'I had never heard of Tony Chan'

Late tycoon Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum's former personal assistant said yesterday he had never met or heard of fung shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen - Wang's alleged former lover and claimant to her fortune - in 27 years of service.

Ringo Wong Lai-chuen was speaking at a press conference to launch a puppet show of the dead billionaire's life with husband Teddy Wang Teh-huei, as preliminary skirmishing between parties in the probate battle over her will continued in the Court of First Instance.

He also described efforts by Wang and himself to look for Teddy Wang for years after he was kidnapped and even after he was officially declared dead, saying this proved her devotion to her husband.

Yesterday was the first time Mr Wong has spoken publicly about Mr Chan, who has claimed to have had a close relationship with Wang for 14 years before she died of cancer on April 3, 2007. Mr Chan declined to comment on his remarks.

In reply to a reporter's question, Mr Wong said: 'In these 27 years that I knew Wang, I never met [Tony Chan] nor heard her mention [him].'

He was also dismissive of photographs released by Mr Chan on the second anniversary of Wang's death, showing them together. He described the pictures, one of which shows Mr Chan putting his hand on Wang's shoulder, as 'very common'.