Court flap

Chicken vendors Leung Hung-kwong (left) and Cheung Chi-ying with a placard they took to court yesterday to protest against the handling of the bird flu crisis as they contested the payment of legal fees.

The married couple, who had their attempt to sue Secretary for Economic Services Stephen Ip Shu-kwan over the chicken cull dismissed last February, said they remained adamant about their demands.

The couple were required to present a list of objections against payment of court fees at the Court of First Instance, but they brought their arguments hand-written on placards.

They had demanded $245,000 compensation. But Mr Justice Wally Yeung Chun-kuen ordered them to pay $194,000 in legal fees.

The matter was adjourned until next Tuesday.