
54.換句話說,若要法庭判定合約裏有要求的隱含條款,該隱含條款必須是明顯至不言而喻,或它必須存在以使該合約在商業上而言成為可行的,而該隱含條款不可與合約任何明文條款相互抵觸。
55.另外,馮資深大律師亦指出,杜大律師亦不爭議,案例亦確立另外兩個上面未有提及的要求,就是該要求的隱含條款:
(a) 必須是合理及公平的;及
(b) 其內容必須具備清晰表述之可能性。
(見Kensland Realty v Whale View Investment (2001) 4 HKCFAR 381第23及59段)
H. 討論
H.1. 相關租購合約及銷售協議的性質及他們賦予的權益;遷離及清拆光民村
56.甄先生的主要論據及曹女士其中一個論據,亦是其他被告人多多少少依賴的,是他們的前家庭成員已經透過相關的租購合約或銷售協議,在1950年代時購買了及獲得相關光民村平房的產權,包括在衡平法上的權益 (equitable interest),但被「剝削」,「淪為租客」,覺得十分不合理及不公平。他們十分強調該些合約及協議裏面的字眼,寫明是「租購」或「銷售」。
57.但是,要得知該相關的租購合約及銷售協議賦予合約及協議方的權益,要透過了解該合約及協議的內容來決定,而不可以只單看個別字眼。雖然合約提及購買,但也要從合約的相關事實背景(factual matrix)及內容,得知購買的主體是什麼。
58.首先,如平民屋宇指出,事實上在相關的租購合約及銷售協議裏,都沒有識別和訂明(更不用說清楚的識別和訂明)該平房所處於的地段,或夾附任何圖則來顯示和闡明該交易相關的土地資料,包括該土地的大小、形狀、地界線等等,而這些資料及訂明,都是常見於正常的土地樓房買賣合約裏面用來識別和訂明買賣主體 (就是相關地權) 必要的內容。反而,該相關租購合約及銷售協議提及和訂明的主體,只是相關的平房,這是在相關租購合約的第1及15條及銷售協議 的第1條分別訂明的:
“1. The Corporation will let and the Occupier will take on hire as from the date hereof (or as from the ___ day of ___ 195_ ) ALL THAT house or cottage being HOUSE No. ____ on the District ___, Kwong Man Village site.
…
15. If the Occupier shall duly perform and observe all the stipulations and conditions in this Agreement … and shall in the manner aforesaid pay to the Corporation monthly sums by way of rent amounting in aggregate to the sum of Dollars Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty ($2,940) and shall also pay to the Corporation all other sums of money which may become payable to the Corporation by the Occupier under this Agreement the letting shall come to an end and the said house shall become the property of the Occupier …”
“1. In pursuance of such Agreement and in consideration of the sum of DOLLARS ________ to the Corporation paid by the Purchaser (the receipt whereof the Corporation hereby acknowledges) the Corporation hereby assigns unto the Purchaser ALL THAT house or cottage situate at being HOUSE NO. _____ on the District ___, Kwong Man Village site, TO HOLD the same unto the Purchaser his executors administrators and assigns absolutely SUBJECT to the terms and conditions of the Permit issued by the Government and Subject to the payment of the annual fee hereinafter mentioned.”
(本席後加強調)
59.而就地權方面,只是在相關租購合約及銷售協議的前言記載平民屋宇向政府申請而政府批准在徙置區地段內建成平房及1952年政府承諾。
60.有關這方面,在相關租購合約及銷售協議及其他有關的文件有以下的提及:
(a) 在相關租購合約,都有以下條款提及 “resettlement area”, “Urban Council to cancel the Resettlement Area Permit” 及 “permit issued by the Government” 等內容:
“WHEREAS the Corporation has applied to Government for sites in resettlement areas as well as outside resettlement areas on which to build cottages or houses for rent or hire-purchase”
“10. The Occupier hereby agrees that in the event of the letting being determined under clause 9 hereof the Corporation shall have the right to request the Urban Council to cancel the Resettlement Area Permit issued to the Occupier …”
“14. During the continuance of this letting the Occupier shall have the option of purchasing from the Corporation the premises comprised in this letting. … On payment of such purchase price the letting shall come to an end and the said premises shall become the property of the Occupier and the Corporation do all such acts and things as may be necessary for vesting the said premises in the Occupier subject to the terms and conditions of the permit issued by the Government.”
