Tong became the church's seventh Chinese cardinal and Hong Kong's third after Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and the late John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung with his elevation to the Vatican's College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict on February 18.

Tsang, a devout Catholic, announced in Legco on Thursday that he was giving up a plan to rent a 6,500 sq ft apartment in Shenzhen for his retirement, and apologised to the public for revelations that he travelled on the luxury yachts and private jets of tycoon friends.

Tong said that suspicions about Tsang's integrity could be dealt with by Hong Kong's 'sound legal system'. 'If Mr Tsang lacked proper judgment or showed negligence, we have to let the ICAC and the ad hoc committee [led by former chief justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang] investigate and judge,' he said.

The cardinal cited a verse from the Bible when commenting on Tsang's plan to rent a luxury flat. 'The prophet has told us that ... for those who lived a very good life in the past, but who now lives a negligent life or inappropriate life, God will not forgive him. God will let him die,' he said, referring to Chapter 18 of the Book of Ezekiel. Tong said: 'I think these days the criticisms by the public already helped him make a deeper examination of his own life and his own plan for the future.'

Commenting on his appointment, Tong said he felt inadequate but grateful to be become a cardinal.

He said he would continue to defend human rights, justice and peace through a peaceful and soft approach. The Hong Kong diocese could continue to serve as a bridge to enhance communications with the Catholic Church on the mainland, he said.

'If the Catholic faithful and the clergy in China were to enjoy full freedom of religious belief and activities, they would be able to contribute more fruitfully to the well-being of society,' Tong said.

The cardinal said he also believed Beijing had become more tolerant towards religious activities since the opening-up policy begun in the 1980s.