Tired of waiting for a court-ordered sum, Wembley takes on the government again
Officials have been accused of stalling a $21 million payout to the former managers of the Hong Kong Stadium, after the government lost a long-running legal battle with the firm in March.
Lawyers for Wembley International (HK) have taken the rare step of trying to compel the government to make the payment, ordered by Mr Justice William Stone in the Court of First Instance. On March 19, Mr Justice Stone absolved the company of any wrongdoing over the high-profile problems with the stadium's pitch.
The judge ordered the government to pay Wembley $21,855,702 plus interest, including incentive fees, severance and other payments.
But the government did not pay Wembley. Solicitor Camille Jojo, from the firm Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, said the management group became frustrated by the delay.
'We want the payment now because that is what the judgment said, and it is the fruit of the judgment,' he said. 'We are surprised that the payment has not been made. It is not as if Wembley is strapped for cash, but it is the principle of the matter.'