Re Leung Tze Hang David
Read the full judgment text of HCB 18073/2002 on BabelCite. This HCB judgment was delivered on 28 July 2004.
1. New Regent Finance Management Limited ("New Regent") is a licensed money lender. Mr Dick Leung Wing Leung ("Mr Dick Leung") is one of its directors.
Cited by 1 case
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HCB018073/2002 HCB 18073/2002 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS NO. 18073 OF 2002 ____________
____________ Coram: Recorder Ronny Wong, SC in Court Dates of Hearing: 3, 4, 7 - 10 June 2004 Date of Judgment: 28 July 2004 _______________ J U D G M E N T _______________ The facility to Pacific System Development Limited ("Pacific System") leading to the consent Judgment 1.New Regent Finance Management Limited ("New Regent") is a licensed money lender. Mr Dick Leung Wing Leung ("Mr Dick Leung") is one of its directors. 2.By a facility letter dated 11 September 1997, New Regent extended a loan of $9 million in favour of Pacific System. The loan was for a period of six months from 11 September 1997 with interest at 30% per annum. It was secured by a legal charge dated 22 December 1997 over Unit 42 on the Ground Floor of Hunghom Commercial Centre ("the Hunghom Unit"). The loan was extended on 20 April 1998 for a further six months from 11 March 1998 with interest at 36% per annum. It was secured in addition by a guarantee dated 20 April 1998 from Mr Leung Tze Hang David ("Mr David Leung"), the alleged debtor in these proceedings. Pacific System defaulted in payment of monthly interest of $270,000 due under this loan. New Regent instituted HCA No. 10575 of 1998 ("Action 10575") against both Pacific System and Mr David Leung on 26 June 1998. Mr Andrew Chan of Messrs Lau & Chan was the Solicitor acting for New Regent in Action 10575. 3.On 12 October 1999, Messrs Lau & Chan wrote to Messrs Denton Hall. They referred to Action 10575 and to a meeting with Mr David Leung on 24 September 1999 when they were informed that Pacific System and Mr David Leung would unconditionally consent to judgment to be entered against them and Messrs Denton Hall would be instructed to act for them in Action 10575. Messrs Lau & Chan asked Messrs Denton Hall for confirmation of their instructions to act. By letter dated 25 October 1999, Messrs Lau & Chan sent to Messrs Dental Hall the Re-Amended Writ in Action 10575 and a draft Consent Summons. The draft Consent Summons craved for two reliefs. It sought judgment in respect of the $9,000,000 loan and possession of the Hunghom Unit. This latter relief was deleted in the draft copy before me. 4.Pursuant to a Consent Summons filed on 7 December 1999, Master B Kwan ordered on 9 December 1999 that judgment be entered against Pacific System and Mr David Leung for $9,000,000 with interest at 36% per annum from 11 May 1998. Payments by Mr David Leung 5.Mr David Leung made payments to New Regent after the Consent Order. Those payments may be divided into two groups.
