The principle that a testator is allowed considerable freedom to dispose of his estate by will in whatever way he wishes without the possibility of intervention by the courts. It is the policy of the law to uphold testamentary freedom: Nathan v Leonard & Ors [2003] 4 All ER 198, 1 WLR 827. However, in Hong Kong, the freedom of a testator to dispose of his estate to the exclusion of a surviving spouse or former spouse, or a surviving child or dependant of his, is restricted by statute: Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance (Cap 481). Subject to that, and to particular rules of law, a person has complete testamentary freedom to dispose of his property in whatever manner he pleases, thus the effect of this ordinance is not to affect the testator’s freedom of testamentary disposition, provided the testamentary disposition, as regards family and dependants, is capable of being regarded as reasonable by the court: Sherrin et al, Williams on Wills Vol 1 (8th Ed, 2002, Butterworths) para 1.1; Re Inns, Inns v Wallace [1947] Ch 576, 2 All ER 308. A testator’s freedom of testamentary disposition may be restricted by an agreement entered into by him as to the contents of his will: Green (dec’d), Re, Lindner v Green [1951] Ch 148, [1950] 2 All ER 913. Nevertheless, a subsequent conveyance or other act does not prevent the operation of the will: Wills Ordinance (Cap 30) s 18. See also Family provision; Succession.
根據此原則，立遺囑人獲准予相當的自由，在沒有法庭干預的可能性下，憑籍遺囑以任何他／她意欲的方式處置其遺產。支持訂立遺囑的自由是法律的政策：Nathan v Leonard & Ors [2003] 4 All ER 198, 1 WLR 827。但在香港，《財產繼承（供養遺屬及受養人）條例》旨在賦予法院權力，使法院有權命令撥出死者遺產以供養死者的某些遺屬（例如尚存配偶或前任配偶）及死者的尚存子女和受養人，並就相關事宜訂定條文：《財產繼承（供養遺屬及受養人）條例》（第481章）。在不抵觸此等情況及個別法律規則的情況下，一人有完整的訂立遺囑的自由，即以任何他／她樂意採納的方式處置其財產，因而此等條例並不影響立遺囑人訂立遺囑的自由，但就有關的家庭及受養人而言，有關的遺囑性質處置須獲法庭視為合理： Sherrin et al, Williams on Wills 第1冊（第8版，2002年，Butterworths）第1.1段；Re Inns, Inns v Wallace [1947] Ch 576, 2 All ER 308。可憑藉由立遺囑人就其遺囑內容而訂立的協議限制立遺囑人訂立遺囑的自由：Re Green, Lindner v Green [1951] Ch 148, [1950] 2 All ER 913。但其後的財產轉易或其他作為不會阻止遺囑的實行：《遺囑條例》（第30章）第18條。另見 Family provision; Succession。

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