Date set for wind-up hearing

The hearing into the wind-up of four Hong Kong firms owned by Australia's second-largest insurer, HIH Insurance, has been set for August 27. Barrister Jonathan Harris, for provisional liquidator PricewaterhouseCoopers and creditors, went before Mr Justice Michael Hartmann in the Court of First Instance for directions yesterday. The four firms are HIH Insurance (Asia), HIH Holdings (Asia), FAI First Pacific Insurance and HIH Casualty and General Insurance (Asia). The four offered insurance under insurer HIH Hong Kong Group. Another hearing for directions was scheduled for July 10.