Model Abby Choi's former father-in-law faces a lawsuit seeking HK$127.9 million.
Retired Hong Kong Police Sergeant Faces Significant Financial Liability in Stamp Duty Lawsuit
Retired Hong Kong police sergeant Kwong Kau, 67, is facing a new civil lawsuit for allegedly defaulting on stamp duty payments related to a property transaction that took place on July 11, 2019. The government, represented by the Secretary for Justice on behalf of the stamp revenue collector, claims Kwong owes:
- HK$7.8 million in ad valorem stamp duty
- HK$10.9 million in buyer’s stamp duty
- A penalty of HK$109 million, calculated as 10 times the buyer’s stamp duty due to a late payment exceeding two months.
The total claim amounts to HK$127.9 million.
The lawsuit was filed in a court of law on an unspecified date after the civil claim was lodged by the Secretary for Justice. The specific charge in the lawsuit is a failure to pay stamp duty.
In 2023, Kwong was subject to a court injunction requested by Abby Choi’s mother to prevent him from selling the property. Additionally, HSBC has taken separate legal action to recover outstanding mortgage payments related to Kwong’s subsidised flat in Kwai Chung’s Sheung Man Court.
The implications of this lawsuit are significant. It represents a substantial financial liability for Kwong due to the substantial penalties for late stamp duty payment. The case highlights strict enforcement of tax laws in Hong Kong, especially concerning property transactions and stamp duty compliance. The injunction on property sale and mortgage recovery actions indicate Kwong’s financial difficulties and the ongoing legal challenges he faces related to his property holdings.
The lawsuit is current as of late July 2025, reflecting recent government action to collect substantial unpaid stamp duties from Kwong. The individual named in the lawsuit is Abby Choi Tin-fung. The type of real estate transaction in question is a sale and purchase agreement. The civil lawsuit is related to a real estate transaction involving Kwong Kau. The alleged default occurred after Kwong Kau signed a sale and purchase agreement on July 11, 2019. The penalty of HK$109 million is 10 times the buyer's stamp duty for late payment that exceeds two months. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday.
The lawsuit involves a real estate transaction, specifically a sale and purchase agreement, and it falls under the categories of both 'politics' (due to the financial liability of a public figure) and 'general-news' (due to the legal proceedings and monetary amounts involved). This case, which highlights the strict enforcement of tax laws in Hong Kong regarding property transactions and stamp duty compliance, also raises concerns within the 'crime-and-justice' realm, as Kwong Kau faces a significant financial liability due to penalties for late stamp duty payment and legal actions against him by HSBC for mortgage recovery.
