Super Mate Ltd. v. Siu Suk Yee

HCA002644/2000

HCA 2644/2000

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

ACTION NO. 2644 OF 2000

____________________

____________________

Coram: Before Master M. Yuen in Court

Date of Hearing: 21 & 22 January 2002

Date of Delivery of Judgment: 26 April 2002

___________________________

ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES

___________________________

1.The plaintiff was the developer of a residential block known as Bellevue Place situated at U Lam Terrace, Mid Levels, Hong Kong. Bellevue Place is a single block with 27 stories. There are 4 units on each floor.

2.In November 1997 the plaintiff put the project up for sale. A number of buyers, including the defendant, signed up agreements to acquire the residential flats in the development. Each of the buyers was required to pay an initial deposit of 10% of the purchase price upon signing of the agreement to purchase. Further payments, each amounting to 5% of the purchase price, were required to be made on 2 January 1998, 1 April 1998, 1 July 1998 and 1 October 1998 respectively. The balance of the purchase price of the unit was to be paid within 14 days upon notification of the issuance of the occupation permit.

3.With the drop in the property market towards the end of 1997, some of the buyers approached the plaintiff to negotiate for reduction of the purchase price. In response to the requests, the plaintiff wrote to the purchasers on 28 March 1998 indicating that the plaintiff would reimburse the buyer 8% of the purchase price and the stamp duty upon completion of the transaction. The payment due days on 1 April, 1 July and 1 October were postponed to 1 May, 1 August and 1 November 1998 respectively.

4.More than 20 buyers defaulted payment.

5.The defendant was the purchaser of Flat 12-A. The agreement was signed on 13 October 1997 for a purchase price of HK$4,668,000. The defendant paid the initial deposit of HK$466,800 and a further deposit of HK$233,400 on 2 January 1998.

6.As the defendant defaulted further payments, the plaintiff brought the civil suit HCA-624/99 on 13 January 1999 to recover the outstanding installment payments. In default of notice of intention to defend, the plaintiff obtained judgment on 6 January 2000 in the following terms:-

(a) the sum of HK$700,200;

(b) interest on the said sum of HK$700,200 at the rate of 2% per annum above the prime rate specified by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from the respective due dates to the date of judgment and thereafter at judgment rate until the date of payment; and

(c) costs of HK$2,050.

7.Occupation permit was issued on 30 August 1999. On 28 September 1999 the plaintiff notified the defendant of the issuance of the occupation permit and requested the defendant to complete the purchase within 14 days. As the defendant failed to make payment or take delivery of the property, on 5 January 2000 the plaintiff exercised its contractual right to terminate the agreement. On 13 March 2000 the plaintiff initiated the present proceeding to recover from the defendant the damages in respect of the defendant's breach. In default of notice of intention to defend, the plaintiff obtained interlocutory judgment on 20 April 2000 for damages and costs to be assessed.

8.The property was subsequently re-sold on 17 July 2000 for HK$2,480,000.

9.According to the valuation report prepared by FPD Savills (Hong Kong) Limited the open market value of Flat 12-A on 5 January 2000 was HK$2,560,000. The loss of bargain suffered by the plaintiff was HK$2,108,000 (HK$ 4,668,000 - HK$2,560,000). Costs of the surveyor for the preparation of the surveyor report would be a head of costs incurred towards the assessment hearing. Giving credit for the payments made by the defendant and the award for outstanding installments granted in HCA-624/99, the damages suffered by the plaintiff is assessed at HK$707,600 (HK$4,668,000 - HK$2,560,000 - HK$700,200 - HK$700,200).

10.This court did entertain some concern about the date of the valuation of the property for the purpose of assessing the plaintiff's loss of bargain. Relying on the House of Lords decision in White v Carter [1961] 3 All E.R. 1178 solicitor on behalf of the plaintiff submitted that the plaintiff has no obligation to accept the defendant's repudiatory breach and was entitled to hold the defendant to her contractual obligation until 5 January 2000 when the plaintiff elected to terminate the agreement. Would a strict application of White v Carter water down a party's duty to mitigate its damages is hypothetical in the present fact situation, as there was no evidence before this court to show the clear intention of the defendant to terminate her contractual relationship with the plaintiff. Thus a determination as to whether the plaintiff ought to have terminated the agreement at an earlier time to enable a quicker re-sale is unnecessary.

11.Judgment is awarded to the plaintiff in the sum of HK$707,600.

12.Basing on the decision of Komala Deccof [1984] HKLR 219 the plaintiff also sought the award of commercial interest. In light of the present economic climate and the verbal testimony of the surveyor that the current mortgage loan rate was generally granted at 2.2% to 2.5% below prime, I am of the opinion that the award of 2% below prime lending rate is reasonable to cover the loss of profit in sale of residential units.

13.Commercial interest is awarded on the judgment sum at 2% below prime lending rate from the date of the writ until judgment. Judgment interest accrues from the date of judgment at judgment rate until payment.

14.I also award costs of this assessment hearing to the plaintiff against the defendant, to be taxed if not agreed.

Representation:

Miss R. Mak of Messrs. Sit, Fung, Kwong & Shum for the Plaintiff

Defendant in person, absent