{"id":"court_ctb_1490_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1490,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | -------------------------------------------","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x           |                         |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------|\n| In re:                                                      | :<br>:      | Chapter 11              |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                        | :<br>:      | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n| Debtors.1                                                   | :<br>:<br>: | Jointly Administered    |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x           |                         |\n\n## **SUPPLEMENTAL OBJECTION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE TO HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC'S MOTION TO MODIFY CONSENT ORDER GRANTING HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC'S MOTION FOR ORDER ESTABLISHING REPAIR RESERVE FOR THE LADY MAY**\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the\n\nchapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Individual Debtor\"), submits this supplemental objection\n\n(the \"Supplemental Objection\") to HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC's\n\n(\"HK USA\") *Motion to Modify Consent Order Granting HK International Funds Investments*\n\n*(USA) Limited, LLC'S Motion for Order Establishing Repair Reserve for the Lady May* [Docket\n\nNo. 1216] (the \"Motion\"). 2 In support of his Supplemental Objection, the Trustee respectfully\n\nstates as follows:\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n<sup>2</sup> The Trustee previously filed the *Objection of Chapter 11 Trustee to HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC'S Motion to Modify Consent Order Granting HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC'S Motion for Order Establishing Repair Reserve for the Lady May* [Docket No. 1276] (the \"Initial Objection\"). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Motion have the meanings set forth in the Objection.\n\n#### **PRELIMINARY STATEMENT**\n\n1. As detailed in the Initial Objection, HK USA is not entitled, at this time, to seek the release of any excess in the Repair Reserve because the parties previously agreed (as specified in the Consent Order) that the Trustee would continue to hold the Repair Reserve Excess until 14 days after the scheduled conclusion of the PJR Hearing. The Trustee files this Supplemental Objection because he recently learned that Lamp Capital LLC (\"Lamp Capital\"), an entity allegedly owned by the Debtor's son, Qiang Guo, contractually agreed to pay all amounts necessary to maintain the Lady May. Because Lamp Capital is contractually obligated to pay the Lady May's operating expenses, HK USA has no grounds to demand that any funds in the Repair Reserve be released to pay for such expenses. For this additional reason, the Motion should be denied.\n\n### **ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND**\n\n2. On July 28, 2022, the Trustee filed a motion for Rule 2004 discovery as to various legal and financial advisors to the Individual Debtor (the \"Professionals 2004 Motion\"), including Philips Nizer, former counsel to Lamp Capital [Docket No. 637].\n\n3. On August 16, 2022, the Court granted the Trustee's Professionals 2004 Motion [Docket No. 756] (the \"Rule 2004 Order\"), pursuant to which the Trustee served a subpoena on Philips Nizer requesting documents relevant to the Trustee's investigation, which documents Philips Nizer subsequently produced. Among the documents produced by Philips Nizer in response to that subpoena is a management and operation agreement between HK USA and Lamp Capital, dated May 7, 2021 (the \"M&O Agreement\").<sup>3</sup>\n\n<sup>3</sup> The M&O Agreement is attached hereto as **Exhibit A**.\n\n4. Pursuant to the M&O Agreement, Lamp Capital agreed to provide management and operational support service to HK USA.\n\n![](_page_2_Figure_2.jpeg)\n\n5. During her deposition on January 20, 2023, the alleged owner of HK USA, *i.e.*, Mei Guo, confirmed that the M&O Agreement is still in effect.