In Monat Investment Ltd v All Person(s) in Occupation of Part of Remaining Portion of Lot No 591 in Mui Wo DD 4, No 16 Ma Po Tsuen, Mui Wo Lantau Island ([2020] HKCFI 1970) the Court of First Instance had to consider the claim that a squatter’s unlawful actions meant that his adverse possession claim had to fail.
Facts
The disputed land comprised a building (‘the Brown area’) and an adjoining open area (‘the Green area’). D claimed to have acquired title to both by adverse possession.
D’s father built a wooden hut on the Brown area in 1954. Around 1977 or 1978 this was replaced by a two-storey brick house. D (one of eight children) moved out. In 1980, D’s father died and his mother remained in possession of the house with some of the children.
In 1996, part of the Green area was paved with concrete but not fenced in. D’s mother died in 1999. D did not live in the disputed land but kept the house under lock and key and paid the electricity bills. P (the owner of the paper title) brought possession proceedings.
Adverse possession
There was clear evidence, in the form of electricity bills, that D’s father took possession of the Brown area by January 1975 at the latest.
It was not until 1996 when the Green area was paved with concrete that D’s mother (after D’s father’s death) could be said to have taken possession of that area. Clearing vegetation from the Green area and then paving it was exactly what an owner might be expected to do ([33]).
D’s mother remained in possession with D’s brothers and sisters after the father’s death. She moved out before her death in 1999 but retained possession; the house was kept locked and she paid the electricity bills.
D took over possession after his mother’s death. He did not live there but, again, retained possession by keeping the house locked and paying the electricity bills.
Illegality
The plaintiff (‘P’) argued that D’s adverse possession claim failed because D had to plead his own illegality to establish his case. The illegal acts P relied on were: (i) trespass; (ii) erecting an unauthorised structure in breach of the Government lease and section 14 of the Buildings Ordinance.
Deputy Judge To pointed out that, of its nature, the doctrine of adverse possession has already balanced public policy and illegality ([59]). There is always some illegality in adverse possession cases; if the court were to frequently decide that illegality was a bar to success for an adverse possession claim, this would be to entirely defeat the doctrine ([62] – [63]).
Illegality is generally only relevant when ‘when that the possession or the manner of possession is prohibited by some other statutory provisions’ ([63]).
Deputy Judge To said:
‘Even in circumstances where the possession or the manner of possession is prohibited by some other statutory provisions, given the legislative intent behind the Limitation Ordinance, it is difficult to see why the illegality associated with the squatter’s possession, use or occupation of land should have any impact on his entitlement to possessory title acquired by adverse possession. Usually, the prohibition could be enforced against the squatter after he has acquired title in just the same way as it could be or could have been enforced against him before he acquired legal title or could have been so enforced against the paper owner.’ ([64])
and:
‘Illegality whether in the act of possession or the manner of possession is generally irrelevant. It is only when the possession or the manner of possession is prohibited by some other statutory provisions that it becomes necessary for the court to resolve the conflict by statutory construction or by balancing the public interest and public policy behind the statutory provisions against those behind the Limitation Ordinance.’ ([79])
Conclusion
D’s adverse possession claim succeeded in respect of the Brown and Green areas. Even if there was a need to carry out a balancing exercise, D should succeed.
Michael Lower