香港高等法院判决宗馥莉暂时禁止“提取或抵押”信托 十个关键问题读懂宗氏子女18亿美元“信托纠纷案”

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing legal dispute over an $18 billion inheritance involving the Wang family has seen a recent development with the Hong Kong High Court modifying a temporary injunction regarding asset management in a HSBC account, which has led to significant public interest and speculation about the implications for the parties involved [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - The Hong Kong High Court's ruling primarily serves as a property preservation order, not a substantive judgment on the trust issues at stake, which are being addressed in mainland courts [2]. - The modified injunction now prohibits the defendant, Zong Fuli, from "withdrawing or mortgaging" assets rather than from "disposing or diminishing" them, indicating a shift in legal language that may have implications for asset management [2]. - The injunction will remain in effect until the mainland court resolves the case brought by the plaintiffs, Zong Jichang, Zong Jieli, and Zong Jisheng [2]. Group 2: Trust Establishment - Zong Qinghou had plans to establish trusts for his children, with a formal agreement signed shortly before his passing, but the trusts have not yet been set up, raising questions about the fulfillment of fiduciary responsibilities [3]. - The initial trust was intended to have a total value of $2.1 billion, with each sibling set to receive $700 million, and the trust's structure was designed to ensure that only interest income would be distributed, preserving the principal [5][7]. Group 3: Financial Implications - If the trust is established, each of the three siblings could potentially receive approximately 250 million RMB annually, based on a 5% interest rate on the trust assets [7]. - The plaintiffs are seeking confirmation that the assets in the HSBC account are part of the trust and are demanding accountability from Zong Fuli regarding the management of these assets [8]. Group 4: Family Dynamics - Zong Fuli has proposed including her children as beneficiaries in the trust agreement, indicating a potential shift in the distribution of trust assets [9]. - Despite signing an agreement with her siblings, Zong Fuli has continued to withdraw funds from the HSBC account, which has raised concerns among the plaintiffs regarding the management of the trust assets [10]. Group 5: Timeline of Events - Key events include Zong Qinghou's handwritten instructions for the trust in January 2024, the signing of two wills in February 2024, and the subsequent legal actions taken by the siblings in December 2024 [12].