Ambrose Ho, S.C. has a broad civil and commercial practice in the areas of securities, bankruptcy, insolvency, commercial, land, trust, probate and public law. He has particular experience in enforcement actions under the Securities and Futures Ordinance, both for the Securities and Futures Commission and private respondents. He is regularly instructed in probate related litigations and also shareholders disputes. In his public law practice, he has acted for the Department of Justice in judicial reviews on building and town planning matters. He has sat as a Recorder of the Court of First Instance, and has been appointed on various statutory appeal boards and statutory authorities as part of his commitment to public service.
Ambrose Ho, S.C. has been quoted as “a very experienced senior counsel” and “a very solid and deep-thinking practitioner” whose court manner is much appreciated by the Bench.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Lam Kin Chung v Soka Gakkai International of Hong Kong Ltd[2022] HKCA 480 – Appeal concerning juridical basis for members of a charitable corporation to commence derivative actions and scope of members’ fiduciary duty in voting
China Agri-products Exchange Limited v Wang Xiu Qun & another [2021] HKCFI 137 – 23-day trial of a commercial dispute involving the sale and purchase of a Mainland company
Bright Gold Limited v Mega Well Development Limited [2020] 4 HKLRD 26, [2020] HKCA 757 – Appeal by the developer overturning a CFI’s decision relating to estate agent’s capacity in a sale of first-hand property transaction
C v B (Re A: Mental Health) [2019] 2 HKLRD 613, [2019] HKCA 321 – Appeal in Mental Health proceedings arising from disputes in a family of substantial wealth
Building Authority v Appeal Tribunal (Buildings) (ENM Holdings Ltd) (2018) 21 HKCFAR 194, [2018] HKCFA 20 – CFA decision on interpretation of provision in Land Grant concerning responsibility to maintain hillside slopes
OTHER NOTABLE CASES
Securities
Re Freeman FinTech Corp Ltd[2022] HKCFI 697; [2018] 1 HKLRD 320 – Disqualification and compensation orders sought by the SFC against directors
SFC v Qunxing Paper Holdings Co Ltd & others [2018] 1 HKLRD 1060, [2018] HKCFI 271 – Juridical basis of SFC seeking remedies for benefit of investors under s. 213 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance
Re China Metal Recycling (Holdings) Ltd [2015] 2 HKLRD 415 – Winding up listed company on public interest ground
SFC v Li Kwok Cheong, Li Han Chun & another –Market Misconduct Tribunal inquiry regarding China Forestry Holdings Co Ltd (Decision pending)
HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) SA v SFC,Securities and Futures Appeal Tribunal No 3 of 2015, 21 November 2017 – Pecuniary penalty in relation to systemic deficiencies in the sale of derivative financial products
Probate and Mental Health
Tsang Wing Kwai v Tsang Wing Fai (No.2) [2019] 1 HKLRD 1300, [2019] HKCA 163 – Appeal concerning removal of executor
Secretary for Justice v Joseph Lo Kin Ching (2015) 18 HKCFAR 169 – Interpretation of the will of Nina Wang and administration of charitable trusts
Wong Tat Lun Eddie & others v Wong Chi Ho Jimmy & others, HCMP 2391/2013, 21 October 2014 – Resisting removal of executor
Yung Shu Wu v Vivienne Sung Wu (2011) 14 HKCFAR 39 – Dispute as to assets comprised in an estate and disposition of equitable interest
Re A (Mentally Incapacitated Person: Committee) [2009] 2 HKLRD 159 – Appointment of committee of estate of mentally incapacitated person
Land Grant and Town Planning
Hong Kong Resort Company Limited v Town Planning Board [2021] HKCA 1313 – Judicial review by developer of Discovery Bay
Tung Chun Company Limited v Town Planning Board [2021] HKCA 758 – Judicial review on decisions regarding a building height restriction
The Dairy Farm Company Limited v Secretary for Justice [2020] HKCFI 306 – Construction of special condition of land grant and easement
Property
Pacific Base Holdings Limited & others v Lee Hop Biu [2021] 5 HKC214, [2021] HKCA 780 – Seeking CA’s determination on interpretation of the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance regarding threshold requirement for redevelopment of the land lots