The re-structuring of AWT Holdings Company Limited ["AWT"] and its settlement with its creditors 6.AWT is an exempted company incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability. Its shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In around late 1999, AWT was seeking to ride on the so-called dot.com boom and to engage in logistics business. It eventually changed its name to 401.com Ltd. in June 2000. 7.Mr David Leung was the Chairman of AWT between January 1996 to around mid-April 1999. He became thereafter its Managing Director. 8.AWT was heavily in debt in the second half of 1999. By announcements dated 22 October 1999, 1 November 1999 and 5 November 1999, AWT announced its settlement with International Bank of Asia Limited ("IBA"); SHC Finance Company Limited ("SHC") and Nanyang Commercial Bank Limited ("NCB") whereby each of IBA, SHC and NCB agreed to a standstill arrangement in consideration of AWT paying cash, issuing shares and convertible bonds to those creditors. 9.There were heavy tradings of AWT shares prior to the first of these announcements. 830,130,000 shares were traded on 8 October 1999 with closing price at $0.178. 441,040,000; 69,950,000 and 84,450,000 shares were traded on 22 October 1999 and 1 and 5 November 1999 with closing price at $0.149, $0.127 and $0.134 respectively. 10.AWT shares continued to be heavily traded in the first quarter of 2000 :
11.Win Eastern Limited ("Win Eastern") was another creditor of AWT. By an agreement dated 14 April 2000 between AWT, two of AWT's subsidiaries and Win Eastern, Win Easter agreed to accept the allotment of 198,874,639 AWT shares at an issue price of $0.022 per share in settlement of the liabilities of AWT and its subsidiaries amounting to $4,375,242.06 as at 29 February 2000. On or about 16 May 2000, Win Easter was allotted the 198,874,639 shares. On 29 June 2000, Win Eastern divided its holdings into two portions with the smaller portion amounting to 72,720,000 shares. 12.On 7 September 2000, 72,720,000 shares were transferred from the name of Win Eastern into the name of Golden Joy Limited ("Golden Joy"). According to the annual return of Golden Joy as at 20 January 2001, Chan Kam Hoi and Chan Kam Chu were its two directors. They were also the shareholders of Golden Joy until each of them transferred the one Golden Joy share registered in their respective names in favour of nominee companies on 31 March 2000. Service of the statutory demand and payments thereafter 13.On 16 April 2002, Mr Dick Leung on behalf of New Regent served a statutory demand under section 6A(1)(a) of the Bankruptcy Ordinance (Cap. 6) on Mr David Leung demanding a total of $20,183,917.80 said to be made up of $9,000,000 by way of principal and $11,175,041.10 by way of interest from 11 May 1998 to 3 April 2002. Between 22 April 2002 and 14 November 2002, Mr David Leung paid New Regent the sums totaling $1,090,000 as summarized in paragraph 5(b) above. 14.Mr David Leung sent the payment of $700,000 to Messrs Kwok, Ng & Chan, Solicitors of New Regent, by letter dated 30 April 2002. It is important to note the contents of this letter where Mr David Leung said :
Messrs Kwok, Ng & Chan replied to this letter on 2 May 2002. They said this :
15.By letter dated 31 May 2002, Mr David Leung sent to New Regent $30,000 "for settlement of the outstanding principal due to you". He further stated that :
This brought another refute from Messrs Kwok, Ng & Chan dated 17 June 2002. Messrs Kwok, Ng & Chan pointed out that "our client had never agreed anything with you in relation to your indebtedness. Your recent payment of HK$30,000.00 was merely a partial satisfaction of your indebtedness." 16.By letter dated 15 July 2002, Mr David Leung sent to New Regent a pay-in slip in respect of payment of $150,000 into New Regent's account. He said this in his 15 July 2002 letter :
By letter dated 25 July 2002, Messrs Kwok, Ng & Chan pointed out that "... our client did not agree anything with you as alleged or at all. The sum of HK$150,000.00 will be treated as partial satisfaction of your total indebtedness." Presentation of Petition and the Order of Deputy High Court Judge Muttrie dated 20 January 2004 17.New Regent presented the Bankruptcy Petition in these proceedings on 30 August 2002. Mr David Leung filed two Affidavits dated 28 March 2003 and 31 March 2003 to resist this Petition. 18.On 5 November 2003, New Regent applied under O.38 r.2 for the cross examination of Mr David Leung on his Affidavits. By order dated 20 January 2004, Deputy High Court Muttrie ordered Mr David Leung to attend for cross examination failing which his "affidavits shall not be used as evidence herein". 19.By notice dated 4 February 2004, the hearing of the Petition was fixed on 3 June 2004. Application to adjourn and the course of the hearing before me 20.At the commencement of the hearing before me on 3 June 2004, Counsel for Mr David Leung applied to adjourn the hearing of the Petition on the ground that Mr David Leung had unstable blood pressure and acute chest discomfort on 2 June 2004 and he was admitted into Hong Kong Adventist Hospital that day under the care of Dr Monica Lee. Dr Paul Lam, a psychiatrist, was also engaged to advise on his mental state. For reasons stated in my ruling on 7 June 2004, I refused the application. 21.Mr David Leung appeared in person on 8 June 2004. Dr Paul Lam was in Court for most if not all the sessions. Bearing in mind the medical evidence before me, I kept Mr David Leung's conditions under close observations. Throughout the hearing, Mr David Leung was courteous to the Bench. He tried his best to assist me in the various clarifications which I sought. He adopted a wholly different attitude towards Mr Ng, solicitor acting for New Regent. Despite repeated reminders from the Bench, Mr David Leung was aggressive and hostile towards Mr Ng. He blamed Mr Ng for his advice leading to what he says is a change of heart on the part of New Regent. Mr David Leung was obviously under pressure in face of this Petition. I do not however detect any sign showing either physical or mental difficulty on his part over and above that normally experienced by a lay litigant in handling proceedings of this nature. The case of Mr David Leung 22.Mr David Leung rests his case on the basis of three alleged "Settlement Agreements". The 1st Settlement Agreement was allegedly made in around October 1999 between Mr Andrew Chan acting on behalf of New Regent on the one part and Pacific System and Mr David Leung on the other part whereby it was agreed that :
23.Mr David Leung said that in around February or March 2000, he informed Mr Andrew Chan acting on behalf of New Regent that a certain amount of AWT shares would soon be allotted to Win Eastern and he could arrange part of the AWT shares to be allotted to Win Eastern to be sold to New Regent pursuant to the 1st Settlement Agreement. He said as a result, the 2nd Settlement Agreement was "eventually agreed" between New Regent on the one part and Pacific System and he himself on the other part that :
24.Mr David Leung said that in around April 2001, he negotiated with Mr Dick Leung regarding the payment of interest. He said that they agreed that monthly interest payment be reduced from $90,000 per month to $45,000 per month commencing from March 2001. He said he stopped paying after December 2001 as he had paid interest for more than a reasonable period as agreed under the 2nd Settlement Agreement. 25.Mr David Leung said he met Mr Dick Leung on 27 February 2002. He drew this Court's attention to a document bearing that date ("the February Note"). The February Note can be divided into four parts :
26.Mr David Leung said that at this 27 February 2002 meeting Mr Dick Leung requested him to resume payment of monthly interest of $90,000 per month which he refused. Mr Dick Leung then explained to him that he had mortgaged his flat with The Chinese Bank Limited in order to raise fund for the purchase of 72,720,000 AWT shares from Great Eastern and Mr Dick Leung was in default under that loan. Mr David Leung said that they then discussed the indemnity which he gave under the 2nd Settlement Agreement. They concluded the 3rd Settlement Agreement whereby it was agreed that in lieu of the undertaking for indemnity given under the 2nd Settlement Agreement, Mr David Leung would pay New Regent $1,600,000 in respect of its shortfall. Mr David Leung said that he told New Regent that he could only afford to pay $30,000 per month but could pay more after sale of the AWT shares allotted to him. The case of New Regent 27.In relation to the 1st Settlement Agreement, New Regent said that Pacific System and Mr David Leung had unconditionally consented to judgment in Action 10575. Mr Andrew Chan did not enter into any oral settlement agreement as alleged and there was no agreement to pay interest from the date of judgment in Action 10575. New Regent pointed out that the first three payments of $90,000 were made in March 2000. 28.New Regent drew this Court's attention to Mr David Leung's failure to give proper particulars in support of the 2nd alleged Settlement Agreement.
29.Mr Dick Leung said he was informed by Mr Dominic Kwok in around April 2001 that Mr David Leung could only pay at a reduced rate of $45,000 per month. Mr Dominic Kwok said that such reduced rate should be for six to eight months and thereafter payment would be reverted to $90,000 per month. From about November 2001, there was no payment even at the reduced rate of $45,000. He therefore met Mr David Leung on 27 February 2002 to chase Mr David Leung for payment.
