Walter Kwok won’t return to SHKP following brother's conviction in Rafael Hui graft trial
Eldest brother expresses 'deep sorrow' at conviction of sibling for corruption
The eldest of the three billionaire Kwok brothers says he will not return to directorship at the family-controlled real estate empire Sun Hung Kai Properties.
Breaking his silence yesterday after the city's most high-profile corruption trial, Walter Kwok Ping-sheung said he had great confidence in youngest brother Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, now the company's sole chairman after being cleared of four bribery charges on Friday.
"I have great confidence in SHKP under Mr Raymond Kwok's leadership with the support of the well-established management team … I have every confidence in the future of SHKP and Hong Kong," said Walter Kwok in a statement released yesterday to the media.
The 131-day trial, which concluded on Friday, saw former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan convicted of five counts of misconduct in public office, making him the highest-ranking official in Hong Kong's history to be convicted of taking bribes.
Raymond Kwok was acquitted, but second brother Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong, 63, the firm's co-chairman, was found guilty of one charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, by paying Hui HK$8.5 million in 2005 to act as his eyes and ears in government ahead of Hui becoming the city's No 2 official and an Executive Council member.
In the short statement, Walter Kwok said he was "very glad" to see Raymond cleared but was "deeply sorrowful" that Thomas was convicted. "The issue raised lots of arguments and rumours. What is right and what is wrong, I think God will have his say on the matter," he added.