Profile
Profile
Dr. Wong has been in practice in Hong Kong since 1997. In 2010, he was also called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands. In 2013, Dr. Wong was appointed as a Senior Counsel in Hong Kong. He is also presently an Non-Executive Director of the Airport Authority and one of the Vice Chairmen of the Board of Review of the Inland Revenue.
Dr. Wong’s practice covers a wide spectrum of contentious commercial litigation. He has a special focus and substantial experience in the areas of company, insolvency and securities law. He frequently represents clients in contentious shareholders and/or investors disputes and disputes in liquidation. He is the first Hong Kong barrister to be admit, on an ad hoc basis, in the Bermudian courts to conduct trials and appeals. He is experienced in offshore litigation. He also acted as an expert witness on HK company law in the People’s Republic of China, and international arbitration. Dr. Wong also sits as an arbitrator in a substantial number of international commercial arbitration.
Dr. Wong also specializes in contentious trusts and probate matters. His case of Chow Siu Po v. Wong Ming Fung [2003] 1 HKC 146 establishes the burden of proof in propounding a will. He has also given legal opinion on various trust and probate matters. He was instructed to advise and work on a number of substantial trusts litigation and related matters.
On non-contentious work, Dr. Wong specializes in corporate restructuring and capital reduction. He was involved in the capital reduction of CLP, Guangdong Investment and Hong Kong Construction. He was also involved in the Wheelock Holding Company privatization, PCCW privatization, the Denway Motors privatization, the Stone Group privatization, the Sunlife Insurance Transfer Scheme and the 3D Gold Scheme.
Academically, Dr. Wong graduated from the Business Faculty of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1994 as the Rhodes Scholar of the year. In 1996, he obtained his degree in Jurisprudence from Wadham College, Oxford. In 2004, he also obtained his LL.M degree from the Peking University. In 2012, he was awarded the Doctoral Degree from the Peking University with a dissertation on corporate insolvency laws.
Dr. Wong also serves on a number of special sub-committees of the Hong Kong Bar Council. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Overseas Lawyers Examination. He is also an advisor to the Middle Temple Society in Hong Kong.
Dr. Wong has also published widely. He was one of the editors of Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2001 and Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2002. He also published together with Dato Loh Siew Cheang, one of the leading Hong Kong texts on company law: “Company Law – Powers and Accountability (2003).” The book was translated into Chinese in 2005 – «公司法 – 權力與責任», 法律出版社.
He subsequently co-authored “Company Law – Powers and Accountability” 2nd Edition with Dato Loh Siew Cheang and DVC’s Kerby Lau in 2017.
In 2023, Wolters Kluwer and Des Voeux Chambers co-published the bilingual book “The Art of Resolving Global Disputes: Navigating International Commercial Arbitration”. Dr. Wong and Look Chan Ho are the co-Editors-in-Chief.
- Co-Editor to Hong Kong Company Law Cases (2008 – 2019) – published in 2020 by DVC in collaboration with Kluwer
- Co-authored “Company Law: Powers & Accountability – 2nd Edition” (2017) with Kerby Lau and Dato Loh Siew Cheang
- Co-authored one of the leading Hong Kong text on company law: “Company Law – Powers & Accountability.” (2003). The book was translated into Chinese in 2005 – «公司法 – 權力與責任», 法律出版社
- One of the editors of Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2001 and Hong Kong Civil Procedure 2002
- Co-Editors-in-Chief to “The Art of Resolving Global Disputes: Navigating International Commercial Arbitration” (2023, Wolters Kluwer) with Look Chan Ho
- Re China Solar Energy Holdings Ltd [2017] 2 HKLRD 1074 – landmark casedelineating and clarifying liquidators’ duties
- Re Joy Rich Development Ltd [2016] 2 HKLRD 1058 – principles in relation to constitution of creditors meeting
- Re China Medical Technologies, Inc. [2014] 2 HKLRD 997 – A leading case on the jurisdictional limits of lexi fori in a cross-border insolvency situation.
- Mo Ying v. Brillex Development Limited and Another [2014] 3 HKLRD 224 – a leading case on the applicable legal principle of common intention constructive trust.