(b) 在相關銷售協議第1條,如上面引述,也訂明銷售的平房,是“SUBJECT to the terms and conditions of the Permit issued by the Government”;
(c) 根據相關租購合約的第8條及相關銷售協議第3條,相關租戶或購買者都需要在租購期及以後,而相關購買者在購買平房後,仍需要向政府繳交“Permit Fee”;
(d) 徙置事務處處長給謝慧荷先生日期為1961年5月20日的信[141]裏提及:
“ … 本署長兹根據居住許可證普通章程第四項及1958年徙置條例第41節第三項通告閣下 … 許可證將於1961年8月21日由本署長執行取消”。
61.翻查當年的法律條例,得悉有:
(a) The Emergency (Resettlement Areas) Regulations 1952 (made under section 2 of the Emergency Regulations Ordinance Cap 241) Rules made by the Urban Council「(該1952徙置區規例)」;及
(b) Resettlement Ordinance 1958(即上面提及的1958年徙置條例)(「該1958徙置條例」)。
62.該1952徙置區規例
(a) 賦予權力給the Secretary of Urban Council發出許可證佔用“Resettlement Area”裏面的建築物 ;
(b) 裏面的第2附表列出包括大坑西的21個徙置區(Resettlement Areas),亦列明每一個徙置區不同大小的平房的許可證收費額(Permit Fee);
(c) 第4條訂明所有許可證都要跟從第1附表裏的表格章程,而該表格章程包括政府可以提早取消該許可證的條款[142]。
63.在1958年,該1958徙置條例廢除及取代該1952徙置區規例。該1958徙置條例 第37節及其第2附表列出大坑西為15個“Cottage Resettlement Area”的其中一個。根據該條例的第41節[143],該條例適用於該條例生效前蓋建於其第2附表列出的地段(包括大坑西)上的蓋建物。該條例第45節,訂明“a competent authority”(根據該1958徙置條例第2條,由港督指派)有絕對權力取消包括大坑西平房徙置區內的佔用許可證。
64.該第45節的相關條文,如下 :
“(1) A competent authority may revoke any occupation permit issued in accordance with the provisions of section 43 for breach of condition, whether general or special, or in accordance with such conditions.
(2) On any such revocation the permittee and the dependants, as from the date on which the revocation takes effect, shall be deemed to be trespassers and shall be liable to eviction in manner provided in section 50.
(3) On the issue of a notice revoking the occupation permit, the permittee may remove and dispose of any of the materials of which the building is comprised, subject to the rights of any person thereto.
(4) No court shall entertain any proceedings claiming relief in relation to the revocation of an occupation permit under subsection.
…”
65.根據該第45節,許可證被取消後,原有許可證持有人及他的依賴者,都被視為非法侵入佔用者,但他們可以根據第(3)款,拿回及搬走用以建蓋該平房的材料;更重要的,是第(4)款訂明任何法院不得受理與根據該節第(1)款撤銷佔用許可證有關之任何申索或救濟訴訟。
66.現在與各案相關的甄聖樹租購合約,曹玉笙銷售協議,李超租購合約,程羅音租購合約都是在1956年簽訂,所以,它們的相關事實背景(factual matrix),都是根據該1952徙置區規例訂明下的,就是光民村是建於大坑西Resettlement Area內,而該Resettlement Area只是政府當時授權Urban Council指定為徙置區,以許可証方式容許獲批准的人士佔用,而該許可證政府有絕對權力撤銷。 所以,根據該1952徙置區規例及相關租購合約及銷售協議內容規定,甄聖樹、曹玉笙、李超、程羅音和其家人佔用及「擁有該平房」的先決條件,是政府發出的佔用許可証仍然有效。亦即是說,大前題是基於1952年政府承諾,及根據租購合約,透過在7年內完成支付共84個月租金,或透過銷售協議一次性支付$1,492,有關租戶或購買者就可以至少在該10年期內佔用及「擁有」該平房。
67.本席亦判定,於1961年,是政府徙置處(Resettlement Department)根據該1958徙置條例撤銷向光民村平房發出的佔用許可證,以清拆光民村作基建和長久發展用途。
68.基於上述提及的法例、事實及分析,本席接納平民屋宇的分析及陳詞,說相關租購合約及銷售協議僅涉及租用或購買一所「房舍」,而非任何業權或地權,而相關佔用許可證一旦被撤銷及有關房舍一旦被拆卸,相關房舍的任何權益亦相應地同時消失。所以,本席不接納各被告人的聲稱,指他們仍保留或享有任何相關「光民村平房的產權」或衡平法權益,本席更加不接納他們進一步但毫無理據的指稱,指他們聲稱的「權益」(以不知怎樣的方式) 「轉移」至令到他們對現在佔用的個別大坑西新邨單位「有產權」的說法。
69.另一方面,雖然沒有直接文件證供或口頭證供明確指出個別被告人家庭當時遷離光民村的情况,但基於較大的固有可能性(inherent probability),本席認為各相關被告人家庭都得到上面第13段提及的安置安排及遷出光民村租金安排,根據個別情況得到相應的租金補貼或特惠,以兌現1952年政府𠄘諾,讓已付清租購金額者,或未付清者只需要付餘下時段內的標準租金額及直接購買了平房者不需要再付租金,而得到共10年期的安置,而之後可以以低廉租金租住建成後大坑西新邨的單位。所以,本席不同意個別被告人指稱,他們的家人當時被剝削或不公平對待。
H.2. 允諾不容反悔及擁有人不容反悔的聲稱不成立
70.現在,只有曹女士在5507案依賴允諾不容反悔及擁有人不容反悔原則作為拒絕交回管有權的理據。
71.就這方面,曹女士在她的抗辯書裏的闡述含糊,也沒有依據上述提及的確定法律原則,將每一個要素指稱及申述清楚。本席現在引述她抗辯書裏的相關內容:
“7. …The Defendant further avers that she and her family members’ right of residence in the Premises derives from the Defendant’s Grandfather purchasing the House of Kwong Man Village relying on the promise of the Plaintiff and the Government, the House was thereafter demolished with detrimental reliance on the promise of the Plaintiff and the Government that the Family would be re-settled back to the Tai Hang Sai Estate unconditionally that under the principle of promissory estoppel and/or alternatively proprietary estoppel of equity that the Defendant and her registered family members have the right to continue living in the Premises which is located in the same lot of land where the House was originally located. It will be unjust and inequitable to allow the Plaintiff to vacate the Defendant and her registered family members out from the Premises without proper arrangements of resettlement of them back to the future newly re-developed Tai Hang Sai Estate.
