Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Intestacy and estates
  • 3 Aug 2016

    MA WAH YAN AND ANOTHER v. DHARMA REALM BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION, INC. AND OTHERS

    Citation
    MA WAH YAN AND ANOTHER v. DHARMA REALM BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION, INC. AND OTHERS
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCA1192/2007

    Applying established criteria for public charities and the evidence, the court found on balance that the Lantau Properties and Happy Valley Property were held for a public charity advancing Buddhism (supported by the Deed of Gift, long continued public use and conduct of the deceased), but the Nathan Road Property was not held exclusively for charitable purposes and therefore formed part of the deceased's estate; expert evidence about religious practice did not displace legal analysis and did not establish a legal obligation divesting the deceased of proprietary interests.