FOUR lots of land in Mongkok were ordered put up for public auction as a single property despite opposition from some of the owners. Quashing a High Court ruling, the Court of Appeal held that when it appeared to be in the legitimate interests of all co-owners and workable in practice, the court might direct all the properties be put up for sale as a single unit. The court allowed the appeal by Golden Bay Investment and Good Client, maintaining that the auction should take place before October 15. The appeal was lodged after Deputy Judge Gladys Li ruled in favour of seven defendants and ordered that only two lots be sold and disposed of individually. During the hearing, Golden Bay and Good Client had adduced valuation evidence that the four lots sold as a single unit would fetch $52.5 million but only $17.51 million if sold separately. The court heard that numbers 26, 28, 30 and 32 Kam Fong Street in Mongkok were adjoining vacant lots at the end of a cul de sac. The unsafe buildings which had been on the properties were demolished following a closure order. Each lot, containing seven equal undivided shares, was a separate property with a separate title. Ordering that only numbers 26 and 32 be sold separately, Deputy Judge Li had held that she had no power to order more than one property to be sold as a single unit. In the reserved judgement, Mr Justice Bokhary said if it appeared to be in the legitimate interests of all the co-owners and workable in practice, the court might make directions for the sale of all the properties as if they constituted a single property. The judge said it should be made clear that each bid in the auction would be in respect of all four properties and that the proceeds of the sale would be distributed in accordance with equal undivided shares in the land. Also sitting in the Appeal Court were Mr Justice Litton and Mr Justice Mayo, both of whom concurred with Mr Justice Bokhary's ruling.