Architect Daniel Heung Cheuk-kei - embroiled in a row over misuse of government land - has resigned from two public offices, including chairmanship of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education.
The resignation was offered by Mr Heung, a cousin of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, 'to ensure this personal matter no longer affects the works and credibility of the committee', he said yesterday. The controversy 'may have confused and disappointed the public. For this, I express my deepest apologies'.
He also resigned as convenor of a working group on the local community under the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee. Both resignations took effect immediately.
Mr Heung has faced calls to resign from the civic education committee after he admitted last Monday that he had used a piece of government land in Sha Tin as a private residence since 1983 even though it was zoned for storage.
Mr Heung insisted yesterday he had done nothing wrong. 'The accusation of illegal occupation of government land is totally unfounded,' he said. 'The accusation of unauthorised works is also unfounded,' he added, referring to Buildings Department findings that the site at Kwun Yam village had an illegal structure on it.
The Silver Bauhinia Star holder and leader of rural affairs body Heung Yee Kuk said he had moved out in early 1999 after the Lands Department rejected his applications in late 1998 to permit a residential development at the site.