Professional Qualifications

LL.B., University of Manchester, United Kingdom
P.C.LL, City University of Hong Kong
LL.M., University of Hong Kong
Year of Call: 2004 (Hong Kong)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (FHKIArb)
Accredited Mediator of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution

Practice Profile

“Kenneth is a great advocate. He is always able to provide excellent and practical advice even when under time pressure.” – Legal 500 (Asia Pacific, 2023)

Kenneth was born and brought up in Hong Kong. He read law in both England and Hong Kong, and served his pupillage with Mr Jason Pow SC, Mr Paul Lam SC, Mr Lawrence Lok SC, and Mr Alexander King SC. He is capable of conducting civil and criminal proceedings in English, and in Chinese.

Kenneth has been in continuous and active private practice since 2004, in the course of which he accumulated extensive hands-on experience dealing with a wide range of pre-action court applications, interlocutory applications, trials and appeals, in both civil and criminal matters. He has also acted as an advocate in various kinds of statutory tribunals, arbitration proceedings, and mediation meetings. When he is not acting as an advocate he accepts appointments in other roles, such as sitting as a mediator or an arbitrator (whether ad hoc or institutional) in private disputes. He accepted many such appointments throughout the years.

Some of Kenneth’s cases are international in nature and he travels extensively. In addition to working very closely with local lawyers, Kenneth also works very closely with international lawyers practising in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Mainland China, Israel, Japan, Korea, Macau SAR, the UK and the US. For one matter he flew to the BVI 5 times. During his last visit to the BVI, he worked there for 18 days.

Kenneth’s cases are predominantly privately funded but he is also on the Legal Aid Panel. He is on the List of Arbitrators and the List of Mediators maintained by the Hong Kong Bar Association.

Kenneth sat as a Deputy District Judge in March 2018 and April 2019. He also sat as a High Court Master in December 2018 and November 2019. He has been re-appointed Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal (Buildings Ordinance) for a further period of 3 years starting on 1 December 2021. He is recognized as a Leading Junior of the Hong Kong Bar by Legal 500 (Asia Pacific, 2022 & 2023).

Selected Cases

• Deng Minghui v Chau Shuk Ling [2007] 1 HKLRD 905 (Court of Appeal) (Service of Process)
• Re Ku Chu Keung (a Debtor) [2007] 2 HKLRD 292 (Determination of Domicile)
• Wealthy Realty Ltd v Cheng Yung [2008] 2 HKLRD 425 (Restraint of Trade Clauses)
• Leung Shu Biu v Cheung Kwan [2008] 3 HKLRD 488 (Burden of Proof)
• Re Lee Siu Fung, Siegfried (a Bankrupt) [2009] 1 HKC 181 (Striking Out for Want of Prosecution and/or Abuse of Process)
• Wu Shuk Chun v Kwong Oi Lin [2010] 4 HKLRD 604 (Order 85 Probate and Administration Directions, Construction of Wills)
• Au Leung Shuet Hung & Others v Au Wing Lun & Another [2012] 1 HKC 392 (Whether Solicitor Should Be Allowed to Act for His Own Daughter)
• Re Estate of Au Kong Tim [2013] 1 HKLRD 925 (Court of Appeal) (Interpretation of Section 40 of the Probate and Administration Ordinance, Cap. 10)
• ACLS v HSB(T)L [2013] 2 HKLRD 444 (Court of Appeal) (Interpretation of Section 7 of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance, Cap. 481)
• Re Estate of Au Kong Tim [2014] 4 HKLRD 730 (Order 76 rule 5 Affidavit of Testamentary Script)
• Re Estate of Au Kong Tim (No 2) [2015] 4 HKLRD 471 (Striking Out Interrogatories in Contentious Probate Litigation)
• Chen Mei Lan v Registrar of Companies [2017] 1 HKLRD 924 (Admissibility of Admissions Recorded in PRC Judgment in Hong Kong Civil Actions)
• Chang Wa Shan v Esther Chan Pui Kwan [2015] 5 HKLRD 389 (Trial) & [2017] 5 HKLRD 57 (Court of Appeal) & [2018] 21 HKCFAR 370 (Court of Final Appeal) (Defamatory Meanings; Pleading Rules; Scope of the Defence of Absolute Privilege in Defamation and Malicious Falsehood Actions)
• Re Chen Mei Huan, ex p Venetian Macau Ltd [2020] 1 HKLRD 409 (Interpretation of Secion 4 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance, Cap. 6)
• Chow Wing Kai v Liang Jing [2021] 2 HKLRD 1189 (Application of the UKSC’s Stocker v Stocker [2020] AC 593 Approach to Social Media Libel; Equitable Jurisdiction to Compel a Defamation Defendant to Apologize to His Victim; Scope of Section 52B of the District Court Ordinance, Cap. 336)
• Ho Kwan Yiu v Kwok Wing Hang Dennis [2022] 2 HKLRD 137 (High Profile Slander Action between Hong Kong Politicians and Members of LegCo; Right to Jury Trial for Civil Defamation Actions under Section 33A of the High Court Ordinance, Cap 4; Whether Jury Trial Suitable)

Appointments & Public Offices