{"id":32970,"date":"2026-06-08T04:01:44","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T04:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/?post_type=insight-and-news&#038;p=32970"},"modified":"2026-06-08T04:02:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T04:02:57","slug":"no-second-bite-of-the-cherry-court-of-appeal-to-rule-on-whether-cap-597-precludes","status":"publish","type":"insight-and-news","link":"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/zh-hans\/insight-and-news\/no-second-bite-of-the-cherry-court-of-appeal-to-rule-on-whether-cap-597-precludes\/","title":{"rendered":"No second bite of the cherry? Court of Appeal to rule on whether Cap. 597 precludes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n    \n\n<div style=\"background-image:url('https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tanner-de-witt\/images\/insightdetails.jpeg')\"\n    class=\"insight-news-detail-hero\" id=\"insight-news-detail-hero\">\n\n\t\t<div style=\"background-color:\" class=\"insight-news-detail-hero-overlay \"><\/div>\n            <div class=\"z-[0]\">\n                <div class=\"insight-news-breadcrumbs flex items-end practice-areas-featured-breadcrumbs \">\n                    <a class=\"page-link no-underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/zh-hans\/\">Home<\/a>                <\/div>\n\n\n                <div class=\"hero-title\">\n                    <h1>\n                        No second bite of the cherry? Court of Appeal to rule on whether Cap. 597 precludes                    <\/h1>\n                <\/div>\n                \n                    <div style=\"\" class=\"hero-date \">\n\n                        <span class=\"month\">Jun<\/span>\n                        <span class=\"day\">08<\/span>\n                        <span class=\"year\">2026<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n    \n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<script >\n    (function () {\n        document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", () => {\n\n            const breadCrumbsContainer = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\".practice-areas-featured-breadcrumbs\"));\n\n            breadCrumbsContainer.forEach(container => {\n                const breadCrumbLinks = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('.page-link'));\n                const breadCrumbSeperators = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll('.separator'));\n\n                if (Array.from(breadCrumbLinks).length === 1) {\n                    const homeNode = breadCrumbLinks[0];\n\n                    if (!homeNode) {\n                        return\n                    }\n\n                    const postTypeNode = homeNode.cloneNode(true);\n                    postTypeNode.textContent = \"Insights and News\";\n                    container.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', `<span class=\"separator practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-slash\">\/<\/span>`)\n                    container.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', postTypeNode)\n                    breadCrumbLinks.push(postTypeNode);\n\n                    if (\"Insights\") {\n                        const categoryNode = homeNode.cloneNode(true);\n\n                        categoryNode.textContent = \"Insights\";\n                        container.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', `<span class=\"separator practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-slash\">\/<\/span>`)\n                        container.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', categoryNode)\n                        breadCrumbLinks.push(categoryNode);\n                    }\n\n\n                    const titleNode = homeNode.cloneNode(true);\n\n                    titleNode.textContent = \"No second bite of the cherry? Court of Appeal to rule on whether Cap. 597 precludes\";\n                    container.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', `<span class=\"separator practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-slash\">\/<\/span>`)\n                    container.insertAdjacentElement('beforeend', titleNode)\n                    breadCrumbLinks.push(titleNode);\n\n\n\n\n                }\n\n                breadCrumbLinks.forEach((link, index) => {\n\n                    link.classList.add('practice-areas-featured-breadcrumb-item-name');\n                    const origin = window.location.origin;\n                    const href = window.location.href;\n\n                    const originSplitter = window.location.href.includes(\"insight-and-news\") ? \"insight-and-news\" : window.location.href.includes('insights-and-news') ? \"insights-and-news\" : \"\"\n\n                    const paths = href.split(originSplitter);\n                    const links = paths[1].split(\"\/\").filter(Boolean)\n\n\n                    const resolvedOrigin = originSplitter ? 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Among other things, it was a final and conclusive judgment for a definite sum of money, issued by a designated Mainland court (which was also the chosen court) and made pursuant to a valid choice of Mainland court agreement.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2640\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">However, the Plaintiff failed to apply for registration of the Certificate in Hong Kong within the 2-year time limit prescribed under section 7 of the MJREO. Instead, in 2024 (i.e. four years later), it commenced a common law enforcement action and applied for summary judgment to enforce the Certificate. It also sought the continuation of a <em>Mareva<\/em> injunction.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2641\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">In opposition, the Defendant contended, among other things, that he had an arguable defence as section 22(2) of the MJREO precluded common law enforcement of the Certificate, which satisfied the requirements for registration under section 5(2)(a)\u2013(e) of the MJREO.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2642\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">\ud835\uddd7\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddf0\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfb<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2643\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">The Court found in favour of the Defendant, holding that if a Mainland judgment satisfied the requirements for registration under section 5(2)(a)\u2013(e) of the MJREO, the exclusive enforcement route is the statutory mechanism under the MJREO.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2644\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">The Judge stated that section 22(2) of the MJREO is clear and mandatory: it expressly provides that no court in Hong Kong shall entertain any proceedings for the recovery of a sum payable under a Mainland judgment which would satisfy the requirements specified in the MJREO, <em>other than<\/em> proceedings by way of registration of the judgment. Therefore, a common law action is barred.