8. The Defendant denies paragraph 6. The Defendant and her registered family members’ capacity as approved settlers and their right of resettlement derived from the purchase of the House still continuing and existing based upon the principles of promissory estoppel and proprietary estoppel. …
9. The Defendant denies paragraph 7. As pleaded above, the Defendant and her registered family members have the right to continue residing at the Premises and they are to move out only on the condition of the Plaintiff giving the promise of resettling them back to the newly re-developed Tai Hang Sai Estate in their capacity as approved settlers without other conditions.
…
20. … The Plaintiff has conveyed a clear and unequivocal promise to the approved settlers including the Defendant’s Grandfather and thereafter the Defendant. A sum of HK$1475.00 had been paid by the Defendant’s Grandfather to the Plaintiff relying on the Plaintiff’s promise. Based on the principles of promissory estoppel and/or proprietary estoppel, it would be inequitable or unconscionable for the Plaintiff to act inconsistently with the promise and disqualify the Defendant and her registered family members’ right of residence and re-settlement relating to the present re-development of Tai Hang Sai estate.”[144]
72.曹女士在她的簡短證人陳述書裏,只是引述該1961年信,然後作出類似聲稱。
73.基於以下理由,本席拒絕允諾不容反悔及擁有人不容反悔的聲稱。
74.第一,在曹女士抗辯書第7段,提及平民屋宇的承諾,只有一個,就是會無條件地安置她家人回大坑西新邨 (“the promise of the Plaintiff and the Government that the Family would be re-settled back to the Tai Hang Sai Estate unconditionally”)。沒有爭議的,就是平民屋宇這個回遷的承諾當時已經兌現了。但說完這承諾後,抗辯書接着聲稱基於平民屋宇同一承諾,曹女士的家人有權可以不止地住在大坑西新邨 (“the Defendant and her registered family members have the right to continue living in the Premises which is located in the same lot of land where the House was originally located”)。這「不止地住在大坑西新邨」的聲稱大大超出平民屋宇回遷他們的承諾,基本上等同說平民屋宇承諾永遠及無論如何都一定要將該單位租給曹女士的家人佔用。本席認為,就算單看曹女士自己抗辯書的申述,都沒有提及平民屋宇在那裏及用什麼的言語或文字作出這個曹女士家人有權永遠租住的陳述或承諾。
75.第二,稍為仔細地閱讀該1961年信,就得悉李福樹先生代表平民屋宇只是解釋清拆光民村是為了建造更完善及可安置更多居民之屋宇,李福樹先生接著強調合同裏述明政府只承諾在10年內不干涉等,而唯一可以算是作出承諾的,只是 「將來一俟建築完成對原有之居民當可優先安置」,完全沒有像曹女士現在聲稱,承諾她的家人可以有權不止地租用大坑西新邨單位。
76.本席作出事實裁定,裁定平民屋宇沒有向曹女士作出她現在聲稱的有權永遠租住的陳述或承諾。
77.由於允諾不容反悔及擁有人不容反悔,都是始於和建立於平民屋宇作出了清楚且無歧義之陳述、承諾或保證的基礎上,而曹女士未能證明這基礎,所以用這2個原則作為拒絕交回管有權的論據,完全不成立。
78.再者,本席上面已經判定,當時光民村住戶須要遷出,是因為政府根據法例取消了相關的佔用許可證,令到光民村住戶不能夠再合法地繼續佔用有關平房。所以,本席裁定,無論平民屋宇有或沒有作出相關的陳述、承諾或保證,這些住戶遷出光民村的損害,都不是因為任何平民屋宇作出的陳述、承諾或保證(雖然本席裁決平民屋宇沒有作出)所帶來的。反之,本席接納馮資深大律師的分析和陳詞,當時平民屋宇的角色只是配合當時政府的政策,承擔建造、管理及營運更完善及可安置更多居民及以多層建築物構成的大坑西新邨,讓搬離光民村的住戶 (及其他有需要的合資格人士) 可以得到安置。
H.3. 租客不得挑戰業主無業權原則適用
79.如上面在第18至22段就各被告人家庭入住大坑西新邨及相關的背景的敘述,各被告人家庭自1970年代初開始到各案開展前這50多年間,都根據平民屋宇作為業主的要求提交「大坑西新邨住屋申請書」及填寫申報其居住家屬等,亦基本上無間斷地簽租約及交租金,無論在文件上或在行動上,到不斷地承認他們與平民屋宇就有關單位,是租客和業主的關係。
80.既判定他們與平民屋宇就有關單位,是租客和業主的關係,本席亦判定租客不得挑戰業主無業權的法律原則適用。
81.接着,本席會討論就租約裏的條款的爭議。
