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H o n g K o n g C i v i l P r o c e d u r e N o t e s

Hong Kong
Civil Procedure
Notes
2024
1st Edition

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 6
A. How to use Conversion Notes ............................................................................................................................................ 6
B. Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6
2. OVERVIEW OF THE CONDUCT OF CIVIL LITIGATION IN THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE HIGH COURT7
A. Jurisdiction of the District Court ....................................................................................................................................... 7
B. Jurisdiction of the High Court ............................................................................................................................................. 7
C. Transfer of an action between the District Court and the High Court ................................................................ 7
3. CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN ACTION: TIME LIMITATION, LEGAL AID
AND JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS .................................................................................................. 7
A. Limitation Period...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
B. Costs only proceedings ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
C. Legal Aid ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
i. Type of proceedings ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8
ii. Eligibility ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
iii. Costs implication if a party is legally aided.......................................................................................................................... 10
4. UNDERLYING OBJECTIVES OF THE HIGH COURT AND DISTRICT COURT RULES ........................... 10
A. The courts’ underlying objectives.................................................................................................................................... 10
B. The courts’ case management powers .......................................................................................................................... 10
5. COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS BY WRITS AND ORIGINATING SUMMONSES......................... 10
A. Methods of commencing proceedings ......................................................................................................................... 10
i. Writ of Summons ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11
B. Validity and renewal of the writ ....................................................................................................................................... 12
6. SERVICE OF PROCESS ........................................................................................................... 12
A. Service within the jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................... 12
B. Service on individuals........................................................................................................................................................... 12
i. Service through letter box or registered box ...................................................................................................................... 12
ii. Service through defendant’s solicitor .................................................................................................................................... 13
iii. Deemed service where writ not duly served ....................................................................................................................... 13
iv. Service on agent of overseas principal .................................................................................................................................. 13
v. Service pursuant to contract ...................................................................................................................................................... 13
vi. Service by agreement of parties............................................................................................................................................... 13
C. Service on body corporate ................................................................................................................................................. 13
i. Company registered under Companies Ordinance .......................................................................................................... 13
1) Company with registered office .................................................................................................................................. 13
2) Company with no registered office............................................................................................................................ 14
ii. Service on overseas company carrying on business in Hong Kong........................................................................... 14
D. Service on partnership ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
E. Substituted service ................................................................................................................................................................ 15
F. Service on persons under disability ................................................................................................................................ 15

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G. Service out of the jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................................... 15

H. Acknowledgement of Service............................................................................................................................................ 16
7. PLEADINGS ........................................................................................................................ 16
A. The definition and purpose of pleadings ..................................................................................................................... 16
B. The order of pleadings ........................................................................................................................................................ 16
i. Statement of Claim ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16
ii. Defence and Counterclaim ......................................................................................................................................................... 16
iii. Reply and Defence to Counterclaim ....................................................................................................................................... 16
iv. Close of pleadings.......................................................................................................................................................................... 17
C. General rules of pleadings ................................................................................................................................................. 17
D. Verification by Statement of Truth.................................................................................................................................. 17
E. The purpose of further and better particulars ............................................................................................................ 18
8. PARTIES AND JOINDER ........................................................................................................ 18
A. Third party proceedings ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
i. Leave and Third party notice ..................................................................................................................................................... 18
ii. Rights and obligations of the third party ............................................................................................................................. 18
iii. Position of the defendant and the third party.................................................................................................................... 19
iv. Third party directions.................................................................................................................................................................... 19
B. Contribution notice ............................................................................................................................................................... 19
C. Joinder of parties by plaintiff/by defendant/by the court ..................................................................................... 20
i. Mandatory joinder of plaintiffs ................................................................................................................................................. 20
ii. Legal representatives of joined plaintiffs .............................................................................................................................. 20
iii. Optional joinder of parties ......................................................................................................................................................... 20
iv. Joinder of defendants who are jointly and/or severally liable ..................................................................................... 20
v. Overriding discretion of the court ........................................................................................................................................... 21
D. Joinder of causes of action ................................................................................................................................................ 21
E. Consolidation of actions or order for separate trials ............................................................................................... 21
i. Consolidation ................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
ii. Separate trial .................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
F. The interpleader procedure ............................................................................................................................................... 22
9. SUMMARY DISPOSAL OF ACTIONS: DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND SUMMARY JUDGMENT.................. 23
A. Summary judgment: general principles ........................................................................................................................ 23
B. Summary judgment: timing and procedure ................................................................................................................ 23
C. Summary judgment: possible outcomes and the appeal procedure................................................................. 24
i. Granting Summary Judgment ................................................................................................................................................... 24
ii. Leave to defend .............................................................................................................................................................................. 24
iii. Dismiss the application ................................................................................................................................................................ 24
iv. Appealing summary judgment ................................................................................................................................................. 24
D. Default judgment: general principles............................................................................................................................. 24
i. Order 13 ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
ii. Order 19 ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 25

