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ARTICLE · 16 SEPTEMBER 2026

Not A Rubber Stamp: Recent Lessons On Liquidators’ Powers In Cayman And Hong Kong

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The Cayman and Hong Kong courts have delivered parallel rulings in Re Ourgame International Holdings Limited that fundamentally reshape how liquidators must approach applications for powers and cross-border recognition. These decisions establish that courts will scrutinize each requested power individually, requiring specific justification and evidence rather than granting blanket authority. What does this mean for practitioners seeking to make Cayman liquidations effective across multiple jurisdictions?

GlobalInsolvency/Bankruptcy/Re-Structuring
Norman Hau
Norman Hau
Jonathon Milne
Jonathon Milne
Crystal Au-Yeung
Crystal Au-Yeung
Denise Tse
Denise Tse
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Key Takeaways

  • The recent Cayman and Hong Kong decisions in Re Ourgame International Holdings Limited establish that courts will not rubber-stamp liquidators’ requests for broad or hypothetical powers.
  • In Cayman, Doyle J declined to grant blanket Part I powers absent evidence justifying the need for each power sought.
  • In Hong Kong, Harris J granted substantial recognition and assistance but refused omnibus powers that would place Cayman liquidators in the same position as Hong Kong-appointed liquidators.
  • Recognition of a Cayman liquidation in Hong Kong remains available even where the company’s Centre of Main Interest (COMI) is in Hong Kong rather than the Cayman Islands.
  • Practitioners should identify each power sought, explain why it is necessary, and support the application with focused evidence directed to the practical needs of the liquidation.

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