GRANT THORNTON INTERNATIONAL LTD AND OTHERS v. TANG CHUNG WAH AND ANOTHER

HCCL 17/2012

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

COMMERCIAL ACTION NO 17 OF 2012

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D E C I S I O N

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1.  This is the adjourned hearing of an application for an unless order by the Plaintiffs against the two Defendants.

2.  On 7 March 2013, after a contested hearing, this court ordered the Defendants to inter alia serve on the Plaintiffs and file in court an English translation of their Defence and Counterclaim dated 4 February 2013 within 14 days. This court handed down its reasons on 11 March 2013.

3.  The Defendants having failed to comply with the order, the Plaintiffs issued a summons on 21 March 2013 seeking an unless order against the Defendants.

4.  The matter first came before this court on 11 April 2013. The 1^st Defendant did not turn up. The 2^nd Defendant did, and told this court she would comply with the order of 7 March 2013. On that basis, this court adjourned the Plaintiff’s summons for unless order, and further extended the time for the Defendants to file and serve an English translation of their Defence and Counterclaim for another 14 days.

5.  Today is 29 May 2013, almost 3 months since this court made the order on 7 March 2013. The English translation is still not forthcoming.

6.  The Statement of Claim is a two-page document. The Plaintiffs’ claim is for GBP57,500, being costs ordered against the Defendants and summarily assessed by a court in the Chancery Division of the High Court of England and Wales. The proceedings were initiated by the Defendants.

7.  As I said in my reasons handed down on 11 March 2013, the Defendants are educated professionals conversant with both the Chinese and English languages. The Defence and Counterclaim in this action is also a two-page document. I have little doubt that if they choose to, the Defendants themselves would be able to translate the document into English. If they prefer external translation services, the expenses are unlikely to be substantial.

8.  Court orders are to be complied with, whether or not there is a pending appeal against it. The public interest in the proper administration of justice clearly requires that to be so. If people are free to comply with or ignore court orders, the entire judicial system will collapse.

9.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Defendants’ failure to comply with the court orders made on 7 March 2013 and 11 April 2013 are intentional and contumelious.

10.  I am satisfied that this is a proper case to make an unless order. The order that I am going to make is that

“Unless the Defendants do within 7 days from today file and serve an English translation of their Defence and Counterclaim dated 4 February 2013, the Defence and Counterclaim be struck out and default judgment be entered in favour of the Plaintiffs in terms of the Statement of Claim herein.”

11.  I also order that the costs of the Summons for unless order be to the Plaintiffs, including the hearings on 11 April 2013 and today, summarily assessed at HK$21,000.