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E. Setting aside default judgments (regular and irregular) ........................................................................................ 26

i. Regular ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
ii. Irregular .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 26
10. INTERLOCUTORY AND EX PARTE PROCEEDINGS ....................................................................... 27
A. Striking out a writ or pleadings ........................................................................................................................................ 27
i. No reasonable cause of action or defence .......................................................................................................................... 27
ii. Scandalous, frivolous, vexatious ............................................................................................................................................... 27
iii. Prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial of the action................................................................................................ 27
B. Dismissal of an action for want of prosecution.......................................................................................................... 28
C. Application for an interim payment................................................................................................................................ 28
i. Order for interim payment in respect of damages ........................................................................................................... 28
ii. Interim payments in respect of sums other than damages........................................................................................... 28
iii. Manner of payment....................................................................................................................................................................... 29
iv. Non-disclosure of interim payment........................................................................................................................................ 29
D. Discovery and inspection of documents....................................................................................................................... 29
i. Automatic discovery...................................................................................................................................................................... 29
ii. General discovery ........................................................................................................................................................................... 29
iii. Test of relevancy ............................................................................................................................................................................. 30
iv. List of documents........................................................................................................................................................................... 30
v. Inspection and production of documents............................................................................................................................ 31
E. Extraordinary forms of discovery ..................................................................................................................................... 31
F. Interrogatories ........................................................................................................................................................................ 32
i. General principles........................................................................................................................................................................... 32
ii. Interrogatories without order.................................................................................................................................................... 32
iii. Ordered interrogatories............................................................................................................................................................... 32
G. Exchange of witness statements and expert reports................................................................................................ 32
i. Expert report .................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
H. Code of Conduct for expert witnesses .......................................................................................................................... 33
I. Case management summons, case management conference and pre-trial review Case management
timetable and milestone dates .................................................................................................................................................. 33
i. Case management summons .................................................................................................................................................... 33
ii. Case management conference and Timetable ................................................................................................................... 34
iii. Milestone dates............................................................................................................................................................................... 34
J. Setting a case down for trial.............................................................................................................................................. 35
K. Interlocutory injunctions ..................................................................................................................................................... 35
L. Mareva injunctions and Anton Piller orders ................................................................................................................ 36
i. Mareva injunctions......................................................................................................................................................................... 36
ii. Anton piller orders ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36
11. PAYMENTS INTO COURT AND SETTLEMENT ........................................................................... 37
A. Admissions in money claims ............................................................................................................................................. 37
i. Period for making admission..................................................................................................................................................... 37

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ii. Request for judgment................................................................................................................................................................... 37

