Tsui Koon Wah v. Lam King Yuen and Others

Read the full judgment text of on BabelCite. was delivered on 13 October 2005.

1. This is yet another chapter in what has become extended litigation over what should be quite a simple matter.  The course this litigation is taking is becoming more and more complex.  This Court tried to simplify the matter as best it could but is obviously failing.  We are now faced with a Notice of Motion in respect of an application to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal.  The application is in respect of an order for costs made by the judge below.

Case No.
Court
Date13 Oct 2005
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

cacv 92/2005

in the high court of the

hong kong special administrative region

court of appeal

civil appeal no. 92 of 2005

(on appeal from HCA NO. 890 OF 2003)

BETWEEN

  TSUI KOON WAH Plaintiff
  and  
   LAM KING YUEN 1st Defendant
  KWOK YUEN HAN 2nd Defendant
  TAM WAI HUNG 3rd Defendant
  NG LAW SEE LING 4th Defendant

Before: Hon Rogers Acting CJHC and Waung J in Court

Date of Hearing: 13 October 2005

Date of Judgment: 13 October 2005

______________________

J U D G M E N T

______________________

Hon Rogers Acting CJHC (giving judgment of the court):

1.This is yet another chapter in what has become extended litigation over what should be quite a simple matter.  The course this litigation is taking is becoming more and more complex.  This Court tried to simplify the matter as best it could but is obviously failing.  We are now faced with a Notice of Motion in respect of an application to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal.  The application is in respect of an order for costs made by the judge below. 

2.It has to be said that, first of all, there is no great, general or public importance involved in this matter and furthermore, I do not see any reason why the ‘or otherwise’ provision should apply.  Orders for costs are essentially matters within the discretion of the court making that order.  In this instance it is the Court of First Instance and the Judge of the Court of First Instance who made those orders.  Under section 14(3) of the High Court Ordinance, there would be no appeal from an order for costs made by a judge of the Court of First Instance, unless specific leave were given in respect of that. 

3.The major point which Mr Tsui had sought to raise in respect of the costs was that there had been an estoppel, and that was dealt with.  Estoppel simply did not arise.  He sought to raise other points.  Some of those other points were simply unarguable and the rest of the matters were matters of discretion for the judge below and this Court simply could not interfere with the exercise of the discretion of the judge below. 

4.In those circumstances, this application has to be refused.

(Anthony Rogers)
Acting Chief Judge
High Court
(William Waung)
Judge of the Court of First Instance

The Plaintiff/Applicant, in person

Mr Kwok Sui-hay, instructed by Messrs Liu, Chan & Lam, for the 1st to 4th Defendants/Respondents