Shut Sydney Chinatown cream puff eatery owes tax office $845,000

Sydney Chinatown cream puff eatery Emperor's Garden owes tax office $845,000 In short: Court documents reveal owners of now closed Sydney Chinatown restaurant, Emperor's Garden, have a tax debt of $845,000. The 47-year-old eatery was known for its cream puffs which it served through a takeaway window. Two of the owner's family members are facing charges relating to an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation. The company behind Sydney Chinatown restaurant Emperor's Garden owes the tax office more than $845,000, court documents reveal. The 47-year-old restaurant attracted long queues of customers lining up for cream puffs made fresh and sold cheap from a small takeaway window. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has applied to wind up Emperor's Garden Pty Ltd, arguing the company may be insolvent after chasing a tax debt of $845,133.11. According to documents filed in the Federal Court, the ATO wants a liquidator appointed to the company and to have its costs paid from the company's assets. A letter of demand was sent to the Haymarket restaurant in March. Emperor's Garden Pty Ltd, run by Stanley and May Ho Yee, has not filed any documents with the Federal Court, and their son Valentine Yee, who is involved in running the Emperor's Garden restaurant, could not be contacted for comment. Site earmarked for redevelopment The much-loved yum cha institution was mysteriously closed down earlier this month. A sign on the Hay Street building said the property had been "lawfully re-entered and possession taken" with some inquiries directed to law firm Mills Oakley. Mills Oakley had previously said it acted for one of the building's owners and declined to comment. It is not clear who has taken possession of the site. The building is co-owned by Mr and Mrs Yee and the company Hynsco, which lists Lance and Elaine Lai as directors. Mr Lai is Mr and Mrs Yee's nephew. The Emperor's Garden site has conditional approval for a $44.5 million redevelopment that will transform the existing three-storey premises into a 16-storey complex containing 22 residential apartments. A document prepared in support of the development application described Hynsco and Mr Lai's cousins Valentine Lee and Jonathan Lee as behind the plans. Mr Lai could not be contacted for comment. Nor could Jonathan Yee. A post on the Emperor's Garden Instagram page said the company's restaurant and bakery was "taking a small break" and "we'll be back soon". The Emperor's Garden BBQ and Noodles restaurant on Thomas Street is still open. Operation Aero Meanwhile, Valentine and Jonathan Yee are each facing charges in the NSW Supreme Court relating to an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation into a $100,000 donation to the Labor Party made by a prohibited donor. The investigation, codenamed Operation Aero, found billionaire property developer Huang Xiangmo donated the cash, and Jonathan Yee, then involved with Chinese Friends of Labor, helped disguise the true origin of the money by organising for his mother, brother, several Emperor's Garden employees and To Yip of Harbour City Group to each sign a false donation declaration form. Valentine Yee, his mother May Ho Yee and an Emperor's Garden employee, Wei Shi, have each been charged with giving false or misleading evidence to a public inquiry after appearing as witnesses at a 2019 hearing. Valentine Yee has pleaded guilty to one count of giving false/misleading evidence at public inquiry, and Mr Shi has pleaded not guilty. Mrs Yee is yet to enter a plea. Jonathan Yee has been charged with a raft of offences, including participation in a scheme to circumvent electoral funding laws, giving false evidence at a public inquiry and procuring false testimony at an inquiry. He is yet to enter a plea.