B. Offers to settle and payments into Court- Sanctioned offers and Sanctioned Payments ......................... 37
i. Sanctioned offers ........................................................................................................................................................................... 37
1) Withdrawal or diminishing a sanctioned offer ...................................................................................................... 38
ii. Sanctioned payment ..................................................................................................................................................................... 38
1) Withdrawal or diminution of sanctioned payment.............................................................................................. 38
iii. Acceptance........................................................................................................................................................................................ 39
1) Acceptance by plaintiff ................................................................................................................................................... 39
2) Acceptance by defendant .............................................................................................................................................. 39
iv. Rejection ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 39
C. Terminating an action by order of the Court: consent orders, Tomlin orders ............................................... 40
D. Terminating an action by withdrawal or discontinuance ....................................................................................... 41
1) Discontinuance without leave ...................................................................................................................................... 41
2) Discontinuance of action with leave.......................................................................................................................... 41
3) Effect of discontinuance ................................................................................................................................................. 41
12. ASPECTS OF A CIVIL TRIAL .................................................................................................... 41
A. Conduct of the trial ............................................................................................................................................................... 41
B. Judgment .................................................................................................................................................................................. 42
13. COSTS ............................................................................................................................... 42
A. Security for costs.................................................................................................................................................................... 42
B. Solicitor and own client costs ........................................................................................................................................... 43
C. Costs of interlocutory applications ................................................................................................................................. 43
D. Recoverable costs of litigation: court’s discretion and orders for costs ........................................................... 44
E. Wasted costs orders ............................................................................................................................................................. 45
F. The bases of taxation ........................................................................................................................................................... 46
i. Party and Party basis, indemnity basis and common fund basis ................................................................................ 46
ii. Trustee basis..................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
G. Summary assessment of costs .......................................................................................................................................... 46
14. CIVIL APPEALS.................................................................................................................... 47
A. Interlocutory appeals ........................................................................................................................................................... 47
i. District Court Decisions................................................................................................................................................................ 47
ii. Court of First Instance Decisions.............................................................................................................................................. 47
iii. Court of Appeal............................................................................................................................................................................... 48
B. Appealing a judgment ......................................................................................................................................................... 48
C. Appeals to the Court of Appeal ....................................................................................................................................... 48
D. Appeals to the Court of Final Appeal ............................................................................................................................. 48
i. Seeking leave ................................................................................................................................................................................... 49
15. ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS ............................................................................................ 49
A. Overall strategy regarding enforcement of a judgment......................................................................................... 49
B. Writs of fi fa ............................................................................................................................................................................. 49
C. Garnishee proceedings ........................................................................................................................................................ 50

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i. Order nisi ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 50

ii. Order Absolute ................................................................................................................................................................................ 50
D. Charging orders and stop notices ................................................................................................................................... 51
i. Order nisi ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 51
ii. Order absolute................................................................................................................................................................................. 51
iii. Stop notices ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 52
E. Oral examination of the judgment debtor................................................................................................................... 52
i. Order 48 ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 52
ii. Order 49B .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 52
F. Prohibition orders.................................................................................................................................................................. 53

1. INTRODUCTION

A. HOW TO USE CONVERSION NOTES

The Hong Kong Civil Procedure Notes are formatted into a step-by-step guide, which you can use as a checklist in your
exams to ensure that every element of the exam question is answered. You may find the Table of Contents to be a quick
and useful overview of the law to be applied. You should also answer the exam question using the ILAC method, which will
ensure your answer is comprehensive.
Issue State the legal issue relevant to the problem
Law Identify the relevant case law and legislation
Analysis Analyse and apply the law to the legal issue. This is the most important
part, so ensure your legal analysis is very thorough.
Conclusion Form a conclusion based on your analysis and application of the law,
giving some practical advice to the hypothetical client.
It is very important to spend time perfecting your analysis section, as this is the part that examiners are most interested in.
Do not worry if you reach the correct conclusion (there often isn’t one clear answer) – examiners will give more weight to
your legal analysis, and sometimes may even reward answers that propose an innovative and unconventional answer!

