In Chin Ling Investment Ltd v General of Salvation Army ([2016] HKEC 1876) Chin Ling Investment (‘CL’) and the Salvation Army (‘SA’) owned neighbouring lots, created by a 1958 division of the land. The original combined lot had the benefit of a right of way from the land to Castle Peak Road (‘RoW1). When the lot was divided, the owner of the SA land granted the owner of the CL land a further right of way (‘RoW2′) over the SA land to access RoW1.
SA erected a gate on the land over which it enjoyed RoW1 at the boundary with the SA land. This was found to be a substantial interference by SA with its co-owners’ rights over RoW1.
SA had already moved the gate so that it was now on its own land. It had taken to locking the gate but had given a key to the owners of the CL land. This was a derogation from the grant of a ‘free and uninterrupted’ right over RoW2. Providing the key did not alter this ([79], Deputy Judge ST Poon). The owners of the SA land were ordered to demolish the gate.
Michael Lower
