Bad smell, bad fung shui and a $13,000 settlement

Saturday, May 13, 2000

MO PUI YEE

sued reluctantly burst calendar leaking
reimbursement auspicious renowned incurred convened

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A popular fung shui master refused to repair a sewerage pipe in his flat because fixing it near Lunar New Year would have brought bad luck. Choi Mak Chiu-yuk, wife of fung shui master Choi Pak-lai, was to be yesterday before the Small Claims Tribunal for $32,562 by downstairs neighbour Tony Chan Ka-sing over the pipe at Cornell Court, Fortress Hill. But just before the tribunal to hear the case, Mr Chan accepted a $13,228 settlement offer from Mr Choi's son, Choi Chun-chiu.

Mr Choi senior is a fung shui master and the author of Tung Shing (Chinese Almanac), a book which gives advice on what and what not to do on every day of the Chinese . His wife was being in her capacity as the owner of the flat.

Speaking outside the tribunal, Mr Chan said he discovered the pipe on January 24, when water and sewage leaked into his bathroom. He said he asked Mr Choi to repair the pipe, but Mr Choi replied it was not to make any repairs that close to the Lunar New Year as it would bring bad luck. Lunar New Year started on February 4. Mr Chan agreed to wait, as Mr Choi promised to repair the leak soon, but the repairs were not carried out until February 24.

"The dirty water leaked not only into the toilet but also the bedrooms. The smell was intolerable and I fell sick because of it," Mr Chan said.

Mr Chan was claiming for money spent on additional repairs he had been forced to do himself and for medical expenses he while ill.

Copyright © 1999 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. Reproduced with permission.

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