Chan Chi Loi v. Cheng for and Others

Read the full judgment text of HCA 540/2006 on BabelCite. This High Court CFI judgment was delivered on 2 August 2006.

1. This is an appeal by the Plaintiff against the order of Master J Wong made on the 7 th July 2006 whereby the Re-Amended Statement of Claim was struck out as against the 2 nd and 3 rd Defendants (“the Defendants”); this action against the Defendants was dismissed; and the costs of this action together with the costs of the strike out application be paid by the Plaintiff.

Cites 2 cases

Appeal dismissed: see CACV282/2006 dated 19 September 2007
Case No.HCA 540/2006
Court
High Court CFI
Date02 Aug 2006
Judge
Case Document
100%Judiciary

HCA 540/2006

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

ACTION NO. 540 OF 2006

____________

BETWEEN

  CHAN CHI LOI Plaintiff
  and  
  CHENG FOR, WONG CHUNG CHUEN,
HUNG TING KA, CHENG SHU MING, FAN SHE MING, KEUNG SHING CHEUNG, KONG MUK WAN, LOK CHUN WAH, LOK WING TONG, TAI KAM WAH, the Executor OF TAI KWAN, DECEASED
1st Defendant
  TIU PUI KWONG 2nd Defendant
  YUEN LONG MERCHANTS  
  ASSOCIATION SECONDARY SCHOOL 3rd Defendant

____________

Before: Mr Recorder A Chan, SC in Chambers

Date of Hearing: 2 August 2006

Date of Judgment: 2 August 2006

_______________

J U D G M E N T

_______________

1.This is an appeal by the Plaintiff against the order of Master J Wong made on the 7th July 2006 whereby the Re-Amended Statement of Claim was struck out as against the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (“the Defendants”); this action against the Defendants was dismissed; and the costs of this action together with the costs of the strike out application be paid by the Plaintiff.

2.This action was struck out as aforesaid on the ground that it sought to re-litigate the same dispute between the same parties as that determined by this court in HCA 22136 of 1998 (“the Previous Action”).  In my view, this is a plain and obvious case of abuse of process.  As I am entitled so to do (see Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2006, vol.1, p.840, para.58/1/2), I respectfully adopt the reasons of the Master set out in his Judgement handed down on 31st July 2006. 

3.In addition, I should point out that in paragraphs 14 and 21 of the Plaintiff’s Submissions attached to his affirmation dated 17th July 2006 it is admitted that this action seeks to re-litigate the same subject matters as those of the Previous Action. 

4.Further, the Plaintiff complains that the resolution of the Previous Action is inconsistent with Article 38 of the Basic Law, which provides that “Hong Kong residents shall enjoy the other rights and freedoms safeguarded by the laws of the [HKSAR]”.  I am simply unable to see how the conclusion of the Previous Action according to the due process of the law can be said to be an infringement of the Plaintiff’s rights under Article 38.

5.For these reasons, this appeal is dismissed with costs to the Defendants.  I assess such costs to be in the sum of HK$24,000.00.

  (Anthony Chan, SC)
Recorder of the Court of First Instance of the High Court

Plaintiff: Chan Chi Loi, in person, present

Mr Allen Che, of Messrs Wong, Hui & Co., for 2nd & 3rd Defendants

Appeal dismissed: see CACV282/2006 dated 19 September 2007