KONG SIK YAU AND OTHERS v. WONG CHAU MING AND OTHERS

KONG SIK YAU AND OTHERS v. WONG CHAU MING AND OTHERS

The Court held there was abundant evidence of long, open vehicular use of the Disputed Way, the owners of Lot 364A acquiesced (fence and wall set back) and Government consent to dedication could be inferred from official use and treatment; accordingly the Disputed Way was publicly dedicated for pedestrian and vehicular passage and the Plaintiffs' claims succeeded; alternatively, particular plaintiffs would have acquired prescriptive easements by prescription.

Citation
KONG SIK YAU AND OTHERS v. WONG CHAU MING AND OTHERS
Parties
Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): KONG SAU CHING; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): KONG YUEN HING; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): KONG HOI SUN; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): KONG HOI YUEN; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): TIN LI LING; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): KONG FONG; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997): YIP YAM SAM; Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997); Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997): TRADE ADVISERS COMPANY LIMITED; Defendant (hca 13429/1997); Plaintiff (hcmp 4363/1997): KONG PAK YAN; Defendant (hca 13429/1997); Plaintiff (hcmp 4363/1997): KONG SIK YAU; Defendant (hca 13429/1997); Plaintiff (hcmp 4363/1997): KONG WING TAK; Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997): WONG CHAU MING; Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997): LEE TIN FUK; Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997): LI KA SHING; Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997): LEE SIU FAI; Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997): LI KWAI
Court
Court of First Instance
Jurisdiction
Hong Kong
Judgment Date
3 November 2003
Case Number
HCMP4363/1997
Procedural Posture
Civil Property Dispute (public Way / Easement) / Judgment (court of First Instance)
Outcome
Judgment for Plaintiffs: declaration of public pedestrian and vehicular right of way; defendants' counterclaims dismissed in part
Legal Topics
Dedication of Highway, Prescriptive Easement, Government Consent to Dedication, Prescription Act 1832, Application of English Law in Hong Kong, Estoppel, Costs
Source Language
EN
Property Law Land Law Easements Public Rights of Way Tort (trespass) Dedication of Highway Prescriptive Easement Government Consent to Dedication +4 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 5 Authorities cited 16 Party arguments 2
Sign in to unlock

Parties

KONG SAU CHING

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

KONG YUEN HING

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

KONG HOI SUN

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

KONG HOI YUEN

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

TIN LI LING

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

KONG FONG

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

YIP YAM SAM

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997)

TRADE ADVISERS COMPANY LIMITED

Plaintiff (hca 13429/1997); Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997)

KONG PAK YAN

Defendant (hca 13429/1997); Plaintiff (hcmp 4363/1997)

KONG SIK YAU

Defendant (hca 13429/1997); Plaintiff (hcmp 4363/1997)

KONG WING TAK

Defendant (hca 13429/1997); Plaintiff (hcmp 4363/1997)

WONG CHAU MING

Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997)

LEE TIN FUK

Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997)

LI KA SHING

Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997)

LEE SIU FAI

Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997)

LI KWAI

Defendant (hcmp 4363/1997)

Procedural Posture

Civil Property Dispute (public Way / Easement) / Judgment (court of First Instance)

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether owners of Lot 364A dedicated the Disputed Way to the public
  2. 2 Whether the public accepted any such dedication
  3. 3 Whether Government consent to dedication can be inferred

Ratio Decidendi

The Court held there was abundant evidence of long, open vehicular use of the Disputed Way, the owners of Lot 364A acquiesced (fence and wall set back) and Government consent to dedication could be inferred from official use and treatment; accordingly the Disputed Way was publicly dedicated for pedestrian and vehicular passage and the Plaintiffs' claims succeeded; alternatively, particular plaintiffs would have acquired prescriptive easements by prescription.

Court Disposition

Judgment for Plaintiffs: declaration of public pedestrian and vehicular right of way; defendants' counterclaims dismissed in part

Orders

  • Declaration that the public have a right of pedestrian and vehicular passage along the Disputed Way at all times and for all purposes
  • Permanent injunction restraining Kong Wing Tak (and agents, including Kong Pak Yan and Kong Sik Yau) from obstructing or blocking vehicular traffic along the Disputed Way