Owners of chicken takeaway seek compensation

Owners of a takeaway chicken shop are seeking $245,000 compensation over the bird flu crisis from the wrong department, government lawyers claimed yesterday.

Cheung Tze-ying and her husband, Leung Kwong, filed a writ suing Secretary for Economic Services Stephen Ip Shu-kwan. But lawyers, who want Mr Justice Wally Yeung Chun-kuen to strike out the statement of claim, said the couple should be suing the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.

The couple, who own the Tai Wai Healthy Champion Chicken Takeaway Shop in Sha Tin, claim the Government's handling of the crisis shut down their business and scared off future customers. Mr Justice Yeung reserved his decision.