Local fung shui master Tony Chan (center) smiles as he arrives at the High Court in Hong Kong yesterday to fight for the control of the assets of the late billionaire and head of real estate empire Chinachem, Nina Wang. Edmond Tang

HONG KONG: Nina Wang wrote a letter to her father-in-law Wang Din-shin after she won her case against him in the Court of Final Appeal. The two had contested the right to inherit the fortune of Teddy Wang. In her letter Nina Wang stated she would take care of the senior Wang and would continue the search for her missing husband, who had been the victim of a kidnapping.

Counsel for Chinachem Charitable Foundation Denis Chang read out parts of the letter written by Nina to the senior Wang on the first day of the formal trial to decide whether Chinachem or fung shui master and businessman Tony Chan will inherit Nina Wang's estate.

Nina lost the first round of her legal battle in 2002, when the Court of First Instance declared that the 1990 will she presented to support her claim as heir to the estate of her husband Teddy Wang was a forgery. The court awarded the estate to the senior Wang. Nina appealed the ruling and lost in the Court of Appeal. On September 16, 2005, the Court of Final Appeal overturned the previous rulings, giving Nina control of Teddy's estate.

Teddy Wang was declared legally dead in 1999, nine years after he was kidnapped for the second time.

Nina said in the letter that Teddy would be saddened if he had learned of the legal battle, Chang told the court.

"But we should let bygones be bygones," Chang read from the letter. "Father, I am still your daughter-in-law whom you can depend on. I have the duty and the responsibility to support you."

"You can be assured that I will take care of your wish and give you what you need as I have been doing."

The last paragraph of the letter mentioned Nina's wish to bring her husband back.

"I will try every means to get him back peacefully. I will not give that up," Chang read.

The elder Wang had earlier decided to withdraw from the current proceedings, saying the issues were not directly related to him and that there was no value in spending resources to be represented at the trial. Chang also told the court that Nina and Teddy were widely known for their frugality and devotion to charitable purposes.

Nina gave money for the establishment of scholarships, helping tsunami victims and the United Nations.

The United Nations twice recognized her charitable efforts.

(HK Edition 05/12/2009 page1)