1997, No. A 12519 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE BETWEEN INVESTASIA LIMITED SEIICHI WADA First Plaintiff Second Plaintiff and KODANSHA CO LTD HIROTOSHI ITO First Defendant Second Defendant Before the Hon Mr Justice Findlay, in Chambers Date of hearing: 13 May 1999 Date of handing down of judgment: 18 May 1999 Mr Jat Sew Tong, instructed by Messrs Lovell White Durrant, for the plaintiffs. Mr Paul Carolan, instructed by Messrs Deacons Graham & James, for the defendants. JUDGMENT The Proceedings On 20 November 1997, the plaintiffs issued a writ against the defendants. The statement of claim alleges that the plaintiffs were libelled by two articles written in the Japanese language by the second defendant and published by the first defendant The defendants are in Japan. It is not alleged that they have any connection with Hong Kong. The first plaintiff describes itself in the statement of claim as a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and “carrying on business in Hong Kong and elsewhere”. The second plaintiff says he is “a businessman with diverse business interests in Japan, Hong Kong and elsewhere”, and the controlling hand of the first plaintiff. 1