A key lawmaker says a full-scale investigation into conflict-of-interest allegations against chief executive hopeful Leung Chun-ying is unlikely to cause any legal difficulties.
Members of the House Committee voted on Friday to schedule a Legco vote for Wednesday on whether to use the Power and Privilege Ordinance to force full disclosure of documents regarding the 2001 West Kowloon arts hub design contest and force key players in the scandal to testify under oath.
Leung, a judge in that competition, was accused of failing to disclose a business link between one of the bidders and his company, DTZ.
Miriam Lau Kin-yee, chairwoman of the house committee, which sets the agenda for Legco meetings, said yesterday that Legco would handle the documents carefully, dismissing concerns over commercial confidentiality which have been cited by the government as one reason for not releasing all the relevant paperwork .
'It has been fine over the years when lawmakers have handled confidential material as we are cautious in preventing such documents from being leaked,' she said.
Lau added that the investigation committee would conduct meetings behind closed doors if necessary in order to safeguard confidentiality.