H.4. 持續更新租約的隱含條款
82.只有5582案譚女士在經修訂的抗辯書(第24段)聲稱在租約裏有所謂的「持續更新租約的隱含條款」:
“24. Taking into account the nature of the use of the land, the object of establishment of the Plaintiff, and the performance of the Plaintiff and Lee Kwan (and later, the Defendant) of renewing the tenancy agreements every two years without any screening process required for the Defendant's family members, all tenancy agreements are in substance perpetually renewable. The Plaintiff though being a private limited company, was and is incorporated so as to perform a supplementary function to the resettlement policy of the then Colonial Hong Kong Government and to the housing policy of the present Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. On the basis of the above, there is an implied covenant and a common intention shared by the Plaintiff and Lee Kwan (and later, the Defendant) that that the tenants should be entitled to remain in possession unless and until they fall into arrears with their rent or breach other provisions contained in the tenancy agreements”[145]
83.杜大律師的開案陳詞,指該隱含條款內容為「有權利續租及此隱含條款會繼承到期後簽訂的租約,除非被告人 (1) 放棄續租權;或 (2) 違反租約內的條款」;就是,除了最初簽的第一份租約有這聲稱隱含條款,再續簽的每一份租約都會自動地也包含同一個隱含條款。
84.杜大律師結案陳詞時中確認依賴下列三項事實,支持該持續更新租約的隱含條款的存在:
(a) 土地使用性質 (“the nature of the use of the land”);
(b) 平民屋宇設立之宗旨(“the object of establishment of the Plaintiff”);
(c) 平民屋宇及李堃(繼而由譚女士)每兩年續簽租約,其間續租時從未需經過任何篩選程序。
85.杜大律師的說法,簡而言之,是由於該土地是政府以優惠條件提供給平民屋宇作為興建低廉租金屋宇用途,而平民屋宇作為非牟利機構,成立宗旨是建造管理和提供租金低廉的房屋給收入及資產低於某個水平的有需要人士,而事實上在這幾十年來平民屋宇都繼續與譚女士家人續約,所以基於這幾點,就代表所有租約裏,都有該持續更新租約的隱含條款。
86.本席認為,不用太多分析已經顯而易見,譚女士這些說法毫無邏輯和道理根據。雖然一個機構的目的是以平價提供某些服務,又得到政府以補貼方式支持它以平價提供這些服務,不等同就因此而賦予某一個享用過這服務的人士一個法律權益或訴因,去強迫這個機構要永遠以平價提供這服務給他;亦不等同該機構作出了默示的法律承諾,約束自己永遠要以平價提供這服務給這人。同樣地,平民屋宇雖然是一個非牟利機構有着這樣的宗旨,亦得到政府批地作出上述用途,但不等於平民屋宇就對每一個已經入住的租客作出隱含的法律承諾,約束自己永遠都要續租給這個租戶,以致除非該租戶放棄續租或違反租約內的條款,在這兩者之外無論如何,平民屋宇都不能夠收回該單位。
87.再者,雙方多次續簽租約亦不等同證明了有任何持續更新租約的隱含條款存在。這只是一個慣性,不足以作為推斷具有可被執行權利 (enforceable right)的依據。 何况,如Woodfall:Landlord and Tenant第18.014段所載,法院普遍不傾向於認定永久性續租,如欲成立此種條款,必須有明確無誤之表述,僅僅因為雙方曾多次續約,絕不能因此推斷定有永久性續租條款:
“The Court leans against perpetual renewals … Accordingly, in order to establish this construction the intention has to be unequivocally expressed … A covenant will not be held to be one for perpetual renewal merely because several renewals have been granted; this method of construing the equivocal acts of the parties is wrong”
88.又如,區域法院暫委法官宋泳琛於Hantec Investment Ltd v Li Yau Man [2020] HKLdT 40 第50段中指出,本席亦同意:
“The fact that the tenancy had been renewed for many times previously is, again, neither here nor there. There could be a variety of reasons … drawing a conclusion of shared assumption of perpetual option to renew between the parties from the mere fact the tenancy has been renewed for many years is way too arbitrary.”
