Hong Kong tribunal rejects request to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting
Lands Tribunal says it lacks power to extend statutory deadlines, urges government-appointed administrator to convene meeting immediately
The Lands Tribunal has dismissed a government-appointed administrator’s request to postpone an extraordinary general meeting of owners at Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, ruling it lacks the authority to do so.
Presiding officer Gary Lam Chin-ching on Tuesday urged Hop On Management Company to convene the meeting immediately so it could be held on June 13, in line with the requirements of the Building Management Ordinance.
In a written judgment, Lam ruled that the ordinance did not confer on the tribunal any power to extend the statutory deadlines for convening and holding homeowners’ meetings.
He rejected Hop On’s contention that the tribunal had inherent jurisdiction over the matter.
“The tribunal would think that to minimise any or any potential breach of its statutory obligations, the applicant [Hop On] should convene and hold the meeting as requested as soon as possible,” Lam said.
He added that any application for an appeal would be dealt with on paper “as expeditiously as possible”.