B. ABBREVIATIONS
The Hong Kong Civil Procedure Notes will refer frequently to the following using abbreviations.
Rules The RHC and RDC collectively
RHC Rules of the High Court (Amendment) Rules 2008
RDC Rules of the District Court (Amendment) Rules 2008
DCO District Court Ordinance (Cap. 336), as amended by the Civil Justice
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2008
CFAO Court of Final Appeal Ordinance (Cap. 484)
PD Practice Directions of the High Court (as amended from time to time)
LAO Legal Aid Ordinance (Cap 91)
HCO High Court Ordinance (Cap. 4), as amended by the Civil Justice
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2008

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2. OVERVIEW OF THE CONDUCT OF CIVIL LITIGATION IN THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE HIGH
COURT
Before commencing an action, it is necessary to determine the most appropriate court to commence the action taking into
account of the following.

A. JURISDICTION OF THE DISTRICT COURT

Section 32(1) of the DCO provides that the District Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine any action (or counterclaim)
founded on contract, quasi-contract or tort where the amount of the plaintiff’s claim does not exceed $1,000,000 after
taking into account any set-off (section 32(2) DCO). The District Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine any
proceedings by way of interpleader in which the amount or value of the matter in dispute does not exceed $1,000,000
(section 32(3) DCO). However section 34(1) of the DCO provides that the District Court has jurisdiction to hear and
determine an action that is in excess of the Court's monetary jurisdiction limit on the plaintiff abandoning the amount of
the plaintiff's claim in excess and the action is one in which the Court otherwise has jurisdiction.

B. JURISDICTION OF THE HIGH COURT

Section 3(2) of the HCO provides that the Court of First Instance enjoys financially unlimited original civil jurisdiction over all
persons and all matters in Hong Kong.

C. TRANSFER OF AN ACTION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE HIGH COURT
Where an action or proceeding commenced in the District Court, not being a counterclaim, is outside the jurisdiction of the
District Court but is within the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance, sections 41 and 42 of the DCO provide that the
District Court shall, either of its own motion or on the application of any party, order that the action or proceeding be
transferred to the Court of First Instance.
Where a claim, other than a counterclaim, which appears to the Court of First Instance likely to be within the jurisdiction of
the District Court but has been commenced in the Court of First Instances, section 43(1) of the DCO provides that the Court
of First Instance may, either of its own motion or on the application of any party, order the transfer to the District Court of
all or part of the action or proceeding. Indeed, section 43(3) of the DCO provides that The Court of First Instance is required
to make an order under this section unless it is of the opinion that, by reason of the importance or complexity of any issue
arising in the action or proceeding, or for any other reason, the action or proceeding ought to remain in the Court of First
Instance. An order may be made under this section at any stage of the proceedings of the motion of the Court of First
Instance itself or on the application of any party (Section 43(2) DCO).

3. CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN ACTION: TIME LIMITATION, LEGAL AID

AND JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS

Before commencing an action, there are many important considerations that should be considered.

A. LIMITATION PERIOD
A very important pre-commencement consideration is identifying whether the limitation period for the potential action has
expired or will be expiring soon. If it is the case that the limitation period will be expiring soon, the solicitor has a duty to act
urgently so as to ensure that the action is not time-barred.

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The Limitation Ordinance (Cap 347) provides the limitation period for different types of claims. Generally, the limitation
period for a contract under seal is 12 years from the date of breach of the contract and the limitation period for a simple
contract is 6 years from the date of breach. In relation to torts (other than claims for personal injury and deaths), the
limitation period is generally 6 years from the date of damage being sustained as a result of the tortious act. Note however
there is no limitation period on claims against trustees if it is a claim by the beneficiary in respect of any fraud or fraudulent
breach of trust to which the trustee was a party or privy; or to recover from the trustee trust property or the proceeds
thereof in the possession of the trustee, or previously received by the trustee and converted to his use.