The testimony of Mr David Leung before me 30.He said Mr Dominic Kwok was the mutual friend of Mr Dick Leung and Mr Andrew Chan. Mr Dominic Kwok asked him to go to the office of Mr Andrew Chan in October 1999. He thought he was going to meet Mr Dick Leung but was received by Mr Andrew Chan. He spent half an hour to an hour discussing with Mr Andrew Chan. He told Mr Andrew Chan that AWT was being re-organised and there was a good chance of success. He also told Mr Andrew Chan that he would not mind judgment being entered in Action 10575 but it must be on the basis that the judgment would not be enforced. He offered to get one lot of AWT shares for New Regent and further offered to pay $90,000 per month before getting those shares so as to show his sincerity. He would tell Mr Dick Leung once he managed to locate the AWT shares and there would not be any need for him to repay thereafter. Mr Andrew Chan allegedly said that he would talk to Mr Dick Leung and there should not be any problem. Mr David Leung cannot recall whether Mr Andrew Chan confirmed to him New Regent's acceptance. He said they were on the phone all the time. He said he asked Mr Andrew Chan whether he could act for him in Action 10575 but Mr Andrew Chan declined. Messrs Denton Hall acted for him on a gratuitous basis. He cannot recall whether he told Messrs Denton Hall of the existence of the 1st Settlement Agreement. He drew my attention to other Consent Orders which he and Pacific System were parties. He said they acceded to whatever order sought by the other side. He emphasized that New Regent took no step to enforce the judgment in Action 10575 till the lodging of the Petition in these proceedings. 31.He located Win Eastern in February/March 2000. Mr Dick Leung and Mr Dominic Kwok went up to his office. He cannot recall whether Mr Andrew Chan was also there. It was his first meeting with Mr Dick Leung. They were discussing one lot of shares but the size of that lot was not identified. AWT shares were then being traded at around $0.3 per share. He reckoned that a rise of 10 cents would be sufficient to discharge the judgment debt. He promised Mr Dick Leung that if the shares could not be sold within a reasonable time, he would shoulder the principal laid out for such purchase. Mr Dick Leung allegedly said that if that be sorted out the slate would be wiped clean. He was prepared to pay $90,000 per month as Win Eastern had to take time to transfer the AWT shares. He refuted the suggestion that the sums of $90,000 or $45,000 were payments of interest. He strongly denied that it was Mr Dick Leung who decided to make personal investment in AWT shares. 32.He maintained that the figure of 1,600,000 in the February Note represented the drop in price which he agreed to indemnity. He denied that figure was a reference to the anticipated outlay of Mr Dick Leung. He had no knowledge that the actual outlay of Mr Dick Leung was $1,160,000. 33.He said he made similar agreements with other creditors. The debts were discharged in return for shares in AWT. Most of his creditors made money from the AWT shares. 34.At the material time, his company had little staff left. Miss Remus Cheung was her assistant. They had to tackle demands from numerous creditors. Miss Remus Cheung adopted fairly standard wordings in her correspondence with the creditors. The testimony of Mr Andrew Chan and Mr Dick Leung 35.New Regent called both Mr Andrew Chan and Mr Dick Leung. They adopted as their evidence in chief their Affidavits filed in these proceedings. 36.Mr David Leung declined to cross examine either Mr Andrew Chan or Mr Dick Leung. He said that he had no wish to subject them to the unpleasant treatment which he himself experienced. My analysis of the Agreements 37.Mr David Leung, AWT and their associated companies were heavily indebted at the final quarter of 1998. Their creditors were pressing with judgments being entered against them in regular frequency. AWT announced its standstill arrangements with IBA, SHC and NCB in late October and early November 1999. When Mr David Leung met Mr Andrew Chan on 24 September 1999, the negotiations for those arrangements must be at their final stage. Central to all the standstill arrangements was the allotment of new AWT shares to discharge part of the outstandings. Given the financial constraints, Mr David Leung would have little incentive to contest Action 10575. Bearing in mind the negotiations with IBA, SHC and NCB, it is also likely that he would have discussed with Mr Andrew Chan the manner of repayment tied to AWT shares. I am not, however, persuaded that there was any binding agreement in terms of the 1st Settlement