<sup>5</sup>\n\n## **ARGUMENT**\n\n6. As detailed in the Initial Objection, HK USA's Motion requests that the Consent Order be modified so as to authorize and direct the Trustee to pay up to \\$1 million to satisfy, from the Repair Reserve, the Operating Expenses for the Lady May for the period from November 2022 through April 2023, the bulk of which relate to salaries, management fees, and other expenses relating to retention of the Lady May's crew as well as the payment of insurance premiums. <sup>6</sup> HK USA states that any funds it possessed beyond the \\$37 million in escrow have been exhausted, and therefore it requires the Trustee to pay the Operating Expenses from the Repair Reserve. However, for the reasons set forth in the Initial Objection, the Motion should be denied, including because the Consent Order expressly provides that any motion requesting the\n\nGuo Transcript is attached hereto as **Exhibit B**.\n\n<sup>4</sup> M&O Agreement § 2 (emphasis added).\n\n<sup>5</sup> *See* Transcript of Mei Guo Deposition at 155:21-25, *In re Ho Wan Kwok*, No. 22-50073 (Jan. 20, 2023) (the \"Mei Guo Transcript\") (\" \"). The excerpt of the Mei\n\n<sup>6</sup> *See* Motion, Ex. B (showing a 5-month budget forecast for the Lady May for the period from December 2022 through April 2023).\n\nrelease of any excess in the Repair Reserve may only be filed 14 days after the last scheduled date of the hearing on the PJR Application (*i.e.*, no earlier than March 31, 2023).\n\n7. The Trustee files this Supplemental Objection to raise an additional basis to deny the Motion. Through his ongoing investigation, the Trustee recently learned that the M&O Agreement is still in effect, as confirmed by HK USA's alleged owner confirmed during her January 20, 2023 deposition. Pursuant to the M&O Agreement, Lamp Capital agreed to\n\n7 These provisions make clear that Lamp Capital is obligated to pay all amounts necessary to maintain the Lady May (HK USA's principal asset) in good repair, order and condition. This obviously includes paying the Operating Expenses (as defined in the Motion), which according to the Motion need to be paid to prevent \"the physical condition of the Lady May [from being] impaired.\" 8 Thus, by HK USA's own admission, the Operating Expenses fall squarely in the definition of Management Services for which Lamp Capital is responsible.\n\n8. Given that the M&O Agreement is still in effect, HK USA's Motion is plainly nonsensical. While the Motion asserts that \"HK USA has no other funds with which to pay for the Lady May's Operating Expenses,\" <sup>9</sup> HK USA's ability to pay for such expenses is irrelevant. It is *Lamp Capital* that is responsible to pay the Lady May's operating expenses under the M&O Agreement. As such, HK USA's claim that it lacks funds to pay the operating expenses provide no basis for granting the Motion—a Motion which should not even have been filed with the\n\n<sup>7</sup> M&O Agreement § 2 (emphasis added).\n\n<sup>8</sup> Motion ¶ 32.\n\n<sup>9</sup> Motion ¶ 2.\n\nM&O Agreement still in effect. Accordingly, the Motion should also be denied for this additional reason.\n\n9. Finally, as the Court is aware, the Trustee previously funded approximately \\$520,000 in Lady May operating expenses out of the Repair Reserve, covering the period from November 2022 through February 2023.<sup>10</sup> The Trustee reserves all rights to seek reimbursement of these payments from Lamp Capital to replenish the Repair Reserve.\n\n[*Remainder of page intentionally left blank.*]\n\n<sup>10</sup> *See Consent Order Modifying Consent Order Granting HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC's Motion for Order Establishing Repair Reserve for the Lady May* [Docket No. 1255] (authorizing release of \\$298,558.28 from the Repair Reserve to fund Lady May operating expenses for November 2022 and December 2022); *Second Consent Order Modifying Consent Order Granting HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC's Motion for Order Establishing Repair Reserve for the Lady May* [Docket No. 1330] (authorizing release of \\$220,448.50 from the Repair Reserve to fund Lady May operating expenses for January 2023 and February 2023);\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing additional reasons, the Trustee respectfully requests\n\nthat the Court deny the Motion.\n\nDated: February 28, 2023 New Haven, Connecticut LUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey*\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nAvram E. Luft *(pro hac vice*) Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\n\n## **EXHIBIT A**\n\nThis exhibit has been filed under seal.