News & Events

Implications of the Court of Final Appeal’s Judgment in Kwok Cheuk Kin v Director of Lands on Small House Policy – 17 March 2022, 6.30pm – 8.00pm

In the landmark case of Kwok Cheuk Kin v Director of Lands [2021] HKCFA 38, the 1st and 2nd Applicants challenged, by way of judicial review, the constitutionality of the Small House Policy.

Under the Small House Policy, male indigenous villagers of the New Territories may apply for permission to build, for once in his lifetime, a small house on a suitable site within his own village, for a free or concessionary premium. Currently, such rights and interests under the Small House Policy (“Ding Rights”) take three forms of land grants: (1) Private Treaty Grants; (2) Free Building Licences; and (3) Land Exchanges.

In this upcoming webinar for the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Isabel Tam, who acted as junior counsel for the Applicants, will be speaking on the wider implications of the case. She will touch upon the ruling’s impact on land transactions involving small houses, land supply, the scope of rights for indigenous villagers, and more.

 

Date:   17 March 2022 (Thursday)
     
Time:   6:30pm – 8:00pm
     
Organiser:   The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
     
Registration Closing Date:   15 March 2022 (Tuesday)
     
CPD Hours:   1.5
     
Divisional PQSL Hours:   1.5
     
Venue:   By online media – via ZOOM
     
Language:   English
     

If you wish to attend this course, please visit the course details page on the website of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.

 


Presenter

Isabel Tam

Isabel Tam graduated with a first class LLB and with distinction in her LLM. She was awarded the Bar Scholarship in 2012. Her practice has an emphasis on public law, family law, and regulatory matters. She also has an MA in competition law with distinction in the examination component, and was seconded to the Competition Commission.

She has appeared as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal, the Court of First Instance, the District Court and the Magistrates’ Courts. She has also appeared in the Court of Final Appeal.

Recent highlights of Isabel’s experience include AA v BB [2021] HKCFI 1401, which has been hailed as a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community, granting parental rights to a separated same-sex couple who had co-parented children during their relationship. Isabel appeared for the Respondent, the non-biological mother within the same-sex relationship, and secured parental rights for her including guardianship and joint custody.

Isabel successfully resisted the Inland Revenue’s appeal before the Court of Appeal in Koo Ming Kown & Anor v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] 3 HKLRD 642, representing two company directors charged to additional tax (led by Mr Denis Chang SC). This is Hong Kong’s first ever case to deal with the third party’s liability for additional tax by reason of “incorrectness” in the company’s return.

Find out more from Isabel’s profile.


Disclaimer: This event is organised solely by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors. Except as otherwise noted, the views expressed at this event are the views of the speaker only and do not represent the opinions of any other Member or employee of Denis Chang’s Chambers.