29 Apr 2024
The court summarily assessed the petitioner's costs, discounted the solicitors' claim for duplication and fixed solicitors' costs at HK$150,000 and counsel's fee at HK$100,000, ordering the respondent to pay a total of HK$250,000 forthwith.
28 Feb 2022
The Husband failed to prove a material change of circumstances: financial disclosure showed no reduction in income and in fact increased average earnings; medical expenses were largely reimbursed and did not impair earning capacity; claimed personal liabilities and transfers required further scrutiny at ancillary relief trial not on variation summons; the consent order was negotiated with legal advice and must be given significant weight. Therefore the variation application is dismissed and costs follow the event ordering the Husband to pay the Wife's costs with certificate for counsel.
17 Feb 2022
The Variation Summons was dismissed because the court found no material change in the Wife's reasonable needs and concluded the Husband retains the ability to pay based on TF Co. Ltd.'s continued high turnover, declared dividends and suspected transfers to R2; the Husband failed to provide sufficient evidence of diminished income or of operating costs to justify reduction; therefore MPS and LCP remain at prior levels and costs ordered for the Wife.
16 Dec 2020
The summons to vary the costs order nisi was dismissed and the costs order nisi made absolute because the husband failed to demonstrate a reasonable alternative offer or conduct that disentitled the wife to costs; the court applied its broad discretionary powers under the Rules of the High Court, found the wife's partially unsuccessful claims did not justify depriving her of costs, and concluded that depriving costs would negatively affect the child's interests.
20 Nov 2018
Respondent was guilty of contempt by failing to comply with the varied MPS order; committal to prison for four weeks was imposed as there were no adequate alternative enforcement measures and respondent's asserted lack of means and ill health did not demonstrate sufficient mitigation; release is conditional on full payment of HK$972,000 and costs are ordered on an indemnity basis.
8 Jun 2011
Petition dismissed because the petitioner failed to prove insolvency and the evidence established the petition was an abusive, cynical attempt to avoid existing maintenance obligations; the petitioner failed to make full and frank disclosure, evidence showed continued beneficial control of business assets through nominees and a prior judgment supported the respondent's case, so bankruptcy relief was denied.
10 Nov 2009
Judge found total notional family assets HK$4,429,560, added back HK$800,959 dissipated by husband for gambling; after deductions of MPS arrears HK$645,000, accepted genuine debts HK$533,279 and HK$20,000 reserve for winding up, net notional family assets HK$3,231,281; by reason of husband's conduct (gambling and non‑disclosure) and comparative earning capacity the court departed from equal sharing and applied 60:40 in favour of the wife to the net assets; allocated arrears to wife giving final monetary entitlements of wife HK$2,583,769 and husband HK$1,044,832; ordered sale of specified prop…
25 Jul 2008
Apply broad‑brush assessment: Wife has no present earning capacity due to psychiatric illness; reasonable monthly maintenance pending suit is HK$20,200; an interlocutory injunction should preserve half of the Husband's end‑of‑contract gratuity but after deduction of 15% tax (gratuity not to attract MPF in this case) with directions for disclosure and deposit into Court, because there is no evidence of intentional dissipation and tax must be excluded from family assets.