The first shots have been fired in what is expected to be a long and complex legal tussle for the estimated HK$32 billion fortune of Asia's wealthiest woman, Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum. Chinachem Charity Trust - the named executor of a will purportedly written by the late tycoon July 28, 2002 - entered a caveat in the High Court Thursday, calling for whoever is interested in the will to notify the trust before applying for a probate.
It named the trust as the sole beneficiary of the Chinachem chairwoman's estate for charitable purposes.
"As Nina Wang has passed away, we have entered a caveat to inform all other parties interested in her fortune to tender prior notification of legal representation on behalf of Chinachem Charity Trust before any moves for the administration of the will," the trust's submission reads.
The application comes ahead of the publication of a quarter-page advertisement in local newspapers today by law firm Haldanes, of another will allegedly written by Wang October 16, 2006, naming fortune-teller Tony Chan Chun- chuen, 46, as the sole beneficiary of her empire.
"The late Nina Wang bequeathed all her estate to Mr Chan Chun-chuen. Mr Chan is very honored by the trust and affection which Nina Wang has shown in passing her entire estate to him. In dealing with it, Mr Chan will at all times hav regard to the values by which Nina Wang managed her business interests and personal affairs during her life," the advert reads.
A day after Wang's lav
ish funeral, the alleged 2006 will was published in Apple Daily, claiming to be the full version of the same will written in English. "All of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, of every kind and description, wherever situated and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, including any power of appointment, I [Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum] give, devise and bequeath to Mr Chan Chun-chuen [identity number given] who was born in Hong Kong on the [date of birth given]," it reads.
"To my belief, Mr Chan Chun- chuen will be capable of determining the distribution and use of my estate in a good and proper way.
"My will is established entirely and wholeheartedly for the need and good of my family and loved ones. It is my great appreciation that my will could be announced fairly and righteously as stated."
Ronny Tong Ka-wah, barrister- lawmaker of the Civic Party and a senior counsel, said Chinachem Charity Trust has taken the initiative to enter a caveat that does not grant it any privileges until it formally applies for a probate to administer the will and seeks to settle any possible dispute in court.
Tong reckoned that a legal tussle is inevitable because the two purported wills contradict each other over who the beneficiary is.
Chan's lawyer, Jonathan Midgley of Haldanes, issued a press release Thursday inviting the media to a briefing this afternoon "on the matter concerning the beneficiary of the estate of the late Nina Wang."
It did not say whether the mysterious fortune-teller will appear in public. Chan's identity was revealed two weeks after the law firm issued an April 7 statement - four days after Wang's death - saying the fortune should not go to a charity trust beneficiary.
Midgley was Wang's counsel in the eight-year court battle with her father- in-law Wang Din-shin. She won control over the estate of her late husband Teddy Wang Teh-huei, who disappeared in 1990 after being kidnapped.
According to sources close to the family, Wang's surviving brother Kung Yan-sum and sisters Kung Yan-sum and Kung Chung-sum have obtained some "important evidence" that will discredit Chan's claim and put the fortune to public and charitable use as Wang had previously declared.
A two-page advert published in Next magazine Wednesday said the 2002 will was written and signed by Wang and witnessed by two senior aides - Heng Kim-thiam, a project director of Chinachem, and Li Chi-ming, a major shareholder of an architectural firm.
The spokesman for Chinachem and Wang's former personal assistant Wong Lai-chuen was unavailable for comment Thursday.
According to Apple Daily, Chan went to medical school in Canada but has never practiced since returning to the territory. As a fortune-teller he has a low profile and an extensive client network of tycoons and celebrities. A close aide of disgraced legislator Gilbert Leung Kam-ho confirmed Leung had once commissioned Chan, who advised him to burn a pile of HK$500 banknotes in return for blessings to prevent him being jailed for corruption.
He took the advice half-heartedly and burned HK$100 banknotes instead, but to no avail.
Late lawmaker Stephen Cheong Kam-chuen also consulted Chan frequently, according to a close friend.
"Chan was more than Wang's favorite fung shui master.
"He was entrusted by the ailing Nina who was suffering from cancer and was perturbed by the prolonged lawsuit over her husband's estate," the friend said.
Wang's family is said to be unfamiliar with Chan.
