Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying sues lawmaker for defamation
Suit relates to comments Kenneth Leung made about a HK$50 million payment the city leader got from engineering firm UGL
Hong Kong’s outgoing leader, Leung Chun-ying, is suing an opposition legislator for defamation over remarks about a HK$50 million payment that the chief executive received from an Australian engineering firm.
The Chief Executive’s Office said on Monday that Leung ’s lawyers had filed a writ at the High Court against accountancy sector lawmaker Kenneth Leung, who confirmed that his lawyers had received the relevant documents.
The pan-democratic politician said the suit would not stop him from continuing with a Legislative Council investigation into the payment controversy, but did not comment further.
Lawyer Peter Sit, acting for the chief executive, said only: “Check with the court when it opens tomorrow morning.”
This is the first time a Hong Kong chief executive has sued a legislator for defamation. What lawmakers say in the Legco chamber is protected by parliamentary privilege, but remarks made outside are not.
Last week, Leung Chun-ying threatened to sue the lawmaker, saying he had no basis to allege at a press briefing on Wednesday that overseas tax authorities were investigating the chief executive in relation to the HK$50 million payment from UGL.