89.本席亦留意到譚女士現在尋求的持續更新租約的隱含條款內容,不包括平民屋宇有權不續約給一個已經變成富裕的租戶或要求他交更高租金,變成該隱含條款完全約束平民屋宇沒有任何彈性和權力去因時並進地考慮改變它服務提供的對象和條件等等。本席認為,這個考慮因素會令到任何客觀者不言而喻地說租約裏沒有這持續更新租約的隱含條款。
90.再者,該持續更新租約的隱含條款亦未能清晰地訂明續租的租金額及其他條件。換句話說,是否平民屋宇永遠要以同等租金額續租給譚女士 ? 如果不是,又怎樣訂定每次續約的租金額呢?又再者,該持續更新租約的隱含條款包括如果譚女士違反租約條款,平民屋宇就不用持續更新租約,是否代表平民屋宇已經放棄改變租約其他條款的權力,或是仍然可以隨意改變條款,以令到譚女士很難不違反,以至該所謂持續更新租約的隱含條款失去作用? 就這些關於租約的重點的不清晰,說明該持續更新租約的隱含條款的不合理及不清晰的地方。
91.本席認為,譚女士提出的這三個事項,根本完全不能夠證明這所謂的持續更新租約的隱含條款是 (a) 不言而喻,或 (b) 因為令到該租約在商業上變得有效可行而必須存在的。明顯地,任何租約,在沒有任何持續更新租約隱含條款下,都仍是有效可行的。
92.基於以上理由,本席裁定平民屋宇的租約內並沒有所聲稱的持續更新租約的隱含條款。
93.最後,本席亦接受平民屋宇證人侯先生在盤問時的證供,說曾有租戶告知平民屋宇其已不再居住於大坑西新邨,平民屋宇遂決定不續租並收回該物業。這更說明租約裏,沒有該持續更新租約的隱含條款。
H.5. 租約第II(26)條是否無效
94.作為拒絕交出相關單位的管有權理據,關先生及馬女士提出,他們與平民屋宇簽的最後一份租約第II(26)條,由於是在不對等議價能力下達成的不合情理交易條款(unequal bargaining power unconscionable dealing),所以是無效的。
95.他們的租約都有相同的第II(26)條,其內容如下:
“(26) On the determination of the tenancy hereby created forthwith to deliver up vacant possession of the said flat to the Landlord notwithstanding any rule of law or equity to the contrary.”
96.該條款說如果租約終止後,租戶須要交回管有權,儘管有其他普通法或衡平法原則,令到租戶不用交回管有權。
97.平民屋宇的書面及口頭開案陳詞,都沒有嘗試依賴該條款。在審訊中,本席亦向杜大律師詢問,如果相關被告人未能成立他們在普通法或衡平法內,有不用交出管有權的理據,那麼平民屋宇不需要倚賴該條款,單憑它是業權擁有人及業主的身份及權益,亦能成功收回管有權。對這說法杜大律師沒有爭議。其實,在法理上,他亦不能夠爭議。
98.因此,基於本席上述判定,現在各被告人提出不用交出管有權的理據都不成立,平民屋宇完全不需要倚賴該條款。所以,對該條款的挑戰變成完全是一個學術性的題目,對判案毫無影響。因此,本席不需要亦不打算探討及判定該條款在法律上是有效或是無效的。
H.6. 甄先生的家人是否全數繳交了甄聖樹租購合約內的租購款項
99.在審訊中有這個事實爭議。甄先生的證供,是他的家人已經全數繳清了甄聖樹租購合約內的租購款項,他的證供是他記得爺爺在他年少時向他述說已經購買了光民村的平房,但他未能提供任何文件或客觀證據。
100.平民屋宇不接受該事實聲稱。根據以下2點,基於較大的固有可能性,本席判定甄聖樹先生還未,亦不需要,完全繳清甄聖樹租購合約內的租購款項:
(a) 第一,甄聖樹租購合約的第四頁,有收據條款(receipt clause),讓平民屋宇在收到所有款項後簽署確認,但該收據條款是仍未簽署的[146]。反之,平民屋宇簽署了曹玉笙銷售協議上面的收據條款,證實收到了全部金額[147]。所以,本席認為當時平民屋宇在收清款項後,有簽署收據條款的做法。以致有較大的固有可能性,因為甄聖樹租購合約裏未簽署收據條款,就顯示有關款項還未收清。
(b) 第二,根據甄聖樹租購合約條款,租購繳款安排是邀交84個月的租金,在七年內繳付完成。該租購協議是1956年4月簽訂的,代表84個月的租金繳款,會在1963年3月左右完成。但根據上面不爭議的歷史事實,在1961年左右,政府已經撤銷光民村的佔用許可證,而大坑西新邨亦是在1964至1967年逐步建成。所以,本席認為有很高的固有可能性,甄聖樹只繳交月租到1961年左右,因為那時政府清拆光民村,包括甄聖樹租用的平房,以至他不需要根據甄聖樹租購合約,繳交光民村第3區地段第93號房舍的租金,而是根據遷出光民村租金安排處理其遷到的其他徙置區或住所的租金。
101.但上述事實裁定並不影響本席在上面 「H.1. 相關租購合約及銷售協議的性質及他們賦予的權益;遷離及清拆光民村」裏面的裁定,因為該些裁定是基於就算相關被告人家庭已經繳清租購款項的情况下作出的。
H.7. 曹女士及關先生不符合回遷資格等事宜
102.本席在審訊時,已經向曹女士及關先生多番指出,他們被平民屋宇認為不符合回遷資格等事宜,不在他們訴訟案的範圍以內,也不是其中的議題。所以,本席對該等事宜,在此亦不會作出任何評論。
I. 結果及處置
103.基於上述所說,本席裁定平民屋宇對所有被告人的案件都勝訴,亦基於相關被告人在5507案、5509案、5546案及5582案都決定不繼續他們的反申索,正式撤銷該反申索。
104.由於平民屋宇表明向各被告人只申索空置管有權,並沒有其他申索,本席現命令各被告人須要將列出在上面第6段的相關單位的空置管有權交還平民屋宇。
105.訟費方面,本席以暫准命令方式,命令各被告人須向平民屋宇支付其相關案件 (如適用,包括反申索) 的訟費,包括所有保留訟費,連同大律師證書。雖然本席感激馮資深大律師、陸大律師及羅大律師的協助,亦明白各案件對於平民屋宇的重要性,但就大律師的費用而言,本席初步認為一位12年年資左右的大律師代表平民屋宇已經合理地足夠,故大律師證書只限於一位上述資歷的。該暫准命令將會在14日後,成為絕對命令,除非期間有任何與訟者申請更改。
106.最後本席感謝馮資深大律師、陸大律師、羅大律師及杜大律師的協助。
DCCJ 5505/2023
原告人:由胡百全律師事務所委派的馮柏棟資深大律師、陸栩然大律師及羅鈞培大律師代表
被告人:沒有律師代表,並親自應訊
DCCJ 5507/2023
原告人:由胡百全律師事務所委派的馮柏棟資深大律師、陸栩然大律師及羅鈞培大律師代表
