University of Hong Kong liver expert George Lau Ka-kit has settled a lawsuit he lodged last year against three other senior doctors for alleged defamation arising from 16 years of hostility over an allegedly unpaid debt.
'The past is past,' Professor Lau said yesterday, adding that a lot of the problems had arisen from misunderstandings and he hoped that now everyone would be able to get back to their own work.
Settlement of the case ended one of a string of controversies that has dogged the university's medical faculty in recent years.
In a statement yesterday, faculty dean Lee Sum-ping said Professor Lau's claim had been withdrawn after mediation. '[Professor Lau] has expressed his regret for the legal action. This has been graciously accepted by the three professors,' the statement said.
In January last year, Professor Lau filed a High Court writ claiming he was asked by Lai Ching-lung in 1991 to pay a HK$150,000 deposit on a Porsche car Professor Lai was buying and the money was never returned.
He also claimed he received threats that his career would be ruined when he demanded repayment.