Socialite and barrister Brenda Chau Tam Yuet-ching applied yesterday for permission to mount a judicial review of a government decision to cancel her licences to two exclusive sites near a country park in Sai Kung she has used for more than 20 years.
Chau, the widow of flamboyant fellow lawyer Kai-bong Chau, launched the legal action after the Lands Department gave her a deadline of May 23 to cease occupation of the 3,700 square metres of land near Ma On Shan Country Park.
She was told to quit the sites in March after failing to comply with an order to remove structures erected in breach of licence conditions and for occupying adjacent government land. She is asking the court to quash the Lands Department's decision, which she called rash and unfair.
Mr Justice Au Hing-cheung, of Court of First Instance, reserved his judgment.
To obtain leave to lodge a review, Chau's lawyer had to persuade the court that her complaint fell within the scope of public law and therefore could be reviewed by the court.
Opposing the application, Johnny Mok SC, for the department, said the economic dispute between the licensor and the licensee was a private legal matter and could not be dealt with by way of a judicial review.