被告人:沒有律師代表,並親自應訊
DCCJ 5509/2023
原告人:由胡百全律師事務所委派的馮柏棟資深大律師、陸栩然大律師及羅鈞培大律師代表
被告人:第一及第二天審訊由Mohnani & Associates委派的杜加栩大律師代表,第三天審訊沒有律師代表,並親自應訊
DCCJ 5546/2023, DCCJ 5582/2023
原告人:由胡百全律師事務所委派的馮柏棟資深大律師、陸栩然大律師及羅鈞培大律師代表
被告人:由Mohnani & Associates委派的杜加栩大律師代表
[1] 根據平民屋宇,回遷及補償安排包括:(a) 重建完成後,欲回遷之租戶須符合平民屋宇訂立之回遷資格,合資格者將獲編配重建後單位;(b) 合資格回遷成員必須符合下列所有要求:(i) 已登記核實及載列於該單位租戶與平民屋宇訂立的租約附表成員上;(ii) 以大坑西新邨的單位作為其唯一居所;(iii) 現時沒有享用公營房屋福利;(iv) 沒有在香港擁有住宅物業;及 (v) 與平民屋宇訂立租約的租戶本人及載列於租約附表上的成員所衍生的核心家庭內每一核心家庭成員均須符合上列資格;否則,該個別核心家庭將被視為不符合回遷資格成員;(c) 符合回遷資格的租戶或成員可在重建期間獲平民屋宇發放租金津貼及搬遷津貼,根據成員人數計算,例如: 一人成員該兩項津貼共港幣570,000元,六人成員該兩項津貼共港幣1,210,000元;(d) 符合回遷資格的租戶或成員亦可選擇交回單位並永久遷出,亦會獲得一次性津貼;(d) 即使列於租約附表上的租戶或成員不符合回遷資格,平民屋宇發放一筆過的特惠搬遷津貼。每名上述成員可獲港幣100,000元,每戶上限港幣700,000元。
[2] DCCJ 5511/2023 梁亞端女士
[3] HCAL 1600/2024;高浩文法官,判詞見 [2025] HKCFI 3715
[4] [B/2/7-8]
[5] 原告人翻譯 (各被告方没有爭議) :
「(a) 按政府與本公司可能協定之條款及條件向香港政府申請土地,以興建棚屋及房屋,供政府批准之定居者及總收入不超過本公司不時釐定金額之其他居民(該等定居者及該等居民以下稱為「獲批准佔用人」)佔用。
(c) 開發及利用本公司擁有權益的任何地盤或所收購的任何土地,尤其是透過鋪設及準備有關土地作建築用途、建設、改建、拆卸、裝飾、維護、裝修、裝配及改善樓宇,以及透過鋪路、排水、按建築租賃或建築協議出租,以及透過向建築商、獲批准佔用人及其他人士墊款及與彼等訂立各類合約及安排。
(f) 按本公司不時釐定的條款及條件,向獲批准佔用人出售或出租任何小屋、房屋、單位、樓宇或本公司財產及權利的任何部分。」
[6] 見輔政司向平民屋宇發出日期為1952年10月4日的信 [B/3/17]:“… I am to confirm Government’s undertaking that no house built by the Corporation on an approved site for rent or hire purchase will be disturbed by Government before the expiry of 10 years from the date of its erection unless the land is required for a public purpose”
[7] 見副財政司向平民屋宇發出日期為1958年11月27日的信及其附件 [B/4/18-20]
[8] 該信的第五段 [B/4/19-20]:“5. In all cases tenants of the Corporation, accommodated by Government in re-settlements estates in accordance with paragraph (4), will pay the standard rents for such accommodation from the tenth anniversary of the date on which they first entered into agreement with the Corporation. Those who have not completed payments due to the Corporation will pay to Government the standard rents for the accommodation provided for the same length of time as they agreed to make payments to the Corporation. At the end of these periods they will not be required to pay rents to Government until the expiry of the ten-years period mentioned above. Similarly, those who have already completed all payments due to the Corporation prior to being temporarily re-housed in Government accommodation, will not be required to pay rent until the expiry of the ten-years period mentioned above. All rents actually paid for accommodation in resettlement estates will accrue to Government. In all cases tenants of the Corporation accommodated by Government in resettlement estates are not required to pay more rent than what they are now paying to the Corporation, that is, not more than $43.33 per month in the case of type A cottages and $25 per month in the case of type B cottages.”
