HKSAR V. CHU KA LOK

[2025] HKCA 951 Court of Appeal 5 November 2025 • CACC69/2023 • 20 min read
12 cases cited (0 SG, 12 foreign)

Practice Areas

Theft Ordinance

Judges (3)

Anthea Pang Coram M Poon Coram Pang Coram

Counsel (8)

Chak & Associates LLP Firm Department of Justice Firm Agnes Kwong Counsel Applicant Andrew Li Counsel Respondent Brian Tsui Counsel Applicant David Leung Counsel Applicant Derek Lau Counsel Respondent Steven Yip Counsel Respondent

Parties (2)

HKSAR Respondent Chu Ka-lok Applicant

Summary

Chu Ka Lok (朱家樂) was convicted of two counts of theft of choses in action — debts totalling HK$623,851.60 owed by Bank of China (Hong Kong) — and sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment. He appealed against conviction, raising issues about whether debts in bank accounts constitute property capable of being stolen. The Court of Appeal considered the legal nature of bank deposits as choses in action.

Statutes Cited

Theft Ordinance (Cap 210)
s 18B s 6(2) s 6(3) s 9

Cases Cited (12)

UK (6)
[1970] AC 567 [1994] 2 All ER 316 [1996] AC 669 [2002] 1 AC 164 [2002] 2 AC 164 [2011] EWCA Crim 1192
HK (6)
(2024) 27 HKCFAR 359 [2000] 2 HKLRD 129 [2000] 3 HKLRD 324 [2001] 3 HKLRD 76 [2008] 4 HKLRD 697 [2023] HKDC 393

Judgment

Read the full judgment on the official Hong Kong Courts portal.

Read on HKLII

Source: HKLII ([2025] HKCA 951)