A turtle jelly vendor knows nothing about herbal medicine, the Court of First Instance was told yesterday.
Ng Yiu-ming, who said he had a special formula to make the popular product, 'did not have any expertise in Chinese herbs', according to brother-in-law Leung Yee.
The two are fighting for the ownership of Hoi Tin Tong, a chain of stores which sell herbal remedies.
Mr Ng, who runs 16 outlets, said he devised 'medicinal' tortoise jellies by mixing Chinese herbs and turtle products in 1971, and had since perfected the manufacturing process.
But Mr Leung charged that his in-law only started manufacturing the jelly in 1990 at the suggestion of him and his wife, Mr Ng's elder sister, Ng Yuk-kin.
The couple are taking Mr Ng and his wife, Chiu Fung-yee, to court for a declaration that the four of them own the business in equal shares.