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2645\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">The Court observed that the 2-year limitation period for registration under the MJREO was deliberate and driven by the policy intent of reciprocity and certainty, reflecting the corresponding two-year time limit for enforcement of judgments in the Mainland. Hence, having missed the 2-year deadline, the Plaintiff could not, in circumvention of the statutory limitation, seek to enforce the Certificate under the common law.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2646\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">In so holding, Madam Justice Au-Yeung differed from an earlier decision of Mr Justice Keith Yeung (as he then was) in <em><a class=\"flPosdzEVTPOcSkMpRDiVpVsXSnpggNRrw \" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/legalref.judiciary.hk\/lrs\/common\/search\/search_result_detail_frame.jsp?DIS=165029&amp;QS=%2B&amp;TP=JU\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">China Everbright Bank Co., Ltd. v. China Kingho Energy Group Ltd<\/a> <\/em><a class=\"flPosdzEVTPOcSkMpRDiVpVsXSnpggNRrw \" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/legalref.judiciary.hk\/lrs\/common\/search\/search_result_detail_frame.jsp?DIS=165029&amp;QS=%2B&amp;TP=JU\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">[2024] HKCFI 3586<\/a>. In that case, his Lordship ruled that there was a good arguable case that whilst the Mainland judgment may no longer be registered after the expiry of the 2-year time limit, it may still be recognised for the purpose of common law enforcement. He considered that there is no readily discernible policy or other reason for the proposition that the common law enforcement route, once available, would be entirely abrogated by the MJREO.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2647\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">\ud835\uddd6\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddfa\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude00<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2648\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">In view of conflicting first instance decisions, guidance from the Court of Appeal will be welcomed to clarify this important issue.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2649\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Meanwhile, pending the appeal, and as a matter of prudence, litigants and practitioners should comply with the two-year registration period, as failing to register within time will likely extinguish the right to enforce Mainland judgments in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<p id=\"ember2650\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">Further, applicants seeking <em>ex parte<\/em> relief on the basis of a common law cause of action for enforcement of a Mainland judgment must draw to the Court\u2019s attention the potential section 22(2) defence and the conflicting first instance decisions. In her original decision, Madam Justice Au-Yeung robustly applied the \u201cfull and frank\u201d disclosure requirement in <em>ex parte<\/em> applications and found that the Plaintiff failed to disclose the potential defence, and discharged the Plaintiff\u2019s Mareva injunction without regrant, with an adverse costs order.<\/p>\n<p>\ud835\ude0b\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude34\ud835\ude24\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2e\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude33: \ud835\ude1b\ud835\ude29\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude34 \ud835\ude31\ud835\ude36\ud835\ude23\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude24\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude2f \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude34 \ud835\ude28\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude33\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2d \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2f \ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude36\ud835\ude33\ud835\ude26 \ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude25 \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude34 \ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude35 \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude25\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude25 \ud835\ude35\ud835\ude30 \ud835\ude24\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude34\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude36\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude26 \ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude28\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2d \ud835\ude22\ud835\ude25\ud835\ude37\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude24\ud835\ude26. \ud835\ude20\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude36 \ud835\ude34\ud835\ude29\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude36\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude25 \ud835\ude34\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude2c \ud835\ude31\ud835\ude33\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude27\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude34\ud835\ude34\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2d \ud835\ude22\ud835\ude25\ud835\ude37\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude24\ud835\ude26 \ud835\ude23\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude27\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude33\ud835\ude26 \ud835\ude35\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2c\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude28 \ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2f\ud835\ude3a \ud835\ude22\ud835\ude24\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude2f \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2f \ud835\ude33\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude2f \ud835\ude35\ud835\ude30 \ud835\ude35\ud835\ude29\ud835\ude26 \ud835\ude2e\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude33\ud835\ude34 \ud835\ude25\ud835\ude26\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude35 \ud835\ude38\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude29 \ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude2f \ud835\ude35\ud835\ude29\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude34 \ud835\ude31\ud835\ude36\ud835\ude23\ud835\ude2d\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude24\ud835\ude22\ud835\ude35\ud835\ude2a\ud835\ude30\ud835\ude2f.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tannerdewitt.com\/our-people\/pamela-mak\/\">Pamela Mak<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Partner |\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:pamelamak@tannerdewitt.com\">Email<\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"reader-divider-block__horizontal-rule\" \/>\n<p id=\"ember2653\" class=\"ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, Madam Justice Au-Yeung granted permission to appeal against her own decision, in which she ruled that the Mainland Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 597) (\u201c\ud835\udde0\ud835\udddd\ud835\udde5\ud835\uddd8\ud835\udde2\u201d) was the exclusive regime for enforcing a judgment registrable under the MJREO, thereby barring common law enforcement. 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