Anita Mui's mother loses battle over will

The mother of late singer Anita Mui Yim-fong lost a protracted legal battle at the Court of Final Appeal yesterday involving her daughter's fortune.

Tam Mei-kam, 87, who has been challenging the validity of her daughter's will, lodged her attempt to overturn previous rulings against her at the top court, but the court dismissed her application after hearing her counsel's arguments. It has reserved the reasons for its decisions, and its order on who should foot the legal costs.

Samson Hung Kin-man, Tam's barrister, said yesterday at the top court that Mui had lacked knowledge of how trustees worked. It was under such circumstances that HSBC International Trustee came to handle her estate.

Bu the court disagreed.

Mui died in 2003 of cervical cancer. Before her death, she made a will and set up a trust, the Karen Trust. The will - witnessed by Doris Lau, a director of HSBC International Trustee, Mui's godmother, Sheila Ho, and a doctor - said Mui's assets would go to the Karen Trust. The trust's beneficiaries included Tam and four of Mui's nieces and nephews.

The balance after Tam's death would go to the New Horizon Buddhist Association. The Karen Trust provided Tam with a HK$70,000 monthly allowance. HSBC International Trustee was appointed trustee of the will and the Karen Trust.

Mui also suggested several properties be left to her fashion designer, Eddie Lau Pui-kai.