Century Supreme International LimitedKam Chi Kit Charles & Hui Pui Kuen and others [2022] HKLdT 6 – Resisting application under Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance
383HK Limited v The Incorporated Owners of Tak Bo Building[2018] 2 HKC 559, [2018] HKCA 164 – Disputes concerning common parts and interpretation of Deed of Mutual Covenants
Grande Properties Management Ltd v Sun Wah Ornament Manufactory Ltd(2006) 9 HKCFAR 462 – Disputes concerning validity of resolutions in building management
Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Lau Chun Ming v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (a firm) [2021] 2 HKLRD 706,[2021] HKCA 546 – Appeal concerning powers and duties of trustees in bankruptcy
Chow Wai Shing Daniel and Fok Hei Yu (Joint and Several Trustees in Bankruptcy of Ding Yi) v Lu Ying [2020] HKCFI 2148 – Setting aside disposition of assets at undervalue
Patrick Cowley & Wong Wing Sze Tiffany v All Powerful Holding Ltd & Anor[2018] HKCFI 1802; [2018] HKCFI 2542 – Injunction application concerning the transfer of company share by the bankrupt allegedly at an undervalue
China Forestry Holdings Co Ltd (in official liquidation) v Top Wisdom Overseas Holdings Limited & Anor [2021] HKCFI 2761 – Proprietary claim by the liquidators against proceeds of alleged insider dealing
Commercial
Da Shing Group Limited v Rich Promise Limited[2021] HKCA 960 – Dispute in the sale and purchase of shares in a listed company and return of deposit
Chow Tai Fook Nominee Limited v Diamond City Ltd and Wu Wai Leung, Danny[2021] HKCFI 3019 – Action for recovery of debt and estoppel
Zhang Jizhi v Hong Kong TV International Media Group Limited & another [2022] HKCFI 308 – Dispute arising in sale and purchase of company
Li Sau Ying v Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd (2004) 7 HKCFAR 579 – Leading Hong Kong decision on undue influence
Public
Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Preliminary Investigation Committee of the Medical Council of Hong Kong vHospital Authority [2022] 1 HKLRD 16, [2021] HKCA 1793 – Appeal concerning powers of Chairman of the Medical Council to compel disclosure by Hospital Authority
AA & another v SFC (SJ as Intervener) [2019] 2 HKLRD 16, [2019] HKCFI 246 – Defending constitutional challenge of s. 181 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance
Yung Chi Keung v Protection of Wages on Insolvency Board(2016) 19 HKCFAR 469 – CFA decision on calculation of ex gratia payment under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance
Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water (2015-2016)– Represented the Hong Kong Housing Authority in a public inquiry
Civil Fraud
Kot See For v Lam Man Cheung [2021] 2 HKLRD 263, [2021] HKCA 348 – Appeal concerning the privilege against self-incrimination in civil proceedings in an investment fraud claim
Dacheng Enterprise Co v Global Bio Chem Technology Group Co Ltd [2018] HKCFI 2556 – Striking out of a claim concerning director’s authority to compromise a claim on behalf of a listed company and allegations of fraud
Tax
Shui On Credit Co Ltd v Commissioner of Inland Revenue (2009) 12 HKCFAR 392 – Appeal on profits tax assessment and tax avoidance scheme
Kwong Mile Services Ltd v Commissioner of Inland Revenue(2004) 7 HKCFAR 275 – Approach on appeals from the Board of Review on error of law
DIRECTORY RANKINGS
Commercial Dispute Resolution (Chambers and Partners 2022)
Commercial Disputes (Legal 500 2022)
Commercial Litigation 2021; Mainland China & Hong Kong SAR – Litigation (Who’s Who Legal)
DIRECTORY QUOTATIONS
“… held in particularly high regard for his well-developed expertise in the securities, finance and insolvency areas and has also appeared for the Department of Justice in judicial reviews of construction and town planning cases. Sources respect him as “a very solid and deep-thinking practitioner” whose court manner is much appreciated by the Bench, one interviewee reporting: “His advocacy is second to none and his name is a brand – one of the best-regarded names in town.”” (Chambers and Partners 2022)
“A very experienced senior counsel at the Hong Kong Bar.” (Legal 500 2022)
