RE CHEUNG KWOK LUN ALAN

HCB 10968/2001

香港特別行政區

高等法院原訟法庭

民事司法管轄權

高院破產案件編號2001年10968號

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判案書

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1. 本席在3月18日對債務人張國麟先生作出破產命令，該命令至今還沒有加上法庭的蓋章，成為完備的命令。張先生今天向法庭申請，要求撤銷破產命令，事情的經過可簡述如下。

2. 2002年3月11日，本席作出命令，把破產呈請押後至4月22日。押後的條件，是張先生必需於3月14日或之前，向法庭繳交他並無爭議的款項，為HK$242,412.04。本席又命令呈請人的律師，需於3月15日通知法庭，張先生有沒有繳交上述的款項。如果沒有的話，法庭便會將破產呈請提前於3月18日聆訊。根據張先生在3月18日向法庭提交的誓章及文件證據，他已於3月13日向法庭繳交上述的款項。

3. 呈請人律師的職員，在3月15日向法庭會計部查詢，張先生有沒有繳交款項。據呈請人律師的誓章透露，會計部告訴該職員，由於法庭的電腦系統出現故障，故此要到3月19日才可查察，法庭有沒收到該款項。該職員隨即向本席的書記查詢，而本席的書記告訴他，法庭並沒有任何存檔紀錄，顯示張先生已向法庭繳交上述款項。

4. 本席必須指出，呈請人律師的職員向本席的書記查詢，是不恰當的，因為除非繳交款項的人在交款後，把一份繳交款項通知書存檔法庭，法庭的文件紀錄才會顯示已繳交款項。在一般情況下，如果與訟人向法庭繳交款項，他只會收到會計部的收據，而收據是不需要存檔法庭的，故此，法庭並不會有任何繳交款項的文件紀錄存檔。

5. 在3月18日的聆訊，由於呈請人並沒有向本席透露，他們在3月15日向會計部查詢的詳情，本席並不知道在3月19日之前，他們根本不能向會計部查出結果。因為呈請人的代表律師，並沒有向本席陳述事實的全部真相，本席錯誤以為張先生沒有支付上述款項，因而作出破產命令。

6. 在這情況下，本席必需運用《破產條例》第98條的酌情權，撤銷3月18日作出的破產命令。由於本席認為，呈請人的律師在處理事件有不當的地方，故此，對於呈請人出席3月18日的聆訊，本席不作任何訟費的命令。今天的申請，本席也不作任何訟費的命令，唯是破產管理署在3月18日及今天聆訊的訟費，據破產管理署估計為HK$2,400，本席裁定需要額外由呈請人支付。

呈請人：由高李葉律師行馮梓良律師代表

債務人：張國麟，無律師代表，親自應訊

破產管理署：由該署黃小雲律師代表

HCB 10968/2001

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

BANKRUPCTY PROCEEDINGS NO. 10968 OF 2001

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J U D G M E N T

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1. This petition is brought by Pacific Century Insurance Company Limited. The debtor, Mr Cheung Kwok Lun Alan, was the former insurance agent of the petitioner.

2. The debt in the statutory demand is in the sum of HK$342,981.98 as at 19 October 2001 and is based on two agreements, being the Manager's Rollover Financing Agreement and the Agent's Financing Agreement both dated 1 February 1995. The statutory demand was served on the debtor personally on 21 June 2001. The petition herein was filed on 22 November 2001 and served on the debtor personally on 18 January 2002.

3. At the last hearing before me on 11 March 2002, the debtor placed before me a letter in Chinese that he had written to the court dated 26 February 2002. In that letter, he admitted that he owed the petitioner a sum of HK$242,412.04 under the Financing Agreement. He was not clear about the balance of HK$75,760.82 and he had requested a breakdown and statement from the petitioner. He was not provided with any information despite his requests.

4. The debtor informed me at the last hearing that he would contest the balance of HK$75,000 odd. As there is no dispute regarding that part of the debt which he has admitted being HK$242,412.04, I adjourned the hearing of the petition to 22 April 2002 on condition that the debtor was to pay into court the amount not in dispute by 14 March 2002, failing which the petitioner's solicitors was to notify the court on 15 March for the petition to be re-listed for hearing on 18 March 2002. I was given to understand by the debtor that he could pay the amount not in dispute any time. I also gave directions for the debtor and the petitioner to file affidavits in opposition and in reply.

5. I understand from the petitioner's solicitors that no payment has been made into court by the debtor of the sum not in dispute. The debtor has not appeared today.

6. In the circumstances, as there is no payment of the amount of the debt not in dispute which is way above the threshold in the Bankruptcy Ordinance, it would be appropriate to make a bankruptcy order. I also award costs to the petitioner.

Representation:

Miss Julia Lau, instructed by Messrs Kao, Lee & Yip, for the Petitioner

The Debtor: Cheung Kwok Lun Alan, in person, absent

Mr. J Glen, for the Official Receiver's Office