Agreement as alleged. First, on Mr David Leung own evidence, there was no concluded agreement. He is uncertain whether Mr Andrew Chan did revert to him on New Regent's acceptance of his alleged offer. Secondly, the Consent Summons drafted by Messrs Lau & Chan contained a provision for vacant possession of the Hunghom Unit which was eventually deleted. This indicates that the parties must have negotiated further since September 1999. The 12 October 1999 letter from Messrs Lau & Chan to Messrs Denton Hall referred to a meeting with Mr David Leung on 24 September 1999. There is no evidence of any further meeting or discussion to support an agreement around October as asserted by Mr David Leung. Thirdly, the terms of the agreement alleged are uncertain. Mr David Leung referred to one lot of AWT without specifying the precise number of shares involved. Giving every allowance to the then market fever for .com shares, it is commercially unrealistic for New Regent as creditor to agree not to enforce the judgment in return for an undefined number of AWT shares. 38.In relation to the 2nd alleged Settlement Agreement, it should be noted that both sides are asserting the existence of an oral agreement. Neither agreement is recorded in any written document. This to a considerable extent weakens the criticism of New Regent that Mr David Leung has no written record to support his alleged agreements. The oral agreement alleged by each side entails an element of indemnity on the part of Mr David Leung. The difference is that on Mr David Leung's version, he was going to indemnity New Regent in return for New Regent's waiver of the judgment debt whilst on New Regent's version, the indemnity was in favour of Mr Dick Leung for his personal investment. I am not persuaded that there existed a 2nd Settlement Agreement as alleged. First, I accept New Regent's criticism that the case of Mr David Leung is wholly devoid of the usual particulars as to the date, time, place and persons present in concluding the alleged Settlement Agreement. Secondly, the terms of the 2nd alleged Settlement Agreement are again uncertain. I sought clarification from Mr David Leung as to the number of shares involved. He referred to one hand or one lot. Given the market sentiments, there must have been some negotiations between the parties as to the size of the portfolio for the purpose of discharging the outstanding indebtedness. Such evidence is singularly lacking. 39.In relation to the 3rd alleged Settlement Agreement, I find the February Note of limited assistance in resolving the conflict between the parties. It can be said in favour of New Regent that Mr Dick Leung would not have raised his personal difficulties as reflected in the second part of that Note had there been no personal indemnity in his favour. As against that, I find it strange that he should in the third part of this Note refer to his alleged prior intimation as to the limit of his investment as opposed to his actual exposure. On balance, I entertain serious reservations on the commercial reality of this agreement. New Regent was supposed to have laid out additional sum by way of principal to acquire the portfolio from Win Eastern. In so acquiring, New Regent was supposed to have waived its judgment debt and obtain in return an indemnity confined merely to its fresh exposure. I do not find that commercially realistic. 40.In relation to all three alleged Settlement Agreements, the exchanges between the parties summarized in paragraph 13 to 16 above are really fatal to Mr David Leung's case. I do not accept Mr David Leung's explanation that he simply signed on documents prepared by his assistant adopting standard terms. The letters from Mr David Leung were specific. They purported to refer to conversations and agreements with Mr Dick Leung. Given the statutory demand, he must have known that New Regent was asserting the continued validity of the judgment debt totaling $20,183,917.80. He made no effort whatsoever to refute that liability. Not once did he assert that his liability was confined to the sum of $1,600,000 as crystallized by the 3rd alleged Settlement Agreement. Conclusion 41.For these reasons, I reject the case of Mr David Leung. I hold that New Regent is entitled to the relief sought in their Petition and I hereby make a Bankruptcy Order against Mr David Leung. I further order costs against Mr David Leung.
Representation: From 8 June 2004 Mr Ng Man Kin of Messrs Kwok, Ng & Chan, for the Petitioner Debtor appearing in person | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other judgments that cite this case
Further hearings and rulings under HCB 18073/2002