Secretary for Development Mak Chai-kwong yesterday reneged on his promise to explain reports that he abused a civil service rent-reimbursement system, saying a potential investigation into the matter prevented him from sharing details.
The newly installed minister had said just three days ago that he would respond to revelations that he and another bureaucrat 'cross-leased' flats to each other in the mid-1980s while both claimed a government rent allowance.
But Mak said he had to reconsider after learning that Democratic Party member Josephine Chan Shu-ying had lodged a complaint with the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
'I said on Sunday that I would make a response as soon as possible, but I learnt from the newspapers that some members of the public have lodged a complaint,' Mak told the media. 'In this circumstance, I feel it's not appropriate for me to give a detailed statement.'
It was unclear if the ICAC had opened a formal investigation, as the agency said it would not comment on specific cases. Chan said the commission had asked her to make a statement in relation to her complaint, but Mak would not say whether the ICAC had approached him directly.
Lawmakers, including lawyer Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee of the Civic Party, rejected Mak's reason for remaining silent.
'If the ICAC is investigating into something, you must not disclose the details of the probe, such as whether an investigator has contacted you or not,' Ng said. 'But for the incident itself, it is up to you whether to disclose or not and how much.'