- Securities and Futures Commission v. Tiger Asia Management LLC and Others (2013) 16 HKCFAR 324 – A leading Court of Final Appeal decision on the jurisdiction limit of Section 213 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, Cap.571
- Re Raymond Lee Cho Min and Lee Priscilla Hwang [2012] 4 HKLRD 581 – a decision which set out the judicial approach to the application of Section 29 of the Bankruptcy Ordinance, Cap.6
- Re Tan Sri Datuk Lau Gek Pok alias Lau Gek Poh [2012] 5 HKLRD 75 – a leading case on DNA test in a probate context.
- Hallmark Cards Incorporated v Yun Choy Ltd (in Compulsory Liquidation) and Another [2012] 1 HKLRD 396 – a case on the priority of trusts claims in an insolvency regime.
- Top One International (China) Property Group Co Ltd and Another v. Top One Property Group Ltd and Others [2011] 1 HKLRD 606 – commercial disputes involving the legal principles on unless order and extension of time under the new CJR rules.
- Sunlink International Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed) &Ors v. Wong Shu Wing &Ors [2010] 5 HKLRD 653
Leading case on shareholders’ right to vote in an insolvency situation. - Hang Fung Jewellery Company Limited [2010] 2 HKLRD 1.
It establishes the retention of property right via a trust mechanism in the case of an insolvency. - Re PCCW Ltd [2009] 3 HKC 292
It sets out the legal principles for the sanction of a scheme of arrangement and the problem with split voting. - Securities and Futures Commission v C-F [2009] 4 HKC 167; Securities and Futures Commission v. A [2008] 1 HKC 89
It establishes the legal principles and jurisdiction of the Court to grant interlocutory injunction under section 213 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, Cap.571 - Waddington Ltd v. Chan Chun Hoo Thomas & Others [2006] 2 HKLRD 896
It first establishes the availability of multi-derivative action in Hong Kong and the relevant applicable legal principles. - MakSik Bun & Others v. Mak Lei Wun& Others [2005] 4 HKLRD 328
A contentious shareholder’s disputes which sets out the ambit and limits of Section 168A of the Companies Ordinance, Cap.32 - Flying Mortgage Ltd v. Chan KuenKwong& Others [2010] 1 HKLRD 318
It establishes and applies the principles of resulting trust in the context of a repossession action by a mortgagee.
For a more complete list of cases in which Mr William Wong S.C. appeared as counsel, please visit the Judiciary Website at http://legalref.judiciary.gov.hk/lrs/common/ju/judgment.jsp; where you can access the list by using the advanced search function.
Current Public Appointment
- Member of the Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress
- Election Committee Member of the HKSAR
- Recorder of the High Court of Hong Kong (Since 30 Sep 2021)
- Arbitrator of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
- Non Executive Director of the Hong Kong Airport Authority
- Non Exeuctive Director of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited
- Justice of the Peace (1 July 2019)
- Chairman, Municipal Services Appeals Board (2016-)
- Vice Chairman of the Private Columbaria Appeal Board (2017-)
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Review, Inland Revenue(2015-)
- Adjunct Professor, Law School of the City University of Hong Kong
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development, Faculty of Law, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Overseas Member, Chancery Bar Association of England & Wales (2011-)
- Chairman, Hong Kong Bar Association Special Committee on Bar Qualification Examination
- Advisor, The Hong Kong Middle Temple Society (1999-)
Previous Public Appointment
- Non-Executive Director of Securities and Futures Commission (2014-2020)
- Chairman of the Board, ICC (From 1 August 2018 to 31 March 2020)
- Member, ICFC and SCFC (From 1 August 2018 to 31 March 2020)
- Deputy High Court Judge (2017-2021)
- Member, Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Boards (2017-2023)
- Member, Insurance Appeals Tribunal (2017-2023)
- Member, Appeals Tribunal, The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (2014-2020)
- Former Chairman of the Arbitration Committee of the Hong Kong Bar Association
- Member, Advisory Committee on the Promotion of Arbitration, Department of Justice
- Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee on China Practice Development (2014-2016)
- Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Bar Association Special Committee on Mainland Affairs (2005-2018)
Arbitration
- Committee Member of the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
- Panel arbitrator of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
- Panel arbitrator of Shenzhen International Court of Arbitration
- Panel arbitrator of The China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
- Panel arbitrator of Hainan International Arbitration Court
- Appointed as arbitrator in a number of international commercial arbitration
Current Listed Companies Directorship
- Sinochem Holdings Limted
- China General Nuclear Power Group
Chancery, Securities Law
