The mother of late Canto-pop star Anita Mui was told by the High Court yesterday to seek financial assistance from the Social Welfare Department as there is not enough cash left in Mui's estate to pay her monthly allowance.

The suggestion was made when the 84-year-old mother Tam Mei-kam asked for a HK$120,000 monthly allowance from the court yesterday.

Mui died of cervical cancer in December 2003 and under her will, her mother gets the stipend from a trust set up by Mui.

High Court judge Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung was told by the estate administrator Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu that Mui's estate only had HK$85,000 cash left and could not pay Tam the monthly allowance of HK$120,000.

Deloitte added that Mui's properties in London, which are worth 570,000 pounds, will be sold to reap the urgently-needed cash. But it may take six to eight weeks to complete the transaction.

It said that the cash may be used to settle debts caused by legal proceedings initiated by Tam.

Earlier Justice Cheung has approved the sale of concert rights and the use of three Hong Kong properties as collateral for more cash in the estate.

The diva's mother was asked to accept the reality that no more income will be generated and even if there is cash in the estate, it would be used to settle the debts.

Justice Cheung suggested Tam file for bankruptcy and said it is the best option for her since she had incurred huge amounts of legal costs.

He also suggested Tam seek help from the Social Welfare Department for daily expenses.

Mui's estate has been drained by her mother who initiated several lawsuits shortly after Mui died in 2003.

Tam lost her legal battle in June this year in which she attempted to overturn Mui's will as she and her eldest son alleged that Mui was mentally impaired when she signed the will.

In July, her request for HK$500,000 from the estate to pay legal fees was rejected. Tam's former landlord filed a bankruptcy petition against her over unpaid rent.

(HK Edition 10/22/2008 page1)