HCMP 158/2025 – High Court Rejects Application to Revoke Letters of Administration

高等法院駁回撤銷遺產管理書申請 —— 香港遺產爭議成功案例

This case is a significant example of contentious probate litigation in Hong Kong, involving allegations of material non‑disclosure, conflict of interest, and an attempt to remove an administrator under the Probate and Administration Ordinance.

本案屬於香港典型的 遺產爭議訴訟，涉及 重要不披露、利益衝突指控 及根據《遺囑及遺產管理條例》申請 免任遺產管理人。

Represented by our Ms. Emily Au (區嘉文律師), the instructing solicitor for the Defendant, the Defendant successfully resisted the application. The Court dismissed all claims and awarded costs to the Defendant.

在本行 區嘉文律師（Ms. Emily Au）作為被告的指示律師 的主導下，被告成功全面抗辯。法院最終完全駁回原告的申請，並頒令原告支付訟費。

1. Case Summary

1. 案件摘要

This case concerns a challenge to the validity of Letters of Administration (“LA”) granted to the Defendant in respect of the estate of the late Lok Shu Tong. The Plaintiff alleged that the Defendant, who was also the administrator of the estate of the Deceased’s wife, was in a position of conflict of interest because he had commenced earlier possession proceedings (HCA 2355/2017) involving a property formerly held in joint tenancy by the Deceased and his wife.

本案涉及原告質疑被告就亡者駱樹棠遺產所獲授的遺產管理書（LA）是否有效。原告指稱，被告同時身兼亡者妻子遺產管理人，並曾就一個由亡者與妻子共同持有的物業提起取回管有權訴訟（HCA 2355/2017），因此構成 利益衝突。

The Plaintiff argued that the Defendant’s failure to disclose the HCA proceedings amounted to material non‑disclosure and rendered him unsuitable to act as administrator.

原告進一步指稱，被告在申請 LA 時沒有披露 HCA 訴訟，構成重要不披露，使其不適合作為遺產管理人。

2. Background of the Conflict‑of‑Interest Allegation

2. 利益衝突指控的背景

The Plaintiff alleged that:

• the Defendant, as administrator of the wife’s estate, claimed the property belonged entirely to the wife by survivorship;

• the Plaintiff and her siblings claimed beneficial interests in the property through a constructive trust;

• therefore, the Defendant was allegedly “litigating against” the Deceased’s estate in the HCA proceedings;

• and the Defendant’s non‑disclosure of the HCA proceedings was material.

原告主張：

• 被告作為亡者妻子遺產管理人，主張物業因「生者承存權」而完全屬於亡者妻子；

• 原告及其兄弟姊妹則主張透過建構信託享有物業受益權益；

• 因此，被告在 HCA 訴訟中等同於「向亡者遺產提出不利主張」；

• 而被告在申請 LA 時沒有披露 HCA 訴訟，構成重要不披露。

3. Why the Court Rejected the Conflict‑of‑Interest Argument

3. 法院為何否定利益衝突指控

(1) The Deceased had no beneficial interest at death

The Court accepted that the property passed to the wife by survivorship, meaning the Deceased held no beneficial interest at the time of death as his estate.

法院接納物業按「生者承存權」轉歸亡者妻子，意味著亡者於死亡時 並無任何屬於其遺產的受益權益。

→ Therefore, the Defendant was correct not to list the property in the LA application.

→ 因此，被告沒有在 LA 中列出該物業是正確的。

(2) The alleged conflict was not created by the Defendant

The Defendant did not initiate any claim against the Deceased’s estate.

所謂「衝突」並非由被告造成。

The conflict only arose because the Plaintiff and her siblings added the Deceased’s estate to their counterclaim.

衝突只是因為原告及其兄弟姊妹 自行把亡者遺產加入反申索 而產生。

(3) The Defendant had no personal interest

He was simply fulfilling his duty as administrator of the wife’s estate.

被告只是履行其作為亡者妻子遺產管理人的法律責任。

He stood to gain nothing personally.

他並無任何個人利益。

(4) Even if disclosed, the Probate Registry would not have acted differently

The Registry would not speculate on unresolved litigation.

遺產承辦處不會揣測未決訴訟結果。

Thus, the alleged non‑disclosure was not material.

因此，所謂不披露 並非重要不披露。

(5) No dishonesty, mismanagement, or risk to the estate

The estate was small, straightforward, and there was no prejudice to beneficiaries.

遺產規模不大、結構簡單，亦沒有任何對受益人的損害。

(6) Plaintiff’s delay undermined her credibility

She waited years before raising the issue despite having opportunities to discover the LA earlier.

原告多年後才提出申請，削弱其可信性。

4. Costs Awarded to the Defendant

4. 訟費判給被告

Given the lack of merit, the Court ordered the Plaintiff to pay the Defendant’s costs.

鑑於申請缺乏理據，法院下令原告支付被告訟費。

5. Role of Our Ms. Emily Au (區嘉文律師)

5. 區嘉文律師的角色與貢獻

As the instructing solicitor, Ms. Emily Au:

• led the litigation strategy

• drafted the Defendant’s affirmation

• shaped the legal arguments adopted by the Court

• ensured consistency between the HCMP and HCA proceedings

作為 被告的指示律師，區嘉文律師：

• 主導整體訴訟策略

• 親自草擬被告誓章

• 建構法院最終採納的法律論據

• 確保 HCMP 與 HCA 立場一致、穩健

Her leadership was central to the successful outcome.

其領導對本案的成功至關重要。

6. Why Clients Choose Our Firm for Probate Litigation

6. 為何客戶選擇本行處理遺產爭議

We have strong experience in:

• Contentious probate litigation

• Revocation of probate / letters of administration

• Removal of administrators

• Family property and beneficial interest disputes

• Complex multi‑party estate litigation

本行擅長：

• 遺產爭議訴訟

• 撤銷遺產管理書 / 遺囑認證

• 免任遺產管理人

• 家族物業及權益爭議

• 複雜家族訴訟

If you are facing a probate dispute in Hong Kong, our team is ready to assist with clear strategy and strong representation.  Please contact our Ms. Emily Au directly for a consultation.

如您正面對香港遺產爭議，本行樂意為您提供清晰策略及堅實法律代表。請立刻直接聯絡我們的區嘉文律師進行咨詢。