Hong Kong court rejects appeal by ex-girlfriend of Stephen Chow in fight over millions in ‘unpaid commissions’
- Alice Yu claims the celebrated actor and director agreed to pay her a 10 per cent commission from successful investments she recommended
- A lower court ruled the pair never made that deal – a decision that was upheld on appeal
The High Court has thrown out an appeal by a former girlfriend of Hong Kong’s “King of Comedy” Stephen Chow Sing-chi against a ruling denying her claim for millions in unpaid investment “commissions”.
Three Court of Appeal judges on Tuesday dismissed Alice Yu Man-fung’s bid just an hour into a hearing that was scheduled to last for two days, with the decision to be explained in a written judgment later.
Mr Justice Russell Coleman last year sided with Chow in finding there was no oral agreement between the pair to share profits or any intention to create a legal relationship. But Yu, who replaced her leading counsel Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung SC with Barrie Barlow SC on appeal, maintained she was entitled to the money and challenged Coleman’s factual findings.
Chow, 59, made his name as an actor and director in blockbusters such as Fight Back to School, From Beijing with Love, King of Comedy, Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle, Journey to the West and The Mermaid.
Yu is the daughter of the late Yu Ching-po, a successful businessman who founded Hong Kong Construction (Holdings).
It was undisputed that Chow had paid her HK$19.5 million (US$2.5 million) at her request between 2007 and 2011, and an additional HK$10 million in February 2012. They broke up in 2010 and she began legal proceedings two years later.