Tony Ko featured in the Department of Justice’s publication, “Hong Kong Professional Services Supporting Mainland Enterprises Going Global – Success Stories”
Two of Tony Ko’s international investment dispute cases have been featured in the Department of Justice’s publication, “Hong Kong Professional Services Supporting Mainland Enterprises Going Global – Success Stories (Second Edition)”, under the legal services chapter. These cases are also published on the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform. In Success Case 101, Tony acted as arbitrator in a dispute arising from a cross-border investment agreement involving RMB 5
3 days ago
Vinci Lam SC and Ferrida Chan secured an acquittal in a case of passing counterfeit notes in the District Court
In HKSAR v. Chen Beibei (DCCC 166/2025), Vinci Lam SC and Ferrida Chan represented a defendant accused of passing 24 counterfeit US$100 banknotes to a bank teller, allegedly knowing or believing them to be counterfeit currency. The defence case was that she did not know they were counterfeit notes as they were passed to her by her father whom she trusted yet she stated in her cautioned interviews that she herself changed them because the police told her not to mention her fat
6 days ago
CFA confirmed that IOs of buildings may waive breaches of DMC
In Centre Chase Investment Ltd v IO of Castle Peak Road Int'l Industrial Bldg [2026] HKCFA 26, the Court of Final Appeal confirmed that incorporated owners of Hong Kong's buildings can, through their management committees, validly waive a breach of the Deed of Mutual Covenant as long as the power is exercised conscientiously and reasonably. The type of breach and its seriousness have to be considered in deciding the appropriate option to tackle the breach. In reaching the abo
Jun 24
Filipino church’s ownership of Kowloon cinema premises affirmed upon determining its valid exercise of an option to purchase
In JIL Investments Limited v Jesus Is Lord Church Limited [2026] HKCFI 1119, the Court of First Instance ruled that the Defendant, the Hong Kong branch of a global evangelical Christian church founded in the Philippines, after having paid in excess of HK$23 million by way of monthly payments over 12 years, had validly exercised an option to purchase its premises in Sham Shui Po from the Plaintiff landlord for a further HK$1. In 2003, the parties entered into a Lease and Purch
Jun 15
CFI enters judgment exceeding HK$234 million against a prominent businessman who denied signing personal guarantee deeds
In China Energy Development Holdings Limited v Yeung Ka Sing, Carson [2026] HKCFI 1693, the Court ruled that the Plaintiff, represented by Mr Jacky Lam, could recover amounts owed to it by personal guarantee in excess of HK$234 million. The issue was whether the Defendant, a prominent businessman, had in fact signed two personal guarantee deeds whose effect was to transfer the debt of a media company of which he was a substantial shareholder to him personally. Between 2008
Jun 11
A more streamlined approach for sentencing cases involving “cocktail” drugs
The Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in HKSAR v Yau Kai Fung [2026] HKCA 885 brings welcome clarity to how courts should sentence offenders trafficking in more than one type of dangerous drug. For over a decade, sentencing courts faced with a “cocktail” or combination of drugs were guided by HKSAR v Chan Yuk Leong (CACC 318/2013), which set out “three check tests”, namely absurdity test, conversion test and ratio test, to cross-check whether the upward adjustment to the star
Jun 2
Members of Plowman Chambers act for the Securities and Futures Commission in the insider dealing trial against movie producer Raymond Wong Pak Ming (黃栢鳴)
On 22 May 2026, well-known movie producer Mr Raymond Wong Pak Ming was convicted of insider dealing in a criminal prosecution brought by the Securities and Futures Commission. The Defendant faced one count of insider dealing, contrary to section 291(1)(b) of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, Cap. 571. He was said to have counselled or procured another person to deal in the shares of Pegasus Entertainment Holdings Limited around 25 August 2017 to 17 October 2017 while he
May 27
CFI declares Housing Authority’s actual practice inconsistent with its own enforcement policy in judicial review
In Szeto Wing Leong v Hong Kong Housing Authority [2026] HKCFI 2033, the Court of First Instance ruled in favour of the Applicant in a judicial review concerning the implementation of the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement in Public Rental Housing Estates. The case centered on whether the Housing Authority’s actual practice of requiring neighbourhood misdeeds to be “caught red-handed” was inconsistent with the written policies embodied in its own Operation Manu
May 22
Vinci Lam SC and Kasper Fan secured an acquittal for defendant accused of assaulting his wife in Redhill Peninsula
In HKSAR v Tung Hoi-Yee Kenneth (ESCC 1217/2025), Vinci Lam SC and Kasper Fan represented a defendant charged with assaulting his wife in their former matrimonial home. The defendant elected not to testify in court and the defence case turned solely on the cross-examination of the wife. After a 3-day trial, the Court accepted the defence’s submissions in their entirety. In particular, the Court held that the wife’s testimony was incredible and unreasonable; not only was he
May 21
Priscilia Lam SC represented the Appellant in 香港特別行政區 訴 熊俊傑 CACC 42/2024
The Appellant was convicted upon his own plea of the following offences: Dangerous Driving, Driving a Vehicle with concentration of specified illicit drug, Resisting a police officer in the due execution of his duty, Trafficking in dangerous drugs, and Possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The Appellant appealed against his sentence and one of the grounds of appeal was that the 10 years disqualification order was manifestly excessiv
May 12
