RE VINSON ENGINEERING LTD
- Citation
- RE VINSON ENGINEERING LTD
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Hong Kong
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Decision
- 10 December 2007
- Posture
- Companies (winding Up) Petition (companies (winding Up) No. 386 of 2007) / Hearing and Judgment (order to Wind Up Made)
- Case number
- HCCW386/2007
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- Court of First Instance
- Decision
- 10 December 2007
- Posture
- Companies (winding Up) Petition (companies (winding Up) No. 386 of 2007) / Hearing and Judgment (order to Wind Up Made)
- Case number
- HCCW386/2007
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
Because the petitioning debt was due and undisputed, a statutory demand had been served and the company filed no evidence or opposition, the court was compelled to order the company to be wound up and to direct that the petitioner's costs be paid out of the company's assets.
Court disposition
Petition granted; Vinson Engineering Limited ordered to be wound up.
Orders
- The Company (Vinson Engineering Limited) is to be wound up.
- The petitioner's costs are to be paid out of the Company's assets.
02
Material facts
Parties
Kin Shing Engineering (H.K.) Limited
Petitioner Counsel: Mr. Chan Pak Kong (instructed by Messrs Peter Lau & Co.)Vinson Engineering Limited
Respondent (company)Official Receiver
Official Receiver Counsel: Miss Vivian YeungAmounts and remedies
- Total Costs and Disbursements Allowed: HKD 2,200,669
- Unpaid Costs Balance: HKD 1,800,456
- Petitioning Debt Claimed: HKD 1,803,556
03
Procedural history
Posture
Companies (winding Up) Petition (companies (winding Up) No. 386 of 2007) / Hearing and Judgment (order to Wind Up Made)
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the company should be wound up for inability to pay a debt
- 02
Whether the petitioning debt is due and undisputed
- 03
Whether absence of opposition and failure to file evidence justifies winding-up order
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The petitioner asserted the company owed HK$1,803,556 following taxed costs and prior costs orders, a demand was served on 15 June 2007, and the debt is not disputed so petitioner is entitled ex debito justitiae to a winding-up order.
- Respondent
- The company filed no evidence in opposition, made no offer to settle despite adjournment for negotiation, and did not appear at the hearing.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32; established winding-up practice
A petitioner is entitled ex debito justitiae to a winding-up order where a debt is due and undisputed and the company fails to file evidence of opposition.
- 02
Judgment of Reyes J dated 15 April 2005 (HCCT No. 108 of 2002) and subsequent costs taxation and orders
Taxed costs and formal costs orders constitute enforceable debts relevant to insolvency proceedings.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
Because the petitioning debt was due and undisputed, a statutory demand had been served and the company filed no evidence or opposition, the court was compelled to order the company to be wound up and to direct that the petitioner's costs be paid out of the company's assets.
Obiter and limits
- The petition had been adjourned to permit negotiation but no offer was made by the company.
- Previous district court and High Court costs orders (small fixed sums) and a taxed bill contributed to the quantified indebtedness but were not contested by the company.
Court disposition
Petition granted; Vinson Engineering Limited ordered to be wound up.
- The Company (Vinson Engineering Limited) is to be wound up.
- The petitioner's costs are to be paid out of the Company's assets.
Source and reliance status
Court of First Instance · 10 December 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· 10 December 2007
bjbj HCCW 386/2007
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE COMPANIES (WINDING-UP) NO. 386 OF 2007 ____ IN THE MATTER of VINSON ENGINEERING LIMITED and IN THE MATTER of the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 ____ Before: Hon Kwan J in Court Date of Hearing: 10 December 2007 Date of Judgment: 10 December 2007 ___
J U D G M E N T ___ This is a petition to wind up Vinson Engineering Limited ( the Company ) presented by Kin Shing Engineering (H.K.) Limited. By a judgment of Reyes J dated 15 April 2005 in HCCT No. 108 of 2002, the Company was ordered to pay the judgment sum and costs to be taxed if not agreed. The petitioner s bill of costs was taxed on 13 March 2006 and reviewed on 21 November 2006. The total amount of costs and disbursements allowed was HK$2,200,669.00, of which HK$1,800,456.00 has remained unpaid. On 11 August 2006, Master S T Poon of the District Court made 2 costs orders of $550 each in favour of the petitioner against the Company in DCCJ No. 2844 of 2006 and DCCJ No. 2990 of 2006. Further, on 22 September 2006 and 3 November 2006, Reyes J made 2 costs orders of $1,000 each in favour of the petitioner against the Company in HCCT No. 108 of 2003, regarding the Company s unsuccessful application for stay of execution. The Company is indebted to the petitioner for, inter alia, HK$1,803,556.00. On 15 June 2007, a demand was served on the Company by the petitioner in respect of the aforesaid sum by leaving the same at its registered office. The Company has not filed any evidence in opposition. On the last occasion when the petition came before Barma J on 12 November 2007, the petition was adjourned for four weeks to today for the parties to negotiate. I
understand from counsel for the petitioner that no offer has been made by the Company. The Company has not appeared today. As the petitioning debt is not in dispute and no evidence has been filed by the Company giving any grounds of opposition, the petitioner is entitled ex debito justitiae to an order to wind up the Company. I order the Company to be wound up. The petitioner s costs are to be paid out of the Company s assets. (S Kwan) Judge of the Court of First Instance High Court Mr. Chan Pak Kong instructed by Messrs Peter Lau & Co., for the Petitioner Vinson Engineering Limited, absent Miss Vivian Yeung, for the Official Receiver
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