Pearl Oriental's Lew Mon-hung may face inquiry over letter to CY Leung
Lew Mon-hung could be investigated for trying to pervert course of justice
Lew Mon-hung could be investigated for attempting to pervert the course of justice should reports that he wrote to Leung Chun-ying asking the chief executive to block a graft investigation against him prove to be true, former anti-corruption officials say.
They were speaking as it emerged that Lew, who made a scathing attack on Leung last week, would lose his seat on the nation's top political advisory body. Former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's name is also absent from the final list of delegates to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which will be announced today, Beijing sources said.
Lew, who backed Leung for the city's top job, alleged in an interview with magazine that the chief executive had lied about the handling of illegal structures at his home and had reneged on a promise to appoint him an executive councillor in return for his support.
It was later revealed that Lew was on bail after being arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on January 8 in a case involving his listed company, Pearl Oriental Oil.
He did not confirm or deny reports that he had asked Leung in a letter to stop the investigation.
Barrister Stephen Char Shik-ngor, a former ICAC chief investigator, said Lew's letter could be regarded as an attempt to pervert the course of justice. "It is a common law offence and the ICAC would likely look into it," he said.
Former ICAC deputy commissioner Tony Kwok Man-wai said: "Anyone who tries to ask the chief executive or the central government to pressure the ICAC must be condemned."
Beijing sources said Lew's name was removed from the final list of delegates after it had been submitted to the central authorities. Tsang's name was also missing, implying he will not follow his predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa, as a CPPCC vice-chairman.
Peter Lee Ka-kit son of Henderson Land Development chairman Lee Shau-kee, and former chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Anthony Wu Ting-yuk are at the top of the list, meaning they will be elected as standing committee members next month.
Other possible members include Jonathan Choi Koon-shum, former chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and Yin Xiaojing, a deputy director of the central government's liaison office.
