Short write-ups of recent Hong Kong judgments.
On 4 September 2026, Master G.T. Lung in the District Court Family Court handed down judgment in _LHB v ZCZ_ [2026] HKFC 190, dismissing the wife's application to stay the Hong Kong divorce proceedings on forum non conveniens grounds. Ms Esther Leung, counsel instructed by Chen & Lee Law Office, acted for the successful petitioner husband. Mr Cyrus Lau, instructed by Tung Ng Tse & Lam, appeared for the wife.
On 31 July 2026, Deputy District Judge So Ka-yin handed down judgment in FCMC 1360/2020 ([2026] HKFC 139), an ancillary relief application arising from a 2014 marriage. Mr Lau Pak-wai of Messrs Woo Kwan Lee & Lo acted for the successful wife.
On 27 August 2026, the Family Court handed down judgment in LSP v CHT [2026] HKFC 153, allowing the husband's appeal in part against Master Lung's decision dismissing both parties' applications for interim maintenance for their four-year-old daughter D. The husband (H), the petitioner, acted in person; the wife (W), the respondent, also appeared in person.
On 25 August 2026, the Court of Appeal (Kwan VP and Cheung JA) handed down judgment in CACV 926/2026 ZJ v HS, allowing the Mother's appeal against Deputy District Judge Matthew Leung's dismissal of her application under the Domestic and Cohabitation Relationship Violence Ordinance (Cap. 189) for an injunction restraining the Father from molesting the children of the family. Ms June Cheung, instructed by Withers, acted for the successful Petitioner.
On 21 August 2026, the Court of Appeal (Kwan VP and Cheung JA) determined the wife's summons for leave to adduce further evidence in her appeal from a Family Court ancillary relief judgment. Leave was granted in respect of most of the documents sought, with only the joint correspondence and counsel's note refused. Mr Bernard Man SC, Mr James Wood and Mr Alvin Cheung, instructed by Hugill & Ip, acted for the petitioner/appellant wife.
On 20 August 2026, the Court of Appeal (Cheung JA and Chan JA) dismissed all five applications filed by the husband in CAMP 86/2024, refusing his application for leave to appeal out of time against the ancillary relief order made by Deputy District Judge Lo Kit-man on 24 November 2023, and striking out four separate fresh-evidence summonses as well as his application to stay execution of the order for possession. Lin Li Lai LLP appeared for the successful wife; the husband, who had acted in person throughout, bore costs of HK$60,000 for the leave summons and HK$70,000 for the first two fresh-evidence summonses on a summary basis.
On 28 July 2026, District Judge I Wong handed down a ruling in J v SJA, FCMC 12024/2023, [2026] HKFC 133, holding that section 9 of the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance, Cap 179, on its plain wording does not support the wife's contention that a potentially polygamous marriage celebrated in Pakistan becomes monogamous for jurisdictional purposes simply because the husband has always been domiciled in Hong Kong. Ms Bonnie YK Cheng (now Cheng SC), instructed on legal aid, appeared for the successful respondent husband.
On 20 July 2026, the District Court (Thelma Kwan DJ) handed down judgment in PLC v MKK, FCMC 4209/2023, [2026] HKFC 132, dismissing the husband's addback claims and most of his alleged liabilities, and awarding the wife a 58.48% share of the matrimonial pot. Ms Sally Wong, instructed by Chaine Chow & Barbara Hung, acted for the successful wife.
The petitioner wife ("W") and respondent husband ("H") married for over 25 years, had divorce proceedings commenced in 2013, and obtained decree nisi in 2015. At the first financial dispute resolution ("FDR") hearing on 15 March 2017 before Principal Family Judge Bruno Chan, the parties negotiated a memorandum of settlement ("Memorandum"). The 1st FDR Judge adjourned the hearing at 4:32 pm and urged the parties to settle "within this building" before leaving. The parties signed the Memorandum later that afternoon inside the court building (§4). Five days later, W repudiated it on the ground that it made insufficient provision for the children (§5).