Global Courant 2023-05-22 12:40:00
It could take four to five years for the four children of Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi to inherit her HK 300 million ($51 million) estate, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
Choi, 28, who lived in the thin world of Hong Kong celebrities and social media influencers, was murdered in February.
Her former husband, Alex Kwong, 28, was arrested that month and charged in connection with the brutal murder, along with his father Kwong Kau, 65, mother Jenny Li, 63, and brother Anthony Kwong, 31.
The gruesome details of Ms. Choi’s murder attracted worldwide media attention. Her head and several body parts were found in a large soup pot in a rented village house in Tai Po, a Hong Kong suburb, days after she was reported missing.
The inheritance is being held back because Ms. Choi has not registered her marriage to her long-time partner Chris Tam, the Hong Kong newspaper reported on Sunday, citing a source.
The source said: “Her heirs will have to wait for the murder case to be completed, which could take years if the parties involved appeal.
“Then there will be an inquest to determine the cause of death of Ms. Choi, after which her death certificate will be issued. The whole process will be long and complex.”
Ms. Choi and Mr. Tam underwent marriage ceremonies in 2016 without legally registering their marriage.
She is survived by four children aged three, six, eight and ten. Mr. Tam is the father of the youngest two, while the two older children were fathered by Alex Kwong.
Ms Choi’s estate includes a luxury apartment worth HK$73 million on Kadoorie Hill in Kowloon Tong – one of Hong Kong’s most prestigious addresses.
Ms. Choi reportedly purchased the 1,820-square-foot apartment under her former father-in-law’s name. Police had previously said a property dispute is a possible motive for the murder.
The newspaper quoted a lawyer as saying that since Ms Choi’s children are under the age of 18, their next of kin can apply to be appointed trustee of the estate and hold the children’s share in a trust. This means that they must properly store the relevant assets on behalf of the children.
Once all children reach the age of 18, they can petition the court to dissolve the trust and formally receive their share under a joint agreement, he added.
Ms Choi’s mother, Cheung Yin-fa, filed a summons to the Supreme Court in March to stop Kwong Kau from selling the apartment in Kadoorie Hill. She tried to designate Ms. Choi as the beneficial owner of the luxury flat.
