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HCA733/2022
JOEL ENRIQUE VIVEROS GALINDO v. TAN ZHIRONG AND OTHERS
Case Details
Case ReferenceHCA733/2022
CourtCourt of First Instance of the High Court 高等法院(原訟法庭)
Date Published2026-03-18
LanguageEnglish
NCN[2026] HKCFI 1616
Claimant / ApplicantJOEL ENRIQUE VIVEROS GALINDO
Defendant / RespondentTAN ZHIRONG, UNICORN CO. LTD, YIU CHIU FUNG
JudgesHon Au-Yeung J
Claimant CounselMs Sabina Sui
Claimant SolicitorsYung, Yu, Yuen & Co
Judgment Summary
Facts
- •Plaintiff owned Vantary (HK) and CL (PRC) holding 3 Guangzhou properties.
- •D1 forged signatures while Plaintiff was stranded in Mexico.
- •Vantary shares transferred from Plaintiff to D1, then D2, then D3.
- •D3 breached injunctions and attempted to sell properties at undervalue.
- •D3 failed to file statutory returns under Companies Ordinance.
- •Plaintiff sought default judgment against D3 for multiple causes of action.
Issues
- •Whether default judgment and declaration should be granted without trial.
- •Whether elements of conspiracy to defraud are pleaded sufficiently.
- •Whether D3 liable for knowing receipt despite subsequent knowledge.
- •Whether unjust enrichment applies without direct dealing.
- •Whether constructive trust arises over fraudulently obtained shares.
Outcome
- •Default judgment entered against D3.
- •Declaration that D3 holds Vantary Shares on constructive trust for Plaintiff.
- •Order for D3 to execute transfer documents to Plaintiff.
- •Injunction restraining D3 for 12 months.
- •Order for accounts and enquiries.
- •D3 to pay Plaintiff costs of $220,000.
Implication
- •Declarations may be granted in default judgment to do fullest justice.
- •Knowledge for equitable claims can be acquired subsequent to receipt.
- •Unjust enrichment covers coordinated transactions without direct dealing.
- •Fraudulent recipients held as constructive trustees.
Laws & Authorities Cited
- §Rules of the High Court (Cap 4A), O.19 r.7
- §Companies Ordinance (Cap 622), s.654(1), s.662(1)
- §Pido v Compass Technologies Co Ltd [2010] 2 HKLRD 537
- §Chan Shu Chun and Another v Dr Kung Yan Sum and Others [2023] HKCFI 840
- §Bank of Credit and Commerce International (Overseas) Ltd and Another v Akindele [2001] Ch 437
- §Guaranty Bank and Trust Co v Zzzik Inc Ltd (HCA 1139/2016)
- §Agip (Africa) Ltd v Jackson [1990] Ch 265
- §Shanghai Tongji Science and Technology Industrial Co Ltd v Casil Cleaning Ltd (2004) 7 HKCFAR 79
- §BCPE Diamond Holdco SRL v Sunwe Plastic HK Ltd and Others [2025] 2 HKC 415
- §Semgas Supply Pte Ltd and Another v Hong Kong Xin Chuang Decorative Material Co Ltd [2023] HKDC 1823
- §Creative Impact (Hong Kong) Ltd v Luckon Travel Ltd and Another [2021] HKCFI 1552
- §Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2026