The late canto-pop diva Anita Mui had a sound and clear mind when she signed her will at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in December 2003, the doctor who treated her testified yesterday.

The painkillers she took before signing the probate did not affect her mental condition, said the doctor.

The probate hearing in the High Court involving Mui's trustees and her mother Tam Mei-kam (84), who challenged the singer's mental condition when she signed the will, continued yesterday.

Mui died of cervical cancer on December 30, 2003.

Apart from arranging a monthly living expense of HK$70,000 for her mother, Mui named close friend/designer Eddie Lau and New Horizon Buddha Association as beneficiaries of her estate because she knew her mother was an extravagant person who would squander all the money very quickly.

This prompted Tam to launch legal actions in court to take control of her daughter's assets worth over HK$100 million.

Testifying in court yesterday, Mui's doctor Peter Teo said he, together with a bank staff of HSBC International Trustee, witnessed Mui signing the probate in a hospital ward on December 3, 2003.

Teo recalled that although Mui looked tired that day, he believed her mind was sound at the time and was capable of apportioning her wealth.

At that time, Mui had asked questions about her wealth and she understood who would benefit from her will.

It took about 45 minutes for Teo to explain the content of the probate and for Mui to sign it, he told the court.

As Mui's doctor, he said he came to know about some of her private businesses. It was he who suggested her make a will. He had also suggested Mui tell her family about her illness but she refused.

Teo said Mui, while in hospital, was very happy to have friends coming to see her.

One day after Mui had signed her legacy, her condition started to deteriorate and she fell into a state of coma on Christmas Eve. She passed away six days later on December 30 at the age of 40.

The hearing continues today.

(HK Edition 04/17/2008 page1)