Tsang defends dinner with top examiner

He says he did not discuss his daughter-in-law's test to become a specialist with a visiting assessor for the College of Surgeons

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen yesterday defended his decision to dine with a visiting medical examiner on the eve of his daughter-in-law sitting examinations in March to become a paediatric surgeon.

John Smith is an external examiner for the College of Surgeons of Hong Kong, which runs intermediate and final examinations for specialist trainees.

Mr Tsang's son Simon is married to Vivian Mok, a surgeon who at the time of the dinner was to sit her oral exams, which are part of six years of specialist training. Mr Smith was reportedly involved in the assessment.

'I believe these professional bodies, with hundreds of years of history, would definitely not have their decision affected only because of one dinner,' Mr Tsang said. 'I also won't be so stupid as to infringe on their dignity and talk about my personal matters during the dinner.'

It was not the first time he had hosted a dinner for the university doctor.

'I met and dined with him last year. He e-mailed me in March before coming to Hong Kong, hoping to dine with me [again],' Mr Tsang said. 'I was then the acting CE and I didn't want to dine out and attract attention, so I asked him ... home.'