Experienced insolvency practitioners in Hong Kong are all familiar with Hong Kong Court of Appeal's decision of 1 March 2006 in the liquidation of Legend International Resorts Limited1.
We have previously reported that the Official Receiver retains its entitlement to ad valorem fees on the conversion of a compulsory liquidation to a creditors’ voluntary winding-up (CVL).
Generally with a winding-up petition, if the petitioner is successful in obtaining a winding-up order, the petitioner will have its costs of the proceedings. If, on the other hand, the petition is dismissed, then the petitioner has been unsuccessful and it should pay the costs of the proceedings. We explore the Companies Court’s treatment of costs in three recent decisions below.
From what Assets should a Petitioner have its Costs?
Under Hong Kong law, the courts’ jurisdiction is ordinarily territorial in nature. A plaintiff or applicant has to obtain permission (“leave”) of the court before it can validly serve a writ or other document initiating a legal action on a defendant or respondent located outside Hong Kong. For actions begun by writ, the procedures and criteria for applications for leave in this respect are set out under Order 11 of the Rules of the High Court (“RHC”).
Did you know that a liquidator of a foreign company may seek the assistance of the Hong Kong Court to obtain orders for the production of information which orders are, in substance, of the type made in Hong Kong windings-up under section 221(3) of the Companies (Winding-up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance?
Did you know that dispositions of property of a solvent company made after the commencement of a winding-up will unlikely be disturbed unless it can be demonstrated that the disposition is not in the interests of the company?
Did you know that in the recent matter of Chan Kam Cheung v. Sun Light Elastic Ltd & Another1 the petitioner's alternative remedy for winding-up was struck out by the court?
Summary
DID YOU KNOW...that interim fees incurred by provisional liquidators (including agents’ fees), previously thought to have been payable from the funds of an insolvent estate without formal taxation, are now required to be taxed.