Two buyers who tried to get out of the purchase of a $22 million villa in exclusive Deer Hill Bay, in Tai Po, by claiming a staircase was too narrow failed in their bid yesterday.
Chan Yeuk-yu and Chik Wen-fei sought in the Court of First Instance to rescind a 1997 agreement whereby they bought the apartment from the Sheng Kung Hui (formerly known as the Chinese Anglican Church) and its foundation.
They claimed an internal spiral staircase to the roof was too narrow and small and was not in accordance with promised 'regal surroundings for a select few'.
But Mr Justice Michael Burrell, who visited the site, dismissed the claim. He said he agreed with defence counsel's submission that the buyers were disappointed with the staircase and exaggerated its significance.
He said the fact that no other owner or occupier had complained about the staircase had been attested to by the development's sale manager.
Mr Justice Burrell ordered the purchasers to pay costs.