Tsangs sticklers for cleanliness in kitchen, says housekeeper

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and his wife insist on strict hygiene in the kitchen and insist food is fresh, their housekeeper told a Labour Tribunal yesterday.

The Chief Secretary for Administration's former head chef, Yu Yin-ping, is seeking $50,000 in overtime allowances he claims were accrued during his 10 months of employment, which began in December 1999.

He was paid $15,000 a month for working at Mr Tsang's official home in Wong Chuk Hang. He claims his two-year contract was terminated earlier than agreed.

Mr Yu said preparation for parties and cleaning duties often meant overtime and he was never given a cleaner to help him as promised in a letter from executive officer Ang Ming-mei, who hired him.

'Kitchen appliances must be thoroughly cleaned, including those tiny cracks in the refrigerator,' Mr Tsang's housekeeper, Tam Chun-mei, said.

She said Mr and Mrs Tsang were worried about getting sick if they or their guests consumed any infected or rotten food because of poor hygiene.