Li Lian International Ltd and Others v Herport Hong Kong Ltd and Another (The “MOL Comfort”) – High Court of Hong Kong (Court of First Instance) (Ng J) [2019] HKCFI 826 – 29 March 2019

Conflict of laws – Exclusive jurisdiction clause – Bill of lading conferring exclusive jurisdiction on Tokyo District Court – Whether “strong reasons” shown to enable proceedings to be brought in Hong Kong – Whether third-party notice should be set aside

The plaintiffs were cargo interests whose cargo had been shipped onboard the vessel MOL Comfort under two bills of lading dated 5 June 2013 issued by the first defendant, Herport, (the Herport bills of lading).