12 Dec 2025
The court varied the assessment to an indemnity basis but held that many claimed items were excessive even on that basis, reduced specific heads for SC#1 and SC#2 to reasonable sums (allowing HK$265,000 for SC#1 and HK$20,000 for SC#2) and summarily assessed total recoverable costs at HK$285,000.
12 Dec 2025
Although the basis of assessment was varied to an indemnity basis, the court held that claimed amounts must be reasonable. The court exercised its discretion to summarily assess and reduce the claimed items: allowed HK$70,000 for Part C, HK$60,000 for Part D, HK$100,000 for E3‑E5 (counsel drafting) totaling HK$265,000 for SC#1, allowed HK$20,000 for SC#2, and summarily assessed total costs at HK$285,000 in favor of Mr Chien on an indemnity basis.
19 Jan 2024
Master held that on the indemnity basis the brief fee and daily refresher of Mr Edward Chan SC and the daily refresher of Mr Clark Wang were not unreasonably incurred nor unreasonable in amount given the complexity, volume of documents, length of trial and certificate for two counsel; change of counsel did not produce duplicative fees material to the allowed brief and refresher fees (item 9.1 had already been taxed off); therefore the taxation rulings allowing those fees were maintained and the review dismissed.
4 Nov 2022
The court held that despite the amount claimed and some intertwining of matters, formal taxation was not warranted; most of the claimed costs were reasonable given the volume of underlying documents and conduct, but costs for drafting the statement of costs were disallowed and certain fees reduced. The court summarily assessed HK$980,000 for the Judgment Summons and Relief Summons and HK$62,000 for the application to vary, and made no further orders for costs.
24 Aug 2009
Maintain solicitor-and-client basis; uphold hourly rate of HKD 4,400 for Mr Richardson; allow 12 minutes charge under item 5 for email to client but disallow time for internal consultations; allow disbursements of HKD 411 and HKD 75; disallow unexplained miscellaneous charges; award plaintiff party-and-party costs assessed at HKD 18,000 and extension-of-time costs assessed at HKD 3,000; make orders nisi absolute after 14 days unless varied.