KOON TUNG YING v. LAU CHUP HEI

FACV No. 24 of 1998

IN THE COURT OF FINAL APPEAL OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

FINAL APPEAL NO. 24 OF 1998 (CIVIL)

(ON APPEAL FROM CACV No. 80 OF 1998)

_____________________

_____________________

_________________

J U D G M E N T

_________________

Chief Justice Li :

1. I agree with the judgment of Mr Justice Ching PJ.

Mr Justice Litton PJ :

2. I agree with Mr Justice Ching PJ's judgment.

Mr Justice Ching PJ :

3. In July, 1992, Chow Fung Lin, the deceased, effected a policy of insurance upon her own life through a friend, Chan Mei Lan, an employee of the insurers. She nominated her mother, Koon Tung Ying, as the beneficiary. The policy contained a provision under the heading "Beneficiary" which provided that

Unfortunately, in November, 1993, she was diagnosed as suffering from terminal cancer. As recorded by the Judge at first instance, it was not disputed that she remained alert and able to communicate rationally with others until she fell into a coma. She died in April, 1994, but before she became comatose she arranged an appointment with Chan Mei Lan at which she signed a document substituting a male friend, Lau Chup Hei, as the beneficiary in place of her mother. Upon her death both Lau and the mother claimed to be entitled to the insurance monies. Very properly, the insurers acknowledged that they were liable to pay out those monies, paid it in to Court and interpleaded between the two claimants after which they took no further part in the proceedings. Directions were given as to the trial of the issues in which the mother was ordered to be the plaintiff with Lau as the defendant. The Judge at first instance gave judgment for Lau. The mother appealed unsuccessfully to the Court of Appeal and now appeals further to us. She was represented by two different counsel in each of the Courts below and her printed case was signed by yet another counsel but before us she represented herself.

4. The first ground of appeal in the printed Case was that

This is a question of fact. It does not appear to have been pleaded or argued in either of the Courts below. That is enough to dispose of the point but in addition there is the evidence of an assistant manager of the insurance company by way of an affirmation leading to the application for an interpleader. Paragraph 5 of that affirmation states that on receipt of the form instructing the company to substitute Lau as the beneficiary the company "registered" him as such. The form itself contains the words "Approved by" followed by a signature over the printed words "Authorised Signature". A letter from the insurers to the mother dated 8 September, 1994, states that according to their records there was a change of beneficiary. "Beneficiary" is defined in the policy as meaning a person named in the records to receive the policy proceeds at the insured's death. Chan Mei Lan, whose evidence generally was accepted by the Judge, said that she had gone back to the deceased with a copy of the form saying that everything had been settled. This ground of appeal fails.

5. The fourth ground of appeal in the printed Case was that Lau is not entitled to enforce the contract of insurance. This is a misunderstanding of both the facts and the law. Lau has claimed to be entitled to the money but he is not enforcing the contract of insurance. The insurers are perfectly willing to pay and the dispute is between two persons each claiming to be entitled to the monies. This litigation is concerned with that dispute alone. In the circumstances of this case there is no question of Lau's ability to sue the insurers.

6. The second ground of appeal in the printed Case was that

It is unnecessary to deal with any question as to a trust. The remarks made in relation to the fourth ground apply. The validity of the policy has not been attacked and it constitutes a contract between the deceased and the insurers that the insurance monies will be paid to the nominated beneficiary. The Judge at first instance found that the substitution of Lau as the beneficiary was validly made. It follows that if a Court were to order the insurers to pay the insurance monies to anyone other than Lau it would be ordering them to act in breach of their contract with the deceased. It is to be remarked that if the points advanced against Lau in this ground and the fourth ground had any force they would apply equally against the mother. This ground also fails.

7. The third ground advanced in the printed Case was that

The provision breached is said to be the lack of a second witness. Reference is then made to a number of authorities including Snell's Equity (29th Edn.) at page 107. That passage states,

It is sufficient to say that, passing over the question of whether or not this passage is applicable to Hong Kong, the deceased was never the owner of the insurance monies.

8. The mother has delivered to the members of this Court an affirmation by which she puts forward other arguments. They include an allegation of fraud against Chan Mei Lan, a lack of insurable interest as between the deceased and Lau (whatever that may mean), misrepresentation by Chan Mei Lan to her employers that Lau was a cousin of the deceased when in fact he was not and lack of verification of the deceased's signature on the relevant form. We can see nothing in these arguments any more than we can see any merit in the arguments advanced in her Case.

9. This appeal is dismissed with costs.

Mr Justice Bokhary PJ:

10. This is a sad case. I have no doubt that the appellant is a sincere woman who simply cannot bring herself to believe that her dying daughter would substitute the respondent for her as the beneficiary under the daughter's policy of life insurance. The appellant's attitude is understandable. By its nature, such a substitution is not an easy thing for anyone to fathom, let alone a mother to accept. But there was a background to the case which could account for the daughter wishing to benefit the respondent. More importantly there was direct evidence - believed by the trial judge who received all the evidence at first-hand and sifted the same with care - pointing to the substitution having been made.

11. The judge found as a fact that the substitution had been made. And the Court of Appeal supported that finding. It is now before this Court as a concurrent finding of fact unaccompanied by any circumstances which enables us to disturb such a finding.

12. A number of counsel have, at various stages of this litigation, applied their minds on the appellant's behalf to devising legal arguments as to why, even if the daughter had indeed set about naming a new beneficiary, her effort to do so was ineffective in law. But none of these arguments stand up to analysis.

13. In such circumstances, I am constrained to agree that, for the reasons given by Mr Justice Ching PJ, this appeal must be dismissed with costs.

Sir Daryl Dawson NPJ :

14. I agree.

Chief Justice Li :

15. The Court, being unanimous, dismisses the appeal with costs.

Representation: