HONG KONG: Nina Wang continued searching for her missing husband Teddy after he was kidnapped in 1990, making her vulnerable to fung shui master Tony Chan, the Court of First Instance heard yesterday.

Nina's business friend from Taiwan, Wang Tien-yi, told the court that Chan told the grieving woman that Teddy was still alive and could be safely returned. Wang had already approached authorities and ordinary individuals in Taiwan, Hong Kong and the mainland in a vain effort to locate Teddy at Nina's request.

The search was fruitless. Some of the ransom paid was taken back to Taiwan.

But Nina's hunt for Teddy continued. Nina, Chan and Wang traveled to Yunnan, Guizhou and Vietnam - all according to the instruction and guidance of Tony Chan - to continue the quest.

"I participated in the search of Teddy more than once," Wang said. "Nina was relying more on Chan who told her that Teddy was still alive and could return."

Former legislator Gilbert Leung, who introduced Chan to Nina in March 1992, testified that Chan told Nina that Teddy could be found in a location on the east side of Hong Kong waters.

He said Chan had learned medicine in Toronto, but could not complete the degree after a patient died while under his treatment. He said Chan respected his father for his accomplishment in classical Chinese language and fung shui mastery.

Leung, Nina and Chan traveled to the Hung Sing Temple in Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung. They burnt incense, hoping that would help to bring Teddy Wang back.

The temple was chosen by Chan for its good fung shui, which he described as close to water and bearing the shape of jade.

Chan said in his statement that he frequently visited Nina's living quarters at night, indicating that they had a romantic and loving relationship.

But Leung said he felt "surprised" to hear claims that Nina and Chan were intimate. He said he observed no behavior, when going to the temple, to lead him to believe that Nina Wang and Chan had a special relationship.

"I don't feel that they are very close to each other," he said. "They are just a fung shui master and a client."

Chan's night visit to Nina was nothing unusual.

"Nina was very busy at day time. She only had spare time at night. It is not surprising to hear that Tony Chan visit her at night," Leung said.

He told the court that Nina referred to the fung shui master as Tony. "It does not mean there is anything special if she calls a person by his name," he said.

(HK Edition 05/21/2009 page1)