Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Capacity to sue (administrator vs dependant)
  • 7 Dec 1981

    CHEONG KAU v. THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS CO (1933) LTD AND ANOTHER

    Citation
    CHEONG KAU v. THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS CO (1933) LTD AND ANOTHER
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCA134/1979

    Order 20 r.5(2) and (4) authorise amendment outside the limitation period to alter the capacity in which the plaintiff sues provided the capacity is one in which he might have sued at the date of issue of the writ; because the plaintiff could have sued as a dependant under the FAO on the date of the writ, the Court must allow the amendment and treat the defect as cured ab initio, therefore the appeal is allowed and the Registrar's order striking out is reversed (but O.20 r.5 does not permit curing a writ where the plaintiff genuinely lacked capacity at the date to sue as administrator).