Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying threatens to sue Apple Daily over ‘malicious’ editorial
Chief executive issues legal letter to Apple Daily over commentary, complaining of allegations that could hurt his chances of winning re-election
Hong Kong’s leader is threatening to sue a popular local newspaper over its “malicious” allegations of bribery and “vicious intention” to harm his chances of re-election.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying issued a legal letter to Apple Daily on Thursday over an editorial it published on September 8, demanding the Chinese-language paper stop making corruption allegations against him. Leung also wants Apple Daily to run a statement of retraction, pre-vetted by him, on its editorial page.
“The intention to obstruct Mr C.Y. Leung from exercising his fundamental right under Article 26 of the Basic Law and Article 21 of Section 8 of the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance to stand for the 2017 CE election in accordance with law is vicious and contrived,” Leung’s letter, issued by law firm Sit, Fung, Kwong & Shum, stated.
The editorial in question called on newly elected lawmakers to invoke the Legislative Council’s special powers to pursue Leung over the controversial payment of HK$50 million he received from Australian firm UGL before he took office in 2012.
“The usage of the false corruption allegation to prevent Mr C.Y. Leung from exercising his constitutional right to stand for the re-election ... if he chooses to, demonstrates the very serious kind of malicious and injurious motive.”