Short write-ups of recent Hong Kong judgments.
Taggedindemnity costsClear
On 15 September 2026, Deputy High Court Judge Cooper, KC handed down judgment in Re Success Lane Developments Ltd (HCCW 3/2025), dismissing a series of applications by the Company's former directors in the course of its winding-up and granting a Restricted Application Order against one of them. Mr Kurt Ng, instructed by Ho & Partners, acted for the Provisional Liquidators.
On 14 August 2026, the Court of Appeal (Anthony Chan JA and Coleman J) handed down judgment in Lee Chick Choi v. The Hong Kong Golf Club, CAMP 329/2023 & CAMP 358/2023, [2026] HKCA 682, dismissing all of the claimant's applications and ordering him to pay costs on an indemnity basis. Mr Martin Kok of Counsel, instructed by Messrs Johnson, Stokes & Master, acted for the successful Club.
The plaintiffs sued China Mobile Hong Kong in DCCJ 617/2017. Before trial, the defendant made a sanctioned offer under O.22 r.23 of the Rules of the District Court (Cap. 336H) for $63,333.40, inclusive of interest, plus costs to the plaintiffs. The offer contained three non-monetary terms: (i) the plaintiffs undertaking not to commence any fresh action on the same facts (Clause 4, the "Restrictive Condition"); (ii) a mutual confidentiality clause covering negotiations and settlement terms (Clause 5, the "Confidentiality Condition"); and (iii) discontinuance at each party's own costs. The plaintiffs did not accept by the 23 August 2017 deadline. The trial judge dismissed the claim and ordered the plaintiffs to pay the defendant's costs on a party-and-party basis up to 23 August 2017, then on an indemnity basis thereafter, with enhanced interest at 4.9375% p.a. under Golden Eagle International (Group) Ltd v GR Investment Holdings Ltd [2010] 3 HKLRD 273 (§3).