Legislators ask Leung Chun-ying to explain illegal structures

Legislators from across the political spectrum called on Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to explain illegal structures at his home, on Wednesday, one day after the top court ruled on a case related to the matter.

Their calls came after the Court of Final Appeal on Tuesday dismissed a legal challenge to Leung’s victory in the March 25 chief executive election. The case was launched by his election rival Albert Ho Chun-yan, the Democratic Party chairman at the time.

Leung has said he would give a full explanation of the illegal structures once all “legal proceedings” related to the case were finished.

The Democratic Party sent an urgent fax to the Chief Executive’s Office on Wednesday, urging Leung to fulfil his promise.

Emily Lau Wai-hing, the party’s vice-chairwoman, said it was time for the chief executive to come clean on the matter.

“Leung should compile a timeline of all the events to let the public clearly know when he bought the flat, when he discovered the illegal structures and how he dealt with them,” Lau said.

She suggested Leung make a report to the Legislative Council.

Legislators from pro-government and pro-business camps – including Wong Kwok-hing of the Federation of Trade Unions and the Liberals’ James Tien Pei-chun – also urged Leung to explain the matter as soon as possible.

Wong said the chief executive should act quickly, to restore public trust in his government.

“He should explain the matter publicly and immediately, in order to clear doubts. This will be crucial for improving how people see his administration,” Wong said.

Ho’s legal challenge had sought to have Leung’s election as chief executive ruled invalid on the basis that Leung misled Hongkongers.

Ho claimed Leung was not duly elected because his criticism of rival Henry Tang Ying-yen – over illegal structures at Tang’s home – amounted to a false statement.

In June, almost three months after Leung won the election, the media exposed six unlawful structures at his home on The Peak.