TUNG LAI LAM v. 東網有限公司 AND ANOTHER

TUNG LAI LAM v. 東網有限公司 AND ANOTHER

The claimant's email was accepted as a valid notice of discontinuance; the respondents bore the burden to prove maliciousness, frivolousness or special circumstances under s 73C(3) and failed to discharge that burden on the evidence and timing; the court therefore ordered that each party bear its own costs under s 73C(3).

Citation
[2026] HKDC 354
Parties
Claimant: TUNG LAI LAM (以其本人名義及代表香港其他曾被診斷患有精神病或有精神病病歷之人士提出申索); 1st Respondent: 東網有限公司; 2nd Respondent: 東方企控集團有限公司 (前稱東方報業集團有限公司)
Court
District Court
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
25 February 2026
Case Number
DCEO8/2025
Procedural Posture
Equal Opportunities Action No 8 of 2025 / First Hearing
Outcome
Claim discontinued; each party to bear its own costs under s 73C(3).
Legal Topics
Discontinuance, Costs Orders, Malicious and Frivolous Proceedings, Representative Proceedings, Abuse of Process
Source Language
EN
Equal Opportunities Discrimination Law Civil Procedure Costs Discontinuance Costs Orders Malicious and Frivolous Proceedings Representative Proceedings +1 more

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Parties

TUNG LAI LAM (以其本人名義及代表香港其他曾被診斷患有精神病或有精神病病歷之人士提出申索)

Claimant

東網有限公司

1st Respondent

東方企控集團有限公司 (前稱東方報業集團有限公司)

2nd Respondent

Procedural Posture

Equal Opportunities Action No 8 of 2025 / First Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the Claimant's email of 18 February 2026 constituted a valid notice of discontinuance
  2. 2 Whether the Respondents are entitled to an order for costs under s 73C(3) of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336)
  3. 3 Whether the proceedings were commenced maliciously

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant's email was accepted as a valid notice of discontinuance; the respondents bore the burden to prove maliciousness, frivolousness or special circumstances under s 73C(3) and failed to discharge that burden on the evidence and timing; the court therefore ordered that each party bear its own costs under s 73C(3).

Court Disposition

Claim discontinued; each party to bear its own costs under s 73C(3).

Orders

  • Email of 18 February 2026 taken as notice of discontinuance.
  • Each party to bear its own costs in accordance with section 73C(3) of the District Court Ordinance (Cap 336).