Hope lingers for a settlement of the long-standing dispute between the Chui brothers over the celebrated Fook Lam Moon restaurants, sometimes called "the rich man's canteen".

The High Court case into the matter was adjourned on Tuesday to December 4, after John Bleach, counsel representing Chui Pui-kun - the elder brother in the dispute, requested for more time to negotiate a buy-out agreement.

Chui Pui-kun, the fifth son of the restaurant founder Chui Fook-chuen, and his younger brother, Chui Wai-kwan, the seventh son, both have filed petitions to buy out the other's shares in the holding companies of the restaurants. Each of the two brothers owns 45 percent of the company's shares, with the remainder distributed among another four siblings.

Born in 1908, founder Chui Fook-chuen, while still in his teens, became head chef for the Hotung family, one of the big four families in the city back in 1890s. His catering business, Fook Kee, began serving top quality Chinese cuisine to the privileged at lavish dinner parties. In 1953, the name of the business was change to Fook Lam Moon.

The first Fook Lam Moon restaurant was opened in 1972 in Wan Chai. A branch in Tsim Sha Tsui opened five years later. Business tycoons, including Lee Shau-kee and Li Ka-shing are regulars of the restaurants.

The brand, Fook Lam Moon, together with its headquarters in Wan Chai, is valuated at roughly more than HK$800 million. The company has seven branch operations outside the city, including four in Japan, run solely by the younger brother, and three co-run by the younger brother on the mainland in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing.

The family's legal battle started when the elder brother sued his younger brother for libel in November 2009. The elder charged that he had been libelled in circulars sent to all members of the company's board of directors.

During Tuesday's court hearing, Jat Sew-tong, senior counsel appearing for the younger brother, said the younger, Chui Wai-kwan, can sign the agreement at any time to resolve details concerning the auction of shares.

"The best (scenario) is of course a settlement," said Chui Wai-kwan after the hearing.

Duncan Chui, Chui Pui-kun's son, said he favored mediation of the dispute as he left the court.

"I think that we all wish a settlement could be reached ... My father and my uncle have been brothers and also business partners for decades. They have kept a good rapport until some people sabotaged their relationship," said Duncan Chui.

Tsui Yau-hing, elder sister of the feuding Chui brothers, stated her position at Tuesday's hearing, saying she would happily remain as a minority shareholder no matter which of the two feuding brothers won the bidding. But, she insisted Chui Pui-kun should withdraw his petition against her. Bleach, appearing for Chui Pui-kun rejected the request.

"A settlement agreement is not the answer to all this. It is the bidding," said Judge Anthony To Kwai-fung, adding he hoped the agreement and bidding is settled before the case returns to the court on next Tuesday.

Both parties agreed to report on progress at a hearing set for Thursday.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 11/28/2012 page1)