RE PRO-OP CONTRACTING (INT\'L) LTD
- Citation
- RE PRO-OP CONTRACTING (INT\'L) LTD
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Hong Kong
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Decision
- 19 March 2007
- Posture
- Winding Up Petition (companies (winding Up) No. 587 of 2006) / Judgment
- Case number
- HCCW587/2006
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Decision
- 19 March 2007
- Posture
- Winding Up Petition (companies (winding Up) No. 587 of 2006) / Judgment
- Case number
- HCCW587/2006
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The company had ceased trading for over four years, had no audited accounts since 2002, and the directors were in irreconcilable deadlock preventing the company from functioning; substituted service had been validly effected and the respondent did not oppose — these facts satisfy the just and equitable ground under s.177(1)(f) and justify a winding-up order.
Court disposition
Winding-up order made
Orders
- Winding-up order made against Pro-Op Contracting (Int'l) Limited
- Petitioner's costs, including the costs reserved on 14 March 2007, to be paid out of the assets of the Company
02
Material facts
Parties
Ho Kin Yip Vincent
Petitioner Counsel: Ms Eling Lee (instructed by Messrs Knight & Ho)Lui Tak Tim Curtas
1st RespondentPro-Op Contracting (Int'l) Limited
CompanyAmounts and remedies
- Petitioner Shares: 51,000
- Respondent Shares: 49,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Winding Up Petition (companies (winding Up) No. 587 of 2006) / Judgment
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the company should be wound up on the just and equitable ground under s.177(1)(f) of the Companies Ordinance
- 02
Whether directors' deadlock and cessation of trading justify winding-up
- 03
Whether substituted service was properly effected
Party arguments
- Applicant
- Petitioner submitted the company ceased trading since July 2002, no audited accounts since 30 June 2002, directors in deadlock, co-signatory (1st respondent) refused to sign cheques causing inability to pay creditors, petitioner paid some debts personally and attempted to convene EGM to place company into voluntary liquidation; sought winding-up on just and equitable ground.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) s.177(1)(f) and common law
Court may wind up a company on the just and equitable ground where company cannot function due to directors' deadlock
- 02
Court practice and the order dated 24 January 2007 (substituted service by advertisement and post)
Substituted service may be ordered where personal service cannot be effected and must be complied with before hearing
- 03
Equitable court practice and order of the court
Costs of a successful petitioner in winding-up are payable out of the assets of the company
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The company had ceased trading for over four years, had no audited accounts since 2002, and the directors were in irreconcilable deadlock preventing the company from functioning; substituted service had been validly effected and the respondent did not oppose — these facts satisfy the just and equitable ground under s.177(1)(f) and justify a winding-up order.
Obiter and limits
- Petitioner had to settle some company debts from his own funds.
- Substituted service by advertisement and post was ordered on 24 January 2007 and complied with.
- The 1st respondent did not appear or file evidence in opposition.
Court disposition
Winding-up order made
- Winding-up order made against Pro-Op Contracting (Int'l) Limited
- Petitioner's costs, including the costs reserved on 14 March 2007, to be paid out of the assets of the Company
Source and reliance status
Court of First Instance · 19 March 2007
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· 19 March 2007
bjbj HCCW 587/2006
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. 587 OF 2006 ____ IN THE MATTER of PRO-OP CONTRACTING (INT L) LIMITED and IN THE MATTER of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) ____ Before: Hon Kwan J in Court Date of Hearing: 19 March 2007 Date of Judgment: 19 March 2007 ______
J U D G M E N T ______ This is a winding-up petition presented by a contributory Ho Kin Yip Vincent on the just and equitable ground under section 177(1)(f) of the Companies Ordinance, Cap.
32. The company in question is called Pro-Op Contracting (Int l) Limited ( the Company ). It was incorporated in Hong Kong on 30 December 1999. The petitioner and the 1st respondent Lui Tak Tim Curtas are the only shareholders, with the petitioner holding 51,000 of the issued shares and the 1st respondent holding the remaining 49,000 shares. They are also the only directors. The petitioner has been unable to effect personal service of the petition on the 1st respondent. He obtained an order from a Master on 24 January 2007 for substituted service of the petition by advertisement in a newspaper and by post sent to the 1st respondent s last known address. That order has been complied with. The notice of hearing of this petition was also advertised in a newspaper. The 1st respondent has not appeared or filed any evidence in opposition. On the evidence filed by the petitioner, the Company has ceased trading since July 2002. The directors have been in deadlock. No audited accounts have been prepared since the financial period ended 30 June 2002. The Company was unable to settle its tax liability and pay legitimate creditors, as the 1st respondent being a co-signatory of the bank accounts of the Company had refused to sign company cheques notwithstanding funds available in the accounts. I understand the petitioner had to settle some of the debts of the Company with his own funds. The
petitioner has attempted to convene an extraordinary general meeting to pass a resolution to put the Company into voluntary liquidation. The 1st respondent has failed to respond at all. The Company is clearly unable to function as its directors are in deadlock. It has ceased trading for over four years. It seems to me it would be just and equitable to wind up the Company. I therefore make a winding-up order. The petitioner s costs, including the costs reserved on 14 March 2007, are to be paid out of the assets of the Company. (S Kwan) Judge of the Court of First Instance High Court Ms Eling Lee, instructed by Messrs Knight & Ho, for the Petitioner The 1st Respondent, acting in person, absent Mr Harry Lo, for the Official Receiver
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