Hong Kong Judgment

Court of First Instance

RE LIANG YANG KENG

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Source document

01

Holding and result

Because the company was shown to be solvent, there were no unpaid creditors, the liquidator reported no irregularities, and members holding 88% supported or did not oppose reverting the company to a going concern to deal with four properties, the court exercised its discretion under ss 209 and 255 of Cap 32 to permanently stay the voluntary winding up.

Court disposition

Application granted; voluntary winding up permanently stayed

Orders

  • Order permanently staying the voluntary winding up of Tai Wo Estates Management Limited pursuant to ss 209 and 255 of Cap 32

02

Material facts

Parties

Liang Yang Keng

Applicant (liquidator) Counsel: Mr Kelvin K H Liu (Ko & Co.)

Tai Wo Estates Management Limited (In Liquidation)

Company (in Liquidation)

Registrar of Companies

Registrar Consenting to Void Dissolution

Amounts and remedies

  • Members Supporting Shareholding Percent: 88
  • Members Not Located or Dissolved Shareholding Percent: 12
  • Years Between Dissolution and Discovery of Property: years 26

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Voluntary Winding Up Stay Application Under Companies (winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (cap 32) / Decision

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
Applicant sought a permanent stay of the voluntary winding up under ss 209 and 255 of Cap 32 on evidence that the company is solvent, there are no unpaid creditors, the liquidator confirms no irregularities, a majority of members (88%) support or do not oppose the application, and the company needs to revert to a going concern to deal with four properties.
Respondent
No opposing respondent appeared; Registrar of Companies consented to an earlier order under s290 declaring the dissolution void. There was no evidence of creditors or irregularities opposing the stay.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) ss 209, 255

    Court may grant a stay of winding up where the company is solvent, there are no unpaid creditors and it is appropriate to allow the company to revert to a going concern

  2. 02

    Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) ss 239(4), 290

    Dissolution under s239(4) takes effect after the statutory period but may be declared void by the court under s290 in appropriate cases

  3. 03

    Re Outboard Marine Corporation Asia Ltd [2003] 1 HKLRD 585

    Apply principles in Re Outboard Marine Corporation Asia Ltd regarding factors relevant to staying a winding up

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

Because the company was shown to be solvent, there were no unpaid creditors, the liquidator reported no irregularities, and members holding 88% supported or did not oppose reverting the company to a going concern to deal with four properties, the court exercised its discretion under ss 209 and 255 of Cap 32 to permanently stay the voluntary winding up.

Obiter and limits

  • It was surprising that assets remained registered in the company some 26 years after dissolution
  • Registrar of Companies consented to the earlier order under s290 declaring the dissolution void

Court disposition

Application granted; voluntary winding up permanently stayed

  • Order permanently staying the voluntary winding up of Tai Wo Estates Management Limited pursuant to ss 209 and 255 of Cap 32

Source and reliance status

Court of First Instance · 15 March 2017

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Judgment text

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Source document

Court of First Instance

Judgment· 15 March 2017

RE LIANG YANG KENG

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HCMP 1187/2016

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS NO 1187 OF 2016 ____

IN THE MATTER OF SECTIONS 255 AND 209 OF THE COMPANIES (WINDING UP AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE (CAP 32), LAWS OF HONG KONG and IN THE MATTER of TAI WO ESTATES MANAGEMENT LIMITED (In Liquidation) ( T0W"u t gP T0W"u t gP ___

D E C I S I O N ___ This company was wound up by a members special resolution dated 22 April 1988. The applicant in the present application, Mr Liang Yang Keng, was appointed the liquidator. The assets then known were realised and distributed to the members. Final accounts were filed and a return of the final meeting was lodged with the Companies Registry. By virtue of s 239(4) of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32), the company was dissolved after 3 months, ie on 11 July 1989. Surprisingly, more than 26 years later, in late December 2015, one of the shareholders of the company was approached by a property agent and realised that the company was still the registered owner of four lots of land in Shaukiwan. In July 2016, with the consent of the Registrar of Companies, an order was made under s 290 of Cap 32 for the dissolution of the company to be declared to have been void. Mr Liang was accordingly re appointed the liquidator of the company. Mr Liang has now applied for an order permanently staying the voluntary winding up of the company pursuant to ss 209 and 255 of Cap 32. I have had regard to the principles stated in Re Outboard Marine Corporation Asia Ltd [2003] 1 HKLRD 585. I am satisfied on the evidence that the company has at all material times been solvent. There is no unpaid creditor. Mr Liang, who has throughout been

the sole liquidator, has confirmed there are no irregularities in the affairs of the company that ought to be investigated. Members holding 88% of the shareholding support or have no objection to the application. Three members holding 12% either has been dissolved (in the case of a corporate member) or cannot be located (in the case of two individuals). It is desired that the company reverts to a going concern so as to deal with the four properties. In all the circumstances I am satisfied that the winding up ought to be stayed and there will be an order accordingly. (Godfrey Lam) Judge of the Court of First Instance High Court Mr Kelvin K H Liu, instructed by Ko & Co., for the Applicant

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Re Outboard Marine Corporation Asia Ltd [2003] 1 HKLRD 585

Case cited

Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) ss 209

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) s255

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) s239(4)

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap 32) s290

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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