[9] 原告人翻譯(各被告方會有爭議):「(d) 承批人不得出售、轉讓、按揭或抵押上述土地或其任何部分,或在未獲得政府就每項該等處置給予書面同意的情況下,訂立任何該等協議,而政府作為給予同意的條件,可施加該等限制條款及條件,不論是有關售價或按揭(視情況而定)所籌集的款額,或有關轉讓的形式、 但在任何情況下,本條款所載任何規定均不得視為適用於或限制承批人將土地上的單位或其他住宅出租予將會在其中居住的租戶,而承批人透過其執行委員會完全有權控制上述單位或其他住宅的管理,以及以短期租約出租單位或其他住宅。」
[10] 見政府徙置事務處處長向謝慧荷先生(大坑西徙置區第三段第129B號屋)日期為1961年5月20的信件 [B/7/47]
[11] 見政府徙置管理處向Mr Fok Hang(大坑西徙置區第三段第9B號屋)日期為1961年7月21日及標題為“Tai Hang Sai Resettlement Area Clearance” 的信件,英文版在 [B/7/48],中文版 [B/7/49-50]
[12] [5507/C/4/10],[5509/C/4/40] 及 [5546/C/5/64]
[13] 5505 答辯書第3段 [5505/A/2/13]
[14] [5505/C/2/2-9]
[15] [5505/C/4/11-14]
[16] [5505/C/4/14]
[17] 與甄聖樹為同一人 [5505/C/4/11]
[18] [5505/C/5/15]
[19] [5505/C/5/15/§1]
[20] [5505/C/6/19-22]
[21] [5505/C/7/23-26]
[22] [5505/C/7/26]
[23] [5505/C/7/24]
[24] [5505/C/9/29-32]
[25] [5505/C/9/30]
[26] [5505/C/10/33]
[27] [5505/C/11/34-37]
[28] [5505/C/12/38-41]
[29] [5505/C/12/38/§I]
[30] [5505/C/12/41]
[31] [5505/C/14/46-49]
[32] [5505/C/15/50-53]
[33] [5505/C/15/50/§I]
[34] [5505/C/15/50/§I]
[35] [5505/C/16/123-166]
[36] [5505/C/17/167]
[37] [5505/C/18/173]
[38] 5507 抗辯書,第3(4)段 [5507/A/2/15]
[39] [5507/C/3/9-1 to 9-3]
[40] [5507/C/6/12-15]
[41] [5507/C/6/12]
[42] [5507/C/6/13]
[43] [5507/C/7/16-19]
[44] [5507/C/7/16/§I]
[45] [5507/C/9/32-37]
[46] [5507/C/10/36-37]
[47] 當時名為「曹雪穎」:被告人向原告人提交的更改名稱聲明副本(11.5.2016)[5507/C/13/46]
[48] [5507/C/11/38-41]
[49] [5507/C/11/38]
[50] [5507/C/11/39]
[51] [5507/C/12/42-47]
[52] [5507/C/12/42/§I]
[53] [5507/C/14/48-49]
[54] [5507/C/15/50-53]
[55] [5507/C/15/50]
[56] [5507/C/15/50/§I]
[57] [5507/C/20/113-118]
[58] [5507/C/18/73]
[59] 基礎為於2022年3月提交的租戶資料聲明及相關文件顯示涉案單位水電用量長期極低,且帳單寄送地址為九龍啟德德朗邨 [5507/C/18/100-106];另外兩名租戶資料聲明書上的男士(朱健楠及朱栩寧)未列入民興樓 430 室租約家庭成員 [5507/C/18/60]; [5507/15/53]
[60] [5507/C/21/119]
[61] 被告人聲稱李超是他的誼父(adoptive father):5509 經修訂的抗辯書及反申索,第3(4)段 [5509/A/2/16]
[62] [5509/C/2/7-14]
[63] [5509/C/5/41-44]
[64] [5509/C/5/41]
[65] [5509/C/5/42]
[66] [5509/C/6/45-48]
[67] [5509/C/6/45/§1]
[68] [5509/C/8/53-54]
[69] [5509/C/7/49-52]
[70] [5509/C/6/49/§1]
[71] [5509/C/6/52]
[72] [5509/C/11/86]
[73] 平民屋宇紀錄 (22.8.2001) [5509/C/13/100]
[74] [5509/C/15/102-104]
[75] [5509/C/16/109-111]
[76] [5509/C/16/109/§I]
[77] [5509/C/16/109/§I]
[78] [5509/C/23/127-132]
[79] [5509/C/25/135];關先生並非以涉案單位作為唯一住所,於2022年2月關先生提交租戶資料聲明書及相關文件,相關文件顯示其水電用量長期極低,顯示並非以該單位為唯一居所 [5509/C/21/123-124]。
[80] [5509/C/27/145]
[81] [5546/C/2/7-14]
[82] [5546/C/2/65]
[83] [5546/C/2/65-69]
[84] [5546/C/2/65]
[85] [5546/C/2/68]
[86] [5546/C/7/70-73]
[87] [5546/C/7/70/§1]
[88] [5546/C/6/69]
[89] [5546/C/8/74-77]
[90] [5546/C/13/146-149]
[91] [5546/C/12/142-145]
[92] [5546/C/8/78-81]
[93] [5546/C/7/78/§1]
[94] [5546/C/8/81]
[95] [5546/C/15/151-157]
[96] [5546/C/17/159-162]
[97] [5546/C/17/159]
[98] [5546/C/17/162]
[99] [5546/C/8/94-96]
[100] [5546/C/8/94/§I]
[101] [5546/C/8/98-101]
[102] [5546/C/20/167-170]
[103] [5546/C/20/167/§I]
[104] [5546/C/20/167/§I]
[105] [5546/C/21/171-176]
[106] 馬女士女兒自已申報了自己在香港擁有其他住宅物業:租戶資料聲明書(8.6.2023)[5546/C/23/179]
[107] [5546/C/23/182]
[108] [5546/C/26/190]
