Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming yesterday accused the SAR'S two top leaders of failing to reject tycoon Li Ka-shing's remarks about the political environment.
Mr Lee said the Chief Executive's response 'was so wishy-washy it could easily have been understood to mean that he actually agreed with Mr Li'.
'As for the Chief Secretary, she seemed to be very happy Mr Li had confirmed to her he was not complaining about the Hong Kong Government's handling of various things,' Mr Lee said on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong.
Mr Li said last week he might cancel a $10 billion in investment due to the political environment.
Tung Chee-hwa responded that a harmonious community was fundamental to the creation of a good attractive business environment. Chief Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fang On-sang said she had phoned Mr Li to clarify his remarks and learned he was not referring to the SAR Government.
Mr Lee said: 'Both of them should, and they owe it to the Hong Kong people, [reject] Mr Li's statement in no uncertain terms.' Mr Lee also criticised the Government for its 'total disregard' of the people's yearnings for democracy; for going back on the well-respected policy of positive non-intervention particularly in the financial markets; and for 'a lowering of standards' resulting in the erosion of the integrity of some institutions.
He also queried whether justice could be done with the appointment of Alice Tai Yuen-ying as Ombudsman, a body to investigate complaints against the Government, while her husband is the Commissioner for Transport, Robert Footman.