Emperor's Garden Sydney restaurant faces $845,000 tax claim and legal scrutiny

The closed Emperor's Garden eatery in Sydney's Chinatown owes the tax office over $845,000, and two family members are charged in an ICAC probe.

Documents lodged in the Federal Court reveal that Emperor's Garden Pty Ltd, the operator of a long-standing Chinatown cream-puff shop, owes the Australian Taxation Office $845,133.11, leading the ATO to apply for the company's winding up and the appointment of a liquidator. The Hay Street location was recently sealed, with a law firm indicating the property has been lawfully re-entered, while a separate co-owner, Hynsco, holds conditional approval for a $44.5 million redevelopment into a 16-storey building.

Owners Stanley and May Ho Yee have not responded to court filings, and their son Valentine Yee could not be reached for comment. In parallel, Valentine and Jonathan Yee are each facing multiple charges in the NSW Supreme Court stemming from an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into a $100,000 prohibited donation to the Labor Party, including allegations of falsifying donation declarations. Their mother May Ho Yee and an employee, Wei Shi, have also been charged with giving false or misleading evidence, with Wei Shi pleading not guilty and May Ho Yee yet to enter a plea.