TERKILD JOHAN TERKILDSEN AND ANOTHER v. BARBER ASIA LTD AND OTHERS

CACV 156/2007, CACV 163/2007, CACV 165/2007, CACV 180/2007

and CACV 181/2007

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF APPEAL

CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 156, 163, 165, 180 AND 181 OF 2007

(ON APPEAL FROM HCA NO. 1963 OF 2003)

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J U D G M E N T

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Hon Rogers VP:

1.  This is a hearing to settle an order in respect of a judgment which this court handed down on 8 May last year.

2.  It seems to me that all the orders and all the drafts and suggestions which have been put forward are wrong.  The order that we propose to make is in the following terms:

   1.   the Plaintiffs’ appeal be allowed in part as follows:

(1)    the Plaintiffs’ appeal in respect of claims made against the 2nd Defendant in negligence be allowed;

(2)    the Plaintiffs’ appeal in respect of claims made against the 5th Defendant under section 8 of the Protection of Investors Ordinance and breach of trust be allowed;

   2.   the 4th Defendant’s appeal in respect of the claims framed in negligence against him be allowed;

   3.   there be no order as to costs, save that the 4th Defendant’s costs be taxed in accordance with Legal Aid Regulations; and

   4.   subject to paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above, the appeals do stand dismissed.

3.  As a rider to that, I would say that one of the matters which I would specifically draw to the parties’ attention is that attempts were made to give a blanket leave to amend pleadings.  This court does not do that.  If parties wish this court to approve an amendment, that amendment must be prepared well in advance so all parties can comment on it.  It is bad practice for any court to allow a blanket leave to amend, because that causes considerable difficulties in case an invalid amendment is slipped in.  In this case, it is all the more important in view of what was said in paragraph 23 of this court’s judgment.

4.  I would also add that the costs of this hearing will be costs in the appeal, because that is the normal course.