Bidder and politician deny conflict of interest over donation
A bidder for the controversial West Kowloon Cultural District and a veteran politician yesterday denied any conflict of interest on the project.
The denial came after it was revealed that the company would donate $25 million to a body headed by Ada Wong Ying-kay to build Hong Kong's first arts and creative school.
Henderson Land Development said the donation was not a bribe but a contribution to society, while Ms Wong, a core member of the People's Panel on West Kowloon, said she accepted the offer for the good of the city's arts development.
Ms Wong said the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture, which she chairs, received a letter from Henderson chairman Lee Shau-kee on March 24, saying the group would give $25 million to the Hong Kong School of Creativity once the project is approved by the Legco Finance Committee. Ms Wong, who underwent surgery after injuring her legs in an accident on March 25, appeared in a wheelchair yesterday. She admitted playing an overlapping role, but said she did not need to resign, as she had no conflict of interest.
She said that since her accident she had failed to find spare time to notify other members of the panel of the donation.
'The matter was not handled properly as the institute should have notified and discussed with the West Kowloon panel once it obtained confirmation of the donation,' Ms Wong said. 'I think we have learned a lesson and we will improve our declaration of interest system.'