Exco's 30 members declare their 142 properties; no wonder it took a while

Professor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung is the executive councillor with the biggest real estate portfolio - 31 properties, eight car-parking spaces and two lots under development.

The figures were revealed last night with the delayed publication of declarations of interest by the 16 officials - including the chief executive - and 14 non-official members who make up the government's top advisory body. Together, they disclosed ownership of 142 properties.

Under Exco rules, members should update their declarations of interest within 14 days of taking office, but the publication took 42 days, with the government citing new rules on declarations for the delay.

The figures show that all but one of them own at least one property, with many having more than one.

The declarations brought a warning that the government must be seen to avoid any conflict of interest when dealing with the housing market.

Li, a non-official Exco member and deputy chairman of the Bank of East Asia, owns 28 local properties and three in the UK. All except one are co-owned with his brother, the bank's chairman, David Li Kwok-po, and in some cases other siblings. His declaration did not reveal what type of properties he owned.

The second-biggest property owner on Exco is former investment banker Franklin Lam Fan-keung, a non-official member, who owns 27 properties across the city through 16 companies.