|
HCA 565/2023
[2025] HKCFI 3399
IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
ACTION NO 565 OF 2023
____________________
| BETWEEN |
|
|
| |
GCGC LIMITED |
Plaintiff |
| |
AND |
|
| |
FRANK YE JUN （叶隽） |
1st Defendant |
| |
YE SHICHANG （叶世昌） |
2nd Defendant |
____________________
| Before: |
Hon K Yeung J in Chambers |
| Date of Statement of Costs by the Plaintiff: |
20 June 2025 |
| Date of Decision on Costs: |
4 August 2025 |
____________________
DECISION
ON
COSTS
____________________
1. I refer to my Decision handed down on 30 May 2025. I refer in particular to the costs order nisi I made at §78 thereof.
2. Under cover of their letter of 20 June 2025, DLA lodged P’s Statement of Costs. They claim thereby costs in the total amount of HK$2,360,048.
3. By letter of 9 July 2025, Zhong Lun Law Firm LLP informed this Court that they did not receive any instructions from their client to file Statement of Objections.
4. I have considered P’s Statement of Costs.
5. I point out first of all that the claimed costs concern the Summons and hearing on 23 April 2025. They do not cover any costs for seeking and obtaining the ex parte Injunction Order.
6. That total amount of HK$2,360,048 is in my view far too high.
7. In section C, Communications in the total sum of HK$209,040 is claimed. That is too high. I assess the same at HK$100,000.
8. In section D1, DLA claim Professional Work for the preparation of Pong/Aff2 and Pong/Aff3 in the total amount of HK$333,830. That is far too high. That is particularly so when leading counsel was involved in “Perusal, research and settling [Pong/Aff2]”, and charged HK$323,000 for that. I assess the same at HK$111,000.
9. In section D2, DLA claim Perusal of Documents in the total amount of HK$268,440. That is too high. I assess the same at HK$135,000.
10. In section D3, DLA claim Preparation for Hearing in the total amount of HK$236,020. That is too high. I assess the same at HK$120,000.
11. In section D4, the attendance of 3 solicitors for the substantive hearing is not justified. I assess the same at HK$51,500.
12. In section D5, the unspecified General Care and Conduct in the total sum of HK$83,200 is too high. I assess the same at HK$30,000.
13. At E1 to E5, total fees for leading counsel came up to HK$1,023,250. That is too high. I assess the same at HK$600,000.
14. In all, and adopting a broad brush approach, I summarily access the total costs at HK$1,250,000.
| |
(Keith Yeung) |
| |
Judge of the Court of First Instance |
| |
High Court |
The Statement of Costs by the DLA Piper Hong Kong, for the Plaintiff
Zhong Lun Law Firm LLP for the 1st Defendant, made no submissions
|