ICAC Commissioner Bertrand de Speville yesterday vowed to reveal the full reasons for sacking his deputy operations director Alex Tsui Ka-kit.
In a sudden departure from his earlier position, Mr de Speville described the situation as ''unique and extraordinary'' and implied that Mr Tsui's recent actions had forced his hand.
He said recent events meant there was no longer an ''operational necessity'' to keep the reasons secret, and he noted Mr Tsui had pushed the issue into the public domain.
''The circumstances here are rather different. Here we have an officer himself speaking out publicly . . . saying that