THE Anglican Church of Hong Kong is awaiting judgment on its
long-running legal dispute over a £14-million tax bill. The dispute
centres on the sale of the Church's former orphanage, St
Christopher's Home, which was redeveloped for luxury homes in the
1990s, earning the Church millions of pounds.
The Inland Revenue billed the Church - the Hong Kong Sheng Kung
Hui - more than £14 million in tax on profits from the project. But
the Church's lawyers have argued that the money should be waived,
as the profits were used for charity. They are also disputing the
date from which the tax has been calculated.
An earlier court case rejected the Church's argument, and it has
now gone to the Court of Appeal.
A statement from the Church said: "As the Hong Kong Sheng Kung
Hui is now awaiting the court's ruling of its appeal, it would not
be appropriate for the Church to comment on the case for the time
being."