Hong Kong Regulations

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES RULES - RULE 15

Notice of intention to defend

(1) In these rules any reference to a notice of intention to defend is a
reference to an acknowledgment of service in Form 4 containing a statement to
the effect that the person by whom or on whose behalf it is signed intends to
defend the proceedings to which the acknowledgment relates, and any reference
to giving notice of intention to defend is a reference to returning such a
notice to the registry.

(2) In relation to any person on whom there is served a document requiring or
authorizing an acknowledgment or service to be returned to the registry,
references in these rules to the time limited for giving
notice of intention to defend are references to 8 days after service of the
document, inclusive of the day of service, or such other time as may be fixed.

(3) Notice of intention to defend a cause begun by petition may be given at
any time before directions for trial are given, notwithstanding that the time
limited for giving the notice has expired.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person may give notice of 
intention to defend notwithstanding that he has already returned to the
registry an acknowledgement of service not constituting such a notice.