Actor in HK$37m dispute with film producer over a Kwun Tong flat

Hong Kong actor-singer Louis Koo Tin-lok’s film company has been sued by film producer Alex Dong Choi-chi over a disputed acquisition of a Kwun Tong industrial building flat a decade ago.

In the writ filed to the High Court last Tuesday (Jan 28), plaintiff Dong alleged he had contributed HK$37 million in 2014 in assisting Koo's One Cool Property Limited to acquire the first floor of Milkyway Building in Kwun Tong, which had acquisition costs of HK$58 million.

At that time, Koo, on behalf of One Cool Property, had represented to Dong that an interest proportionate to his contribution to the acquisition cost would be held in trust for him by the company.

One Cool Property later signed a provisional sale and purchase agreement on March 17, 2014. Dong gradually transferred the sum of HK$37 million to the company between March and April 2014.

Dong asked the court in his writ to either declare One Cool Property holds Dong's interest in the flat in trust; or a restitution of HK$37 million.

Local media previously reported that Koo’s mother Lee Yee-man was listed as the director of One Cool Property.

It is not the first time Dong has sued his business partner Koo.

In June last year, Dong sued the 54-year-old Koo, claiming the latter had failed to repay an HK$8.3 million loan arising from a fashion joint venture in 2013.

(Eunice Lam)