Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Exemplary damages

  • 17 Apr 2026

    FRIENDS FOOD (HONG KONG) COMPANY LTD v. FRIENDS FROZEN FOOD COMPANY LTD AND ANOTHER

    Citation
    [2026] HKDC 659
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCJ1670/2022

    The court found that Yeung and F Frozen Food knowingly made false pre-contractual representations and intended them to be relied upon by Mak and promoters of F Food HK; defendants had in fact formed and acted on the intention to set up Goodsview and compete before the transfer, breaching the express contract terms (including an enforceable 84-month non-compete) and fiduciary/contractual duties to transfer customers, staff and cooperate in licence transfer; misappropriation of receivables of $66,396 was proved but alleged theft of stock was not proved; rescission was inappropriate because rest…

  • 17 Apr 2026

    YAM WING CHIU v. WONG YEE LING AND ANOTHER

    Citation
    [2026] HKDC 632
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCJ1047/2022

    The published WhatsApp statements were defamatory and caused reputational harm and loss of volunteer status; having assessed gravity, limited audience (~60), absence of apology and the plaintiff's verified distress, compensatory general damages of HK$180,000 were appropriate; exemplary damages refused because there was no evidence of profit motive or outrageous contumelious conduct warranting additional punishment.

  • 28 Oct 2025

    徐立斌及另一人 對 鍾灼偉

    Citation
    [2025] HKDC 1817
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCJ1218/2024

    On the totality of the evidence (defendant's aggressive messages threatening debt collectors, timing of LinkedIn visits and letters, contemporaneous third‑party communications, the defendant's revised defence containing similar allegations, inconsistencies in defendant's account and his demonstrated motive), the court concluded the defendant instructed others to send the threatening letters; injunction was warranted; plaintiffs proved psychiatric injury and recoverable special, aggravated and exemplary damages; defendant liable even if letters were sent by others at his direction.

  • 3 Oct 2025

    BEST BUY ELECTRIC COMPANY LTD v. BUILT-IN PRO LTD

    Citation
    [2025] HKCFI 4728
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCA1002/2024

    On the balance of probabilities the uncontradicted technical and access-log evidence establishes that the defendant obtained unauthorised access to the plaintiff's DQS and downloaded the confidential Quotations; the information was communicated in circumstances importing an obligation of confidence; the defendant has failed to show any real or bona fide defence on the affidavit evidence; accordingly summary judgment on liability is entered for the plaintiff and an inquiry as to damages is ordered.

  • 16 May 2025

    MAMMY PANCAKE COMPANY LTD v. CARLA DAY LTD AND OTHERS

    Citation
    [2025] HKCFI 2218
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCA1044/2021

    The judgment was not irregular because the 2nd Defendant deliberately evaded service by instructing her sister to return mail sent to the record address, so service was deemed good; the pleaded facts and evidence supported findings of dishonesty and breach of the good faith clause; there was no real prospect of success on appeal; accordingly the setting aside summons and the extension of time to appeal were refused and costs were awarded against the 1st and 2nd Defendants.

  • 11 Nov 2024

    TSANG CHI ON v. YAU CHI LOK

    Citation
    [2024] HKDC 1874
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCPI1752/2022

    Liability having been entered in default, the court assessed and awarded damages totaling HK$446,130 (PSLA HK$200,000; aggravated damages HK$100,000; loss of allowance HK$140,130; other special damages HK$6,000), awarded interest as stated and ordered costs to follow the event with an order nisi for costs to be taxed if not agreed.

  • 20 Jun 2024

    CHAN YUK PING v. LIEW SHUK FUI

    Citation
    [2024] HKDC 999
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCJ1811/2022

    Liability having been established by interlocutory judgment, the court awarded compensatory general/aggravated damages of HK$600,000 and special damages for medical expenses of HK$2,000 (total HK$602,000), refused exemplary damages because compensatory award and prior contempt punishment were sufficient and the case did not fall within Rookes categories or justify additional punishment, rejected all other special damages for lack of evidence, and awarded pre-judgment interest at 1% above HSBC prime from date of writ with post-judgment interest at judgment rate; costs nisi to plaintiff.

  • 6 May 2024

    MAMMY PANCAKE COMPANY LTD v. CARLA DAY LTD AND OTHERS

    Citation
    [2024] HKCFI 1168
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCA1044/2021

    Given the franchise relationship, the strategic importance of the Michelin‑awarded Shop, and specific communications that Plaintiff would take the lease if franchisee did not renew, lease negotiation information fell within the contractual duties of confidentiality and good faith; the 1st and 2nd Defendants acted dishonestly by misleading Plaintiff and facilitating the 5th Defendant to take the lease, thereby breaching those duties and causing loss; damages for lost profits assessed at $3,803,782.32 and exemplary damages of $300,000 awarded; costs to plaintiff awarded.

  • 28 Jul 2023

    C v. HAU KAR KIT

    Citation
    [2023] HKDC 974
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCEO10/2021

    The court accepted the claimant's and corroborating witness evidence that the respondent persistently sexually harassed the claimant over about a year, causing significant distress and forcing resignation; on that basis the court awarded HK$80,000 for injury to feelings and HK$10,000 exemplary damages, ordered interest at 2% p.a. from the date of the Notice of Claim to judgment and thereafter at judgment rate, and awarded the claimant costs of the assessment proceedings due to special circumstances.

  • 30 Dec 2022

    PANG YU HIM v. SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE

    Citation
    [2022] HKDC 1164
    Court
    District Court
    Case number
    DCCJ5519/2021

    The ASOC was struck out and the action dismissed because the plaintiff failed to plead the essential subjective mental element of misfeasance in public office with sufficient primary facts, failed to plead material (special) damage as required for the tort, parts of the claim were bound to fail on the trial transcript, and the claim for defence costs constituted an abuse of process because the proper avenue was an application to the Magistrates' Court under the Costs in Criminal Cases Ordinance.