B. COSTS ONLY PROCEEDINGS

Another consideration before commencing proceedings is the possibility of costs only proceedings. In the past, costs could
not be recovered unless proceedings have been instituted. However it is now possible to have costs only proceedings.
Section 52B(1) of the HCO and Section 53A(1) of the DCO provide that costs only proceedings apply where:
(a) the parties to a dispute have agreed on all the issues in dispute including who is to pay the costs of and incidental
to the dispute;
(b) the agreement has been made or confirmed in writing;
(c) no proceedings relating to the dispute have been commenced; and
(d) the parties have failed to agree on the amount of the costs of and incidental to the dispute.
Section 52B(2) of the HCO and Section 53A(2) of the DCO provide that either party to the agreement may commence
proceedings for an order for the costs of and incidental to the dispute. Section 52B(3) of the HCO and Section 53A(3) of
the DCO provide that in a costs only proceeding, the court may (a) make an order for the costs of and incidental to the
dispute to be taxed or assessed; (b) make an order awarding costs of the costs only proceedings to or against any party to
the proceedings; and (c) make an order awarding those costs against a person who is not a party to the proceedings if it is
satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Order 62 rule 11A of the Rules provide that costs only proceedings are to be commenced by originating summons which
must be accompanied by: (a) an affidavit exhibiting the agreement between the parties; and (b) the plaintiff’s bill of costs or
statement of costs. The plaintiff may elect in his originating summons whether he wishes to proceed by way of summary
assessment (in which case a statement of costs should be attached) or by taxation (in which case a bill of costs should be
attached. Once the defendant has acknowledged service of the originating summons, the master may make a summary
assessment or an order for taxation of the costs on the return date.

C. LEGAL AID
A solicitor has a duty to advise client to seek legal aid where a solicitor considers that his client may be eligible for legal aid.
A solicitor must inform the client of the availability of legal aid, where the client can apply for it and recommend the client
to do so (Hong Kong Solicitors’ Guide Principle 4.01). Legal aid is available to any natural person in Hong Kong, resident or
non-resident. Section 2 of the LAO defines ‘person’ to exclude a body of persons corporate or unincorporated.

i. TYPE OF PROCEEDINGS

Legal Aid covers civil proceedings mentioned in Part I of Schedule 2 to LAO which includes proceedings in the District
Court, High Court, Court of Final Appeal and in the Lands Tribunal under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation)
Ordinance (Cap 7). However there are a number of proceedings where Legal aid is not available. The excluded proceedings
are mentioned in Part II of Schedule 2 to the LAO and include defamation proceedings, disputes between shareholders or

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business partners, claims for the recovery of a loan made in the ordinary course of the applicant’s business, and
proceedings where the only question before the court is as to the time and mode of payment for debt and costs.

ii. ELIGIBILITY

There are two Legal Aid Schemes, the Ordinary Scheme and the Supplementary Scheme. The Ordinary Scheme is for those
with financial resources not exceeding $165,700.66 as assessed under the Legal Aid (Assessment of Resources and
Contributions) Regulations. The Supplementary Scheme is for those with financial resources above $165,700 but not
exceeding $460,300 as assessed under the Legal Aid (Assessment of Resources and Contributions) Regulations.
Furthermore, the Supplementary covers only claims for damages arising from personal injuries or death, or for damages for
medical, dental or legal professional negligence with an amount exceeding (or likely to exceed) $60,000.67.

On top the abovementioned means tests, the applicant must satisfy the merits test. Section 10(3) of the LAO and the case
of Ng Ai Kheng Jasmine v Master M Yuen (2004) HCAL 46/2003 provides that Legal Aid will be refused unless the applicant
shows that he has ‘reasonable grounds for taking, defending, opposing or continuing the proceedings or being a party
thereto’. Lastly, even if reasonable grounds are shown, the Director of Legal Aid has a residual discretion to refuse legal aid
on grounds set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (g) of section 10(3) of the LAO.

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