帳目真偽，可否盤問？？申請獲批

### 案件基本資料 - 案件名稱：BIG ISLAND CONSTRUCTION (HK) LIMITED v WU YI DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED and WU YI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED - 法院：高等法院原訟法庭 (Court of First Instance, CFI) - 法官：Poon J - 判決日期：2009年3月11日 ### 案情摘要 本案涉及原告BIG ISLAND CONSTRUCTION (HK) LIMITED（「BIC」）與被告WU YI DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED及WU YI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED（統稱「Wu Yi方」）之間的訴訟。Wu Yi方提出三項申請：要求根據《高等法院規則》第27號命令第4條第(2)款提交通知書，質疑BIC於2001年至2005年間經審計帳目的真實性；要求根據《高等法院規則》第26號命令第4條向BIC發出盤問書；以及要求提交Mr Lian Mingshun、Mr Huang Limin的補充證人陳述書及Mr Choi King Hung的證人陳述書。各方同意以書面陳詞方式處理這些申請，以節省時間和費用。 ### 核心法律爭議 本案的核心法律爭議在於：(1) Wu Yi方是否有權質疑BIC於2001年至2005年間經審計帳目的真實性；(2) Wu Yi方提出的盤問書是否適當且應由BIC回答，特別是關於BIC對FBC Construction Company Limited（「FBC」）的債務承認；以及(3) Wu Yi方提交的證人陳述書（涉及BIC向Wu Yi Development Limited借款港幣50萬元）是否相關且應獲准提交。BIC反對盤問書的申請，理由是這會對其在HCA1363/2008案件中的抗辯造成高度偏見。 ### 判決理由 法官在分析質疑帳目真實性的申請時，考慮到BIC已質疑Wu Yi方同期帳目的真實性，因此認為Wu Yi方獲准質疑BIC帳目的真實性是合理的。對於盤問書的申請，法官引用了先前在HCA2196/2005案件中命令Nationbuild Pacific Limited回答盤問書的先例，該盤問書涉及FBC的審計帳目中BIC所欠款項。法官認為，盤問書旨在釐清BIC是否承認這些債務，且這些債務並未出現在BIC的審計帳目中，因此盤問書是適當的。法官駁回BIC關於偏見的論點，指出盤問書的答案不一定構成債務承認，且FBC已在另一案件中依賴帳目內容以對抗時效抗辯。至於證人陳述書，法官同意Mr Ng的意見，認為相關貸款是相關的。 ### 引用案例與條文 本案未有特別引用 ### 裁決與命令 法官批准了Wu Yi方的所有三項申請。具體而言，法官允許Wu Yi方質疑BIC於2001年至2005年間經審計帳目的真實性，並命令BIC在判決書頒布後14天內回答盤問書。此外，法官亦批准提交Mr Lian Mingshun、Mr Huang Limin的補充證人陳述書及Mr Choi King Hung的證人陳述書。Wu Yi方獲得所有申請的臨時訟費命令，如未能達成協議則需評定。 ### 判決啟示 本判決強調了在訴訟中質疑對方會計帳目真實性的權利，以及在必要時透過盤問書釐清爭議事實的重要性。法庭在處理此類申請時，會考慮案件的整體背景和相關性，即使可能對另一方在其他訴訟中產生影響，只要申請本身合理且有助於釐清本案爭議，仍會予以批准。這也反映了法庭在管理訴訟程序中，平衡各方權益和確保案件公正審理的原則。 --- ### 免責聲明 本摘要由人工智能自動生成，內容可能存在錯誤或遺漏，僅供參考，不構成法律意見。如需法律建議，請諮詢合資格律師。### Case Details - Case Name: BIG ISLAND CONSTRUCTION (HK) LIMITED v WU YI DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED and WU YI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED - Court: Court of First Instance (CFI) - Judge: Poon J - Date of Judgment: 11 March 2009 ### Factual Background This case involves an action between the plaintiff, BIG ISLAND CONSTRUCTION (HK) LIMITED ("BIC"), and the defendants, WU YI DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED and WU YI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED (collectively, "the Wu Yi Parties"). The Wu Yi Parties brought three applications: for leave to file a notice under Order 27, rule 4(2) of the Rules of the High Court, challenging the authenticity of BIC's audited accounts between 2001 and 2005; for leave under Order 26, rule 4 to serve interrogatories on BIC; and for leave to file supplemental witness statements of Mr Lian Mingshun and Mr Huang Limin, and the witness statement of Mr Choi King Hung. The parties agreed to dispose of these applications on paper to save costs and time. ### Key Legal Issues The core legal issues in dispute were: (1) whether the Wu Yi Parties should be granted leave to challenge the authenticity of BIC's audited accounts from 2001 to 2005; (2) whether the interrogatories proposed by the Wu Yi Parties were proper and should be answered by BIC, particularly concerning BIC's alleged admission of debts to FBC Construction Company Limited ("FBC"); and (3) whether the witness statements submitted by the Wu Yi Parties, concerning a HK$500,000 loan from Wu Yi Development Limited to BIC, were relevant and should be admitted. BIC opposed the interrogatories application, arguing it would be highly prejudicial to its defence in HCA1363/2008. ### Ratio Decidendi In analyzing the application to challenge account authenticity, the judge noted that BIC had already challenged the authenticity of the Wu Yi Parties' accounts for the same period, making it reasonable for the Wu Yi Parties to do the same. For the interrogatories application, the judge referred to a precedent in HCA2196/2005 where Nationbuild Pacific Limited was ordered to answer interrogatories regarding BIC's debts in FBC's audited accounts. The judge found the interrogatories proper as they sought to clarify BIC's admission of debts not appearing in its own audited accounts. The judge dismissed BIC's prejudice argument, stating that answers might not constitute an admission and FBC was already relying on account contents against a limitation defence. For the witness statements, the judge agreed with Mr Ng that the loans were relevant. ### Key Precedents & Statutes None prominently cited ### Decision & Orders The judge granted all three applications by the Wu Yi Parties. Specifically, leave was granted to challenge the authenticity of BIC's audited accounts from 2001 to 2005, and BIC was ordered to answer the interrogatories within 14 days of the decision. Furthermore, leave was granted to file the supplemental witness statements of Mr Lian Mingshun and Mr Huang Limin, and the witness statement of Mr Choi King Hung. The Wu Yi Parties were awarded costs nisi for all applications, to be taxed if not agreed. ### Key Takeaways This judgment underscores the right to challenge the authenticity of accounting records in litigation and the importance of interrogatories in clarifying disputed facts. The court, in handling such applications, considers the overall context and relevance, and will grant them if reasonable and conducive to clarifying the issues in the present case, even if there might be implications for other ongoing litigation. This reflects the court's principle of balancing parties' rights and ensuring fair trial management. --- ### Disclaimer This summary is AI-generated and may contain errors or omissions. It is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a qualified lawyer for professional legal advice.