Radio deal was marred by controversy, Donald Tsang trial hears
Former secretary for commerce and economic development, Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan, appeared at the High Court on Thursday
The granting of a digital broadcasting licence to a local radio station, which former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang Yam-kuen had been accused of being favourably disposed to, was surrounded by controversy, his bribery trial heard on Thursday.
Rita Lau Ng Wai-lan, Tsang’s then secretary for commerce and economic development, told the High Court that in 2009 the government was dealing with well-known radio host Albert Cheng King-hon’s “aggressive stance”.
“He was using all the publicity tools and platform to promulgate and try to gain public support,” she said.
The court earlier heard that Cheng led Wave Media, of which he was also a shareholder. It
also heard he was the one who recommended a world- renowned designer to work on a penthouse renovation project in Shenzhen, where Tsang hoped to live after his retirement.
Former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang used secret rule to justify travel, court told
Testifying on Thursday, Lau said Cheng was hosting a phone-in programme at the time, which was very critical of the government. In a document she prepared for the Executive Council, the city’s top advisory body, at the time, she had declared that Cheng would probably cause controversy on his programme.