RE GOLDCO DEVELOPMENT LTD
- Citation
- RE GOLDCO DEVELOPMENT LTD
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Hong Kong
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Decision
- 9 January 2006
- Posture
- Winding Up Petition Under the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 / Judgment — Winding Up Order Made
- Case number
- HCCW711/2005
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Decision
- 9 January 2006
- Posture
- Winding Up Petition Under the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 / Judgment — Winding Up Order Made
- Case number
- HCCW711/2005
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
Because the petitioning debt was proven and undisputed and the Company failed to appear or advance a meritorious defence or stay, the court was entitled to make a winding-up order and to direct that the Government's costs and the provisional liquidators' costs be paid out of the Company's assets.
Court disposition
Winding-up order made against Goldco Development Limited
Orders
- Goldco Development Limited is to be wound up
- The Government's costs of the petition are to be paid out of the Company's assets
- The provisional liquidators' costs in this petition are to be paid out of the Company's assets
02
Material facts
Parties
Hong Kong Government
Petitioner Counsel: Miss L Chan, GC of the Department of JusticeGoldco Development Limited
Company / RespondentProvisional Liquidators
Provisional Liquidators Counsel: Mr Jonathan Chang, instructed by Messrs Holman, Fenwick & WillanOfficial Receiver
Official Receiver Counsel: Miss Karen CheungAmounts and remedies
- Total Indebtedness Claimed by Government as at 31 August 2005: HKD 38,350,894.55
- Outstanding Interim Payments Under Order of Master J Wong: HKD 22,670,576.84
- Arrears of Rent Under Various Short Term Tenancies: HKD 15,680,317.71
03
Procedural history
Posture
Winding Up Petition Under the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 / Judgment — Winding Up Order Made
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the Company is unable to pay its debts and a winding-up order should be made
- 02
Whether a stay of the winding-up petition should be granted pending appeal
- 03
Whether costs of the Government and provisional liquidators should be paid out of the Company's assets
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The Government petitioned to wind up Goldco on the basis the Company was unable to pay debts totalling HK$38,350,894.55 as at 31 August 2005 comprising outstanding interim payments under an earlier order and arrears of rent; the debt is not in dispute and therefore the Government is entitled to a winding-up order.
- Respondent
- The Company did not appear to oppose the petition and filed only an affirmation seeking a stay pending appeal against an interim payment order; the Court found the proposed appeal devoid of merits and dismissed the stay application.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32; applied by Kwan J (9 Jan 2006)
A creditor who proves an undisputed debt to the company is entitled to a winding-up order where the company is unable to pay its debts
- 02
Court practice and Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32; applied by Kwan J (9 Jan 2006)
Court may appoint provisional liquidators where there is a good prima facie case for winding up; costs of petition and provisional liquidators may be directed to be paid out of the company's assets
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
Because the petitioning debt was proven and undisputed and the Company failed to appear or advance a meritorious defence or stay, the court was entitled to make a winding-up order and to direct that the Government's costs and the provisional liquidators' costs be paid out of the Company's assets.
Obiter and limits
- The application to stay the winding-up pending appeal was dismissed as the proposed appeal was devoid of merits.
Court disposition
Winding-up order made against Goldco Development Limited
- Goldco Development Limited is to be wound up
- The Government's costs of the petition are to be paid out of the Company's assets
- The provisional liquidators' costs in this petition are to be paid out of the Company's assets
Source and reliance status
Court of First Instance · 9 January 2006
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
Court of First Instance
Judgment· 9 January 2006
bjbj HCCW 711/2005
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. 711 OF 2005 ____ IN THE MATTER of the GOLDCO DEVELOPMENT LIMITED and IN THE MATTER of the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong ____ Before: Hon Kwan J in Court Date of Hearing: 9 January 2006 Date of Judgment: 9 January 2006 ___
J U D G M E N T ___ This is a petition to wind up Goldco Development Limited ( the Company ) presented by the Hong Kong Government, on the basis that the Company is unable to pay its debts. The Company is in the business of operation and management of fee-paying public car parks in Hong Kong. According to the petition, as at 31 August 2005, the Company was indebted to the Government of HK$38,350,894.55. This was made up of HK$22,670,576.84, being outstanding interim payments due from the Company to the Government under an order of Master J Wong on 29 April 2005 in HCA Nos. 4219 to 4221 of 2003, and HK$15,680,317.71, being arrears of rent due under various short term tenancies granted by the Government to the Company. On 27 October 2005, I made an order appointing provisional liquidators for the Company, having been satisfied that the Government has a good prima facie case for a winding-up order. The Company has not appeared in the petition nor has it filed any evidence to oppose the petition. The only evidence filed by the Company is an affirmation made by one of its directors on 26 October 2005, in support of its application to stay the winding-up petition pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal, having failed in its appeal before Deputy Judge Muttrie against the order for interim payment of Master J Wong. I have dismissed that application to stay the winding-up
petition, having come to the view that the proposed appeal is quite simply devoid of merits. I understand from the Government that no settlement has been reached with the Company in the adjournment granted in December 2005. The Government therefore seeks a winding-up order today. As the petitioning debt is not in dispute, the Government is entitled to this order. I order the Company to be wound up and that the Government s costs are to be paid out of the Company s assets. I further order that the provisional liquidators costs in this petition are to be paid out of the Company s assets. (S Kwan) Judge of the Court of First Instance High Court Miss L Chan, GC of the Department of Justice, for the Petitioner Mr Jonathan Chang, instructed by Messrs Holman, Fenwick & Willan, for the Provisional Liquidators Miss Karen Cheung, for the Official Receiver
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