And, eager to find ways out of the tourism slump, Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) chiefs have jumped on the bandwagon. Earlier this week, officials visited the premises to sound it out as a possible stop-off on the SAR's not-so-well-trodden tourist trail.

Twenty-five years ago next month, martial-arts master Lee - arguably the most famous Hong Kong person to have lived - died in mysterious circumstances after making just four films.

Equally mystifying to Mr Benn, who played a mafia boss opposite Lee in the 1972 film Way of the Dragon, is that no permanent memorial has been erected to the man who kicked open the world's doors to kung fu and Chinese film.

'Hong Kong is the home of Bruce Lee but there has never been anything for anyone to see,' Mr Benn says. ' 'Why?' is the $64 million question everyone asks.

'I don't have an answer, all I know is it's a shame. Even the house where he used to live in Kowloon Tong is now a 'hot-pillow' hotel.

'Thousands of people come to Hong Kong every year and ask where they can see a statue of Bruce Lee and there's nothing.' As well as having first-hand knowledge of the man, Mr Benn is no stranger to the restaurant business, having set up Hong Kong's first Spanish restaurants, La Bodega in Lan Kwai Fong and Tacos (now Ricos) in Robinson Road, both of which he sold.

He is marketing his new venture as a cafe/museum, boasting Lee movie memorabilia such as the original nunchuckas he used in the Way of the Dragon. But he may have been pipped at the post.

Last month the SAR's Bruce Lee Fan Club announced it would be opening a museum in July in a Tsim Sha Tsui shopping centre with more than 10,000 exhibits. So is there room for two meccas to the King of Kung Fu? Peter Randall of the HKTA thinks so. 'We are having a look at the potential of both places but I don't see any reason why there can't be room for them both.' A confident Mr Benn predicts his idea will take off and even now is talking about franchise deals. 'I have some people interested in Shanghai and Singapore; we are looking at something along the lines of a mini-Planet Hollywood-theme restaurant.' The man behind the menu, which takes kitsch to new heights, is fast-talking Bahadur K C Shiva, whose creations include Fish of Fury, Cock Cock Chicken, Satay - of the Dragon, Chop Chop Lamb Chop, Ying Yang Pizza and the Big Boss Burger.

'Obviously we wanted to have Bruce Lee dishes.' Mr Shiva says. 'The general idea might not be the most original in the world but the ingredients and preparation are.' Starters begin at $15 and end at $98, and mains, which, disappointingly, do not include a Karate Chop, range from $68 for noodles to $178 for Dragon Prawns.

And once you have eaten the dragon, you can always enter the movie world - Mr Benn will be there to tell you all about the man.

'Bruce was a very enjoyable guy to work with, very intelligent, always joking, but you knew he always meant business.

'He'd be on the set for eight hours a day and then train for another eight hours. He had a very strong work ethic but he was always living on the edge.' Events throughout Hong Kong will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Lee's death on July 20.

The Bruce Lee Cafe, 22 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Tel: 2525-3977