Mathew is 50 years old and single. He was employed for over 14 years as a full-time chef of a
restaurant. However, Mathew had a car accident 3 months ago and his right shoulder was
badly injured as a result. Mathew spent a month in hospital, and his doctor told him that he is
now severely disabled because he will not be able to use his right shoulder for the rest of his life.
The accident occurred when Mathew was going to work in a bus operated by his employer, and
the driver of the bus was successfully prosecuted by the police for his careless driving that
caused the accident. Mathew’s claim under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance was successful. Mathew recently checked with an insurance agent of Great Insurance Company as to
his needs for whole life insurance. He learnt that, due to his disability, the cover will require a
longer waiting period and a higher-than-standard premium level. He did not take out the cover.
Mathew and his father jointly own a flat in Tuen Mun as tenants-in-common where they live together with Mathew’s 52-year-old elder brother, Mark. The flat is fully paid up and has a current
market value of around $2,800,000. Mathew’s father intends for Mathew to take up his share in
the flat on his death. Neither Mathew nor his father has made wills, and apart from Mark they
do not have other living relatives.

Assume that other factors remain constant. Which of the following statement(s) about the succession of the Tuen Mun flat is/are CORRECT?

I. If Mathew and his father pass away at the same time, ownership in the flat will be distributed according to the Intestates’ Estates Ordinance.

II. If Mathew predeceases his father, his share in the flat will automatically pass to his father
without having to go through the probate process.

III. If Mathew’s father predeceases Mathew, his share in the flat will be distributed between
Mark and Mathew.
.