Extra cash for Anita Mui's mum
The 85-year-old mother of Anita Mui Yim-fong will receive an extra HK$30,000 in her monthly allowance from the late Canto-pop diva's estate to cover her legal bills and debts, a court ruled yesterday.
The court heard that Tam Mei-kam had to pay HK$75,000 a month to creditors - HK$65,000 for four legal bills and about HK$10,000 towards bank loans. Ms Tam had applied to increase her monthly maintenance allowance by HK$60,000 to HK$180,000 to cover the repayments.
Judge Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, sitting in the Court of First Instance, said he would grant only half of her requested amount, and it would go directly to the creditors.
Ms Tam had incurred legal bills of HK$2.4 million after losing a probate battle for the singer's estate.
She should bear the debt but her living standards might significantly deteriorate if she had to spend HK$75,000 of her allowance on the repayments, Mr Justice Cheung said in explaining his decision.
In April, a court had barred Ms Tam from taking HK$800,000 from the estate to pay for an around-the-world trip.
She appeared in court yesterday without a legal representative.
The estate's other beneficiaries, including the New Horizon Buddhist Association and fashion designer Eddie Lau Pui-kai, also did not send representatives.
The court heard that the estate had only HK$3.2 million left, enough to pay Ms Tam's maintenance until the end of the year. Mr Justice Cheung suggested she sell Mui's three properties, including one at Shouson Hill Road that was worth HK$130 million in 2007, or she would soon run out of money. He also told her to rein in her spending.
