The in-laws of SAR security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee are no strangers to lawsuits, a court heard yesterday.
The Secretary for Security's nephew, Arnold Ip Tin-chee, 38, and his mother, Cecilia Chan Kit-lai, have lodged a petition in the Court of First Instance for a buy-out order, or alternatively a winding-up order, for Ching Hing Construction, a loss-making family firm.
They allege they have faced prejudice as Ching Hing shareholders because Arnold Ip has not been elected to the board of directors since October 1996.
Michael Bunting SC, for the respondents, yesterday challenged Arnold Ip's claim family relations had been cordial.
The respondents include the five sisters of Arnold Ip's late father, Henry Ip Man-shan. Arnold Ip described his relationship with his aunts as 'cordial', but Mr Bunting said there had been 'hardly any contact' between them for the past 20 years.
Arnold Ip's petition claims there was a common understanding among the shareholders - all family members - that they were all entitled to sit on the board of directors.
Mr Bunting said there had been no such understanding.