\n\n# **EXHIBIT B**\n\nThis exhibit has been filed under seal.","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n-----------------------------------------------------------　x\n\n关于：　:\n:　第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，　:\n:　案件编号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1　:\n:\n:　联合审理\n-----------------------------------------------------------　x\n第 11 章受托人对 HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC（香港国际基金投资（美国）有限公司）要求修改批准 HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC 要求设立 LADY MAY 号维修储备金动议之同意裁定的动议的补充异议\n\nLuc A. Despins 以在 Ho Wan Kwok（“个人债务人”）第 11 章案件中被指定的第 11 章受托人（“受托人”）的身份，谨就 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC（“HK USA”）要求修改批准 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 要求设立 Lady May 号维修储备金动议之同意裁定的动议 [Docket No. 1216]（“动议”）2 提交本补充异议（“补充异议”）。为支持其补充异议，受托人谨陈述如下：\n\n1 这些第 11 章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（又名 Guo Wengui、Miles Guo 和 Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）和 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 以及 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为：Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok（仅用于送达通知和通讯目的）。\n\n2 受托人此前已提交《第 11 章受托人对 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 要求修改批准 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 要求设立 Lady May 号维修储备金动议之同意裁定的动议的异议》[Docket No. 1276]（“初步异议”）。本动议中使用但未另作定义的首字母大写术语具有异议中所规定的含义。\n\n初步陈述\n\n1. 正如在初步异议中所详述的那样，HK USA 目前无权要求释放维修储备金中的任何多余部分，因为各方此前已经同意（如同意裁定中所明确规定），受托人将继续持有维修储备金的多余款项，直至 PJR 听证会按计划结束后的 14 天。受托人提交本补充异议，是因为他最近获悉据称由债务人之子 Qiang Guo（郭强）所拥有的实体 Lamp Capital LLC（“Lamp Capital”）在合同中同意支付维护 Lady May 号所需的一切款项。由于 Lamp Capital 在合同上有义务支付 Lady May 号的运营费用，HK USA 没有任何理由要求释放维修储备金中的任何资金来支付此类费用。基于这一额外理由，该动议应予驳回。\n\n补充背景\n\n2. 2022年7月28日，受托人就个人债务人的若干法律和财务顾问（包括 Lamp Capital 的前法律顾问 Philips Nizer）提交了依据第 2004 条规则进行调查取证的动议（“专业人士 2004 动议”）[Docket No. 637]。\n\n3. 2022年8月16日，法院批准了受托人的专业人士 2004 动议 [Docket No. 756]（“第 2004 条规则裁定”），受托人据此向 Philips Nizer 送达了传票，要求其提供与受托人调查相关的文件，Philips Nizer 随后出示了这些文件。在 Philips Nizer 响应传票而出示的文件中，有一份 HK USA 与 Lamp Capital 之间日期为2021年5月7日的管理与运营协议（“管理与运营协议”）。3\n\n3 管理与运营协议作为附件 A 附于本文件。\n\n4. 根据管理与运营协议，Lamp Capital 同意向 HK USA 提供管理和运营支持服务。\n\n5. 在2023年1月20日的宣誓作证中，HK USA 据称的所有人 Mei Guo（郭美）确认管理与运营协议仍然有效。5\n\n论证\n\n6. 正如在初步异议中所详述的那样，HK USA 的动议请求修改同意裁定，以授权并指示受托人从维修储备金中支付最高 100 万美元，用于满足 Lady May 号 2022年11月至 2023年4月期间的运营费用，其中大部分涉及与留用 Lady May 号船员有关的薪酬、管理费和其他开支，以及支付保险费。6 HK USA 声称，其在托管账户中的 3700 万美元之外拥有的任何资金均已耗尽，因此要求受托人从维修储备金中支付运营费用。然而，基于初步异议中阐明的理由，该动议应予驳回，原因包括同意裁定明确规定，任何请求\n\n郭的作证笔录摘录作为附件 B 附于本文件。\n\n4 管理与运营协议第 2 条（强调为后加）。\n\n5 参见 In re Ho Wan Kwok, No. 22-50073 (Jan. 20, 2023) 案中 Mei Guo 的宣誓作证笔录第 155 页第 21-25 行（“Mei Guo 作证笔录”）（“”）。Mei\n\n6 参见动议附件 B（显示 Lady May 号在 2022年12月至 2023年4月期间的 5 个月预算预测）。\n\n释放维修储备金中任何多余部分的动议，只能在 PJR 申请听证会最后预定日期的 14 天之后（即不早于 2023年3月31日）提出。\n\n7. 受托人提交本补充异议，以提出驳回动议的另一项依据。通过其持续进行的调查，受托人最近获悉管理与运营协议仍然有效，正如 HK USA 据称的所有人在其 2023年1月20日的宣誓作证中所确认的那样。根据管理与运营协议，Lamp Capital 同意\n\n7 这些条款明确表明，Lamp Capital 有义务支付将 Lady May 号（HK USA 的主要资产）保持在良好维修、秩序和状态所需的一切款项。这显然包括支付运营费用（定义见动议），根据动议所述，需要支付该等费用以防止“Lady May 号的物理状况受到损害”。8 因此，根据 HK USA 自己的承认，运营费用完全属于 Lamp Capital 负责的管理服务的定义范围。\n\n8. 鉴于管理与运营协议仍然有效，HK USA 的动议显然毫无道理。虽然动议声称“HK USA 没有其他资金来支付 Lady May 号的运营费用”，9 但 HK USA 是否有能力支付此类费用无关紧要。根据管理与运营协议，应由 Lamp Capital 负责支付 Lady May 号的运营费用。因此，HK USA 声称其缺乏支付运营费用的资金，并不能成为批准该动议的依据——在管理与运营协议仍然有效的情况下，本就不应该提出该动议。因此，基于这一额外理由，该动议亦应予以驳回。\n\n7 管理与运营协议第 2 条（强调为后加）。\n\n8 动议第 32 段。\n\n9 动议第 2 段。\n\n9. 最后，正如法院所知，受托人此前已从维修储备金中拨付了大约 520,000 美元用于 Lady May 号的运营费用，涵盖 2022年11月至 2023年2月期间。10 受托人保留向 Lamp Capital 追讨这些付款以补充维修储备金的所有权利。\n\n[本页其余部分有意留白。]\n\n10 参见《修改批准 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 要求设立 Lady May 号维修储备金动议之同意裁定的同意裁定》[Docket No. 1255]（授权从维修储备金中释放 298,558.28 美元以支付 Lady May 号 2022年11月和 2022年12月的运营费用）；《第二份修改批准 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 要求设立 Lady May 号维修储备金动议之同意裁定的同意裁定》[Docket No. 1330]（授权从维修储备金中释放 220,448.50 美元以支付 Lady May 号 2023年1月和 2023年2月的运营费用）；\n\n据此，基于上述补充理由，受托人谨请求法院驳回该动议。\n\n日期：2023年2月28日 康涅狄格州纽黑文 LUC A. DESPINS，第 11 章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n以及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett（特许出庭律师） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nAvram E. Luft（特许出庭律师） Douglass Barron（特许出庭律师） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n第 11 章受托人之法律顾问\n\n附件 A\n\n本附件已作密封归档。\n\n附件 B\n\n本附件已作密封归档。","key_entities":["Je","Guo","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Paul Hastings","Miles Guo","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1452,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:54:12"}