Prominent barrister Cheng Huan has begun a legal battle with the widow of his late godson, who left behind a nearly HK$100 million fortune in property and stocks, according to The Standard's sister paper, Sing Tao Daily.
Cheng, a senior counsel, claims he is the sole heir of Lung Tzong-hann - the only child of famous actress Linda Lin Dai and Lung Shen Xun - according to Lung's will made in December 2009. But Lung's wife, Suichun Lam Chi-ying, claims she holds a will made by Lung in January 2010 that names her as the sole executor of the estate.
In a writ filed at the High Court on Friday, Cheng said he met Lung in the 1990s and encouraged him to study law. Lung worked as an intern in his chambers and they remained close even though he failed to obtain a law degree, Cheng added.
Lung became Cheng's godson in 2005, with the late High Court judge Peter Nguyen Van-tu as witness, but he had never introduced his wife to Cheng.
Cheng said Lung was estranged from his wife and the couple did not live together, and that his godson had affairs.
On December 15, 2009, Lung visited Cheng's chambers, saying the tension between him and his wife was growing but he did not want a divorce to avoid giving property to her, Cheng said.
Lung then expressed his wish to leave his estate to his godfather and wrote a will which was witnessed by his two secretaries, Cheng said. The will was kept in a safe in his chambers.
Cheng said Lung never told him about another will before he died from a heart attack at age 59 on November 13, 2022 in his Tai Hang residence.
A few days later, Cheng said he was told by SSW & Associates legal clerk Billy Mak, a legal representative and friend of Lung, that his godson did not have other wills.
Cheng registered the will he obtained at the High Court Probate Registry after Lung's funeral on December 16, 2022.
But a few days after the funeral, Mak said Lung's widow had another will in a safe at their home that was made on January 11, 2010, but she did not know its content at the time. It was not until May 23 last year that she claimed through lawyers that she was the sole estate executor, Cheng said.
The 2010 will is said to state that Lung withdrew the 2009 will and that his wife would be the sole executor of his estate, and that the will was made with Mak and another lawyer as witnesses.
Cheng said it was "illogical and unreasonable" for Lung to change his mind after he clearly stated his intentions, and then make another will solely benefiting his estranged wife just a month later.
Lung also did not show any intention to withdraw his 2009 will, he added.
Cheng said one of the witnesses of the 2010 will, Mak, once told him: "To the best of my knowledge, Lung did not make any will."
Cheng said he confronted Mak on May 31 last year. He told the court it is "impossible" for Mak to "suddenly remember" being a witness to the making of the 2010 will.
Cheng said he is defending his godson's wishes and requested the court to declare the 2010 will to be invalid, and that the 2009 one as the last will and valid testament of Lung.
He also requested the court to hand down an order granting the letters of administration with the 2009 will annexed to him.
