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The older brother in a family feud threatening to  shake up Hong Kong's famed Yung Kee restaurant was described by his siblings in court yesterday as too domineering and lacking in business sense.  
Kinsen Kam Kwan-sing, 64, was criticised in the Court of First Instance by his younger brother, Kam Kwan-lai, and sister Kelly Kam in a dispute over the ownership and operation of the family's restaurant business, noted for its roast goose.
The brothers, who own the popular Central dining spot, fell out in a dispute over shares a few years after the death of their father in 2004, the court heard earlier. Their father, Kam Shui-fai, started the venture in 1942.
Kam Kwan-lai, 63, dismissed an accusation that he was trying to take control of the restaurant's holding company, Yung Kee Holdings. It is worth an estimated HK$1.5 billion - not including the worth of dried seafood, antiques, fine paintings, furniture and cutlery, the court heard.
Their sister, Kelly Kam, said in a court document that the eldest brother and his children were less competent than  Kam Kwan-lai's family in running the restaurant.
She described her eldest brother as 'bullying' and 'intimidating'. 
'In particular, he does not like his decisions or authority to be questioned. 
'And if they are, he can be very stubborn,' she said. 'He seems to me to have no thoughts or ideas on how to develop the business.' Kinsen Kam is asking the court to issue a winding-up order against the holding company, which could result in liquidators selling the shares on the open market or one brother buying out the other's stock.
But the elder brother, through his lawyer, said winding up the firm was not his primary goal, adding he would rather buy out his brother's 55 per cent share for HK$817 million or sell his 45 per cent share for HK$669 million to his younger brother. He also acknowledged his younger brother's contributions.
John Bleach SC, for Kam Kwan-lai, cited a description given by their sister. 'Even as a child, [Kinsen Kam] was dominating, always wanting to be in charge,' Bleach said, reading from the court document.
Kelly Kam also said the eldest brother's children were lazy and lacked the expertise to run the business. She also said Kam Kwan-lai had greater skill than Kinsen Kam.
Jat Sew-tong SC, for Kinsen Kam, said his client would pursue a winding-up order only if the court ruled that the shares should be sold at a discount in the event of a buyout. Kinsen Kam contends that, since he has been in a quasi-partnership with his younger brother, his shares should be sold at full value.  
If the company is wound up, its shares would be sold at full value by the liquidator and anyone  could bid for them, Jat said.
Lawyer Nigel Francis, for Kam Kwan-lai, said the legal proceedings would have 'absolutely no impact' on Yung Kee's thriving business.  
The case continues before Mr Justice Jonathan Harris today.



Siblings criticise eldest brother in Yung Kee feud