‘Sad’ family feud over late Hong Kong tycoon Henry Fok’s fortune will proceed to trial despite judge’s misgivings
- One faction of the late Fok’s sprawling family has accused other members of withholding information about an option to buy back a valuable share in a Guangzhou development
- The judge presiding over the case sought to give the parties one last chance to reconsider going to trial on Monday, but to no avail
The Hong Kong judge presiding over a dispute revolving around the late tycoon Henry Fok Ying-tung’s multibillion-dollar estate sought to give the parties one last chance to reconsider on Monday after most of them complained they were being “dragged” into litigation.
Mr Justice David Lok Kai-hong – who on two previous occasions urged the parties not to bring the “sad” family feud to trial – asked on Monday if the court should proceed with hearing evidence, considering the chances of the case being disposed of by alternative means would be “rather slim” once witnesses start testifying.
But Clifford Smith SC, representing plaintiff Benjamin Fok Chun-yue, said he had not received any “specific instructions” to seek an adjournment, meaning the court would begin hearing testimony on Tuesday, starting with his client.
Their exchange came after five days of opening speeches at the High Court in the latest legal battle over the elder Fok’s HK$11.3 billion (US$1.4 billion) estate, this one in relation to a share of his dream project in Nansha in Guangzhou, which was considered significant to the valuation of one of his three flagship companies, Henry Fok Estates.
The Post reported in 2015 that, according to one estimate, the project was worth 30 billion yuan (US$3.9 billion).
