Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

General damages

Legal area

Court

8 May 2026

ZHANG XIANGHUI v. AMAX AND ASSOCIATES LTD

Citation

[2026] HKDC 748
Court

District Court
Case number

DCCJ5624/2023

The defendant was liable for defamation for publishing the Statements; the Statements bore the natural and ordinary meanings set out by the court; on quantum general damages of HK$200,000 were appropriate having regard to limited circulation and lack of aggravating evidence; aggravated damages were refused for lack of evidence of increased injury and absence of plaintiff testimony; an injunction was granted; costs and pre-judgment interest were awarded to the plaintiff.
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.
7 Jul 2022

LAI MEI LING v. WONG YEE MING ANTHONY AND ANOTHER

Citation

[2022] HKDC 582
Court

District Court
Case number

DCCJ854/2019

For prolonged, frequent and sometimes unforeseeable noise over approximately 3.5 years, the court awarded HK$60,000 as general damages, finding the overall degree of nuisance broadly comparable to Ng Yuen Han v Lam Fei Fui and applying the loss‑of‑amenity analogy; costs of the assessment were awarded to the plaintiff to be taxed if not agreed.
29 Dec 2020

BOKHIM DIL KUMAR v. DRAGAGES HONG KONG LTD AND ANOTHER

Citation

[2020] HKCFI 3136
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCPI995/2018

Liability was admitted at 95%; on evidence the accident caused the Plaintiff's back injury but objective medical findings and positive Waddell signs undermined the seriousness of his subjective complaints, so the back injury was a mild contusion/sprain with largely recovery; accordingly court awarded specified sums for PSLA, past loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity and special damages, reduced total by agreed 5% liability apportionment, credited Employees Compensation Ordinance payments, and ordered payment of the net sum with interest and costs as taxed.
15 Jul 2020

YU SAU NING HOMER v. WONG WAN KEUNG AND OTHERS

Citation

[2020] HKDC 527
Court

District Court
Case number

DCCJ313/2016

Leave to appeal refused because the judge's reasons were adequate in context, the plaintiff's written quantum submissions were the only competing material and were properly considered, factual findings supported an award of aggravated damages due to reckless and unsustainable justification defences, the proposed grounds lacked a reasonable prospect of success, and the pre‑judgment interest challenge was rendered academic by the plaintiff's offer and the defendants' change of position.
29 Jun 2020

LAI CHI WAI v. TONG HUNG KWOK AND ANOTHER

Citation

[2020] HKCFI 1408
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCPI1235/2014

The court applied the slip rule to correct an omission and awarded interest at 2% per annum from the date of service of the writ to the date of judgment on the awards for loss of congenial employment ($150,000) and loss of society ($150,000) because both are general damages; the court declined to award interest on loss of earnings from 10 January 2019 to 13 November 2019 ($131,250) in order to give effect to the parties' prior agreement to treat the pre-trial period as ending at commencement of trial.
29 Apr 2020

YUEN MUI FONG v. LO KUT CHIE ALAN

Citation

[2020] HKCFI 652
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCA711/2018

Master accepted the plaintiff's uncontradicted viva voce and documentary evidence, found harassment and defamatory publications proved, held aggravated damages appropriate for harassment due to continued persecuting conduct despite injunctions, assessed HK$180,000 as fair compensation for harassment (including aggravated element) and HK$100,000 for defamation, declined separate aggravated damages for defamation and declined separate pre-judgment interest because delay was reflected in the awards.
20 Mar 2020

CHAN HARRY HUNG-HAY v. YIP SUI PING

Citation

[2020] HKCFI 366
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCA2149/2015

Court accepted plaintiff's unchallenged evidence of publication to MC members and some residents, found the defamatory words impugned plaintiff's mental fitness though not his honesty, and awarded compensatory general damages of HK$80,000 and aggravated damages of HK$20,000 because defendant persisted in asserting truth and refused to apologise; costs after 13 Sept 2017 to be paid by defendant taxed on District Court scale; no pre-judgment interest awarded; post-judgment interest at judgment rate awarded.
10 Jul 2019

CHEUNG SZE NGA v. IP PUI YI

Citation

[2019] HKDC 906
Court

District Court
Case number

DCCJ5448/2017

Given the verified falsity of the divorce allegation, the repeated public Instagram publications (albeit limited to about 1,600 followers), the hurt and counselling evidence, and the absence of any apology or defence, an award of $60,000 is appropriate to compensate reputation damage, vindicate the plaintiff and account for distress, with interest from the date of the writ and costs to follow the event.
7 Sept 2018

LAI YIP NGAN v. 馬志文 AND ANOTHER

Citation

[2018] HKDC 1071
Court

District Court
Case number

DCPI618/2017

The plaintiff proved on the balance of probabilities that the Accident caused her injuries; having considered the medical evidence, the plaintiff's testimony and comparable authorities, the court awarded PSLA of HK$312,500 and special damages of HK$9,609.80, with interest and costs as specified.