[109] [5582/C1/4/33-38]
[110] [5582/C1/4/33]
[111] [5582/C1/4/34]
[112] [5582/C1/5/39]
[113] [5582/C1/6/40-43]
[114] [5582/C1/6/40/§1]
[115] [5582/C1/10/71]
[116] [5582/C1/11/72]
[117] [5582/C1/11/87-89]
[118] [5582/C1/15/90-93]
[119] [5582/C1/15/90]
[120] [5582/C1/18/97-100]
[121] [5582/C1/18/97/§I]
[122] [5582/C1/18/97/§I]
[123] [5582/C1/21/107-112]
[124] [5582/C1/24/117]
[125] 譚女士的3名兒子及1名女兒均申報了自己非以該單位作為其唯一居所,3名兒子均申報了自己在香港擁有其他住宅物業:租戶資料聲明書(8.6.2021)[5582/C1/19/101]
[126] [5582/C1/24/117]
[127] [5582/A/4/70/§74]
[128] [5582/C1/25/123]
[129] [B/5/22-76]
[130] [B/34/236-237]
[131] [5505/A/2/13-17]
[132] 5505甄國業證人陳述書, §12 [5505/A/5/51]
[133] 5507抗辯書及反申索, §7 [5507/A/2/25]
[134] 5509經修訂抗辯書及反申索, §7 [5509/A/2/25]
[135] 5546經修訂抗辯書及反申索, §7 [5546/A/2/26]
[136] 5582經修訂抗辯書及反申索, §14 [5582/A/2/22]
[137] 第24段 [5582/A/27]
[138] “[a] lease granted for a fixed term expires by effluxion of time when the term comes to an end. It does so automatically and without notice. On the ending of the term, the tenant must give up possession of the property comprised in the lease, unless he has a statutory right to remain in possession”
[139] [原告人翻譯]「不容反悔在業主與租客關係中之首要原則之一,即租客不得否認業主之業權。此原則適用於書面租約、口頭租約,以及加蓋印章之租約。故此,承租人不得在仍然佔用物業時,藉主張相反之業權來否認出租人之業權;簽署租約本身即屬一種承認。凡基於他人而進入物業之人,不論是作為租客、持牌人或其他身分,均不得否認容許其進入之人之業權。租客亦不得藉早前租客之業權挑戰其租約有效性……縱使租約已屆滿,前租客於其曾佔用期間,仍不得否認前業主之業權,除非:(i) 於該段期間曾受具優先業權者干擾;或 (ii) 於租約期滿後,有具優先業權者就其於該段期間之部分時間向租客提出申索,使之面臨被追討風險。」
[140] “[t]he aim remains what it has always been, namely the prevention or undoing of unconscionable conduct. In many cases, once the equity is established, then the fulfilment of the promise is likely to be the starting point, although considerations of practicality, justice between the parties and fairness to third parties may call for a reduced or different award. And justice between the parties may be affected if the proposed remedy is out of all proportion to the reliant detriment, if that can easily be identified without recourse to minute mathematical calculation, and proper regard is had to non-monetary harm.”
[141] [B/6/47]
[142] “…This permit is issued subject to the Emergency (Resettlement Areas) Regulations 1952, and to the Special Conditions endorsed on the back hereof and shall be valid until _____ only, unless sooner determined”
[143] “(1) Any building which, at the date of the coming into operation of this Ordinance, is in an area designated in the Second Schedule and has been erected under or by reason of any authority or permission given under any enactment relating to the clearance or resettlement of squatters shall be deemed to have been authorized by a competent authority under the provisions of this Part of this Ordinance and this Part of this Ordinance shall apply to such building as if an erection permit had been granted in respect of such building under the provisions of section 40”
[144] [5507/A/2/25-26 & 30]
[145] [5582/A/2/27/§24]
[146] [5505/C/2/9]
[147] [5507/C/3/9-3]
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