DCEC 1536/2023

[2025] HKDC 1556

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION CASE NO 1536 OF 2023

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DECISION

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THE SUMMONSES

1. There are before this Court 3 Summonses as follows:

(1) Summons filed on 2 July 2025 by the Applicant (“ A ”) for leave to serve on the Respondent (“ R ”) interrogatories filed on 2 May 2025 (“ Summons for Interrogatories ”);

(2) Summons filed on 7 July 2025 by A for leave to file her supplemental witness statement (“ WS2 ”) in the form of the draft attached thereto (“ Summons for WS2 ”); and

(3) Summons filed on 11 July 2025 by R for leave to adduce medical evidence from a solo psychiatry expert (“ SPE ”) (“ Summons for SPE ”) upon A’s election not to obtain or adduce medical expert evidence nor jointly engage medical expert with R.

2. The following affirmations were filed in respect of A’s Summons for Interrogatories:

(i) A’s affirmation in support filed on 2 July 2025;

(ii) R’s affirmation of Cheung Yim Yau in opposition filed on 11 July 2025; and

(iii) A’s affirmation in reply filed on 17 July 2025.

3. The following affirmations were filed in respect of A’s Summons for WS2:

(i) A’s affirmation in support filed on 7 July 2025;

(ii) R’s affirmation of Cheung Yim Yau in opposition filed on 22 July 2025; and

(iii) A’s affirmation in reply filed on 31 July 2025.

4. The following affirmations were filed in respect of R’s Summons for SPE:

(i) R’s affirmation in support of Cheung Yim Yau filed on 11 July 2025; and

(ii) A’s affirmation in opposition filed on 25 July 2025.

5. I read the affirmations and skeleton submissions filed by the parties and heard the submissions and arguments in court of A acting in person and R’s counsel Mr Brian Chok.

BACKGROUND

6. A was the former Human Resources Director in the employ of R. Her claim herein for employees’ compensation is premised upon psychiatric injuries suffered at work allegedly resulted from the conduct of and treatment of her by Mr Tam Chau Long, former Chief Executor Officer (“ CEO Tam ”) of R, as well as the extremely stressful working environment and workload.

7. A’s case as pleaded in the Application and supported by her first witness statement filed on 17 April 2025 (spanning over 85 pages with attachments comprising 2 large folders) is that since November 2021 when working for R, the working environment had been stressful and her workload and