The Government yesterday yielded its secret evidence from ICAC and police reports on ex-immigration chief Laurence Leung Ming-yin to the Legislative Council inquiry into his removal from office. The contents of the ICAC probe into Mr Leung's assets and a police check on his integrity were described as 'shocking' by Select Committee chairman Ip Kwok-him. The hearing was held in camera so that Chief Secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang could produce a two-page letter from the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Michael Leung Man-kin, together with enclosures and a video of a three-hour interview with Mr Leung. Members did not go through the ICAC report and the video due to lack of time. Names mentioned in the police integrity report were crossed out. Secretary for Civil Service Lam Woon-kwong spent about half an hour ensuring committee members knew that details of the confidential reports should not be divulged. The reports were handed back after the session, held behind closed doors to enable their contents to be kept confidential, as required by law. Mr Ip said after the hearing that 'as an individual, the information provided was quite shocking', but he later said it had been inappropriate for him to talk about his personal feelings. 'What I meant is that I felt regret and shock that the Government has taken so long to release this information, which can help us dig out the truth,' he said. Committee member Yum Sin-ling, from the pro-Taiwan 123 Alliance, said that 'several other incidents' were disclosed in the integrity report. 'I feel that they are more serious than the reasons cited by Lam Woon-kwong. I have yet to dig out the truth, but they are certainly not just economic grounds.' Mrs Chan insisted there were no political motives for taking action on Mr Leung. 'I can confirm there are no political motives,' she said. 'The reason for proceeding against Mr Leung was because of his integrity, his conduct, which has led the senior management to completely lose confidence in his ability to head a very important disciplinary force, particularly at this sensitive time.' She denied the Government had lied and misled the committee in an attempt to cover up the reasons behind Mr Leung's departure. The 'harsh' treatment of Mr Leung was justified, she added. 'Each of the offences listed in the letter which would have been sent to Mr Leung was sufficiently serious on its own to warrant action.' She said one day's notice for Mr Leung's departure was reasonable and 'little notice is given in similar circumstances in the private sector'. She said Governor Chris Patten had not issued any directive but was kept informed. He had relied on her judgment and she had taken into account the views of Mr Lam and Secretary for Security Peter Lai Hing-ling. On Monday the committee will watch the video interview of Mr Leung carried out by ICAC officers. They will study the ICAC report at the next hearing on Tuesday and call Mr Lam and Mr Lai to another hearing on Wednesday. A committee member said it had not ruled out demanding to read the full police integrity report. 'We have asked Mr Lam questions about the report but we did not conclude that just reading the summary is enough.' However, a senior government official said no more information could be revealed. 'This is the base line for us because we want to keep the system of integrity checking and ICAC investigation effective.' Unaware of business links; Spy claims denied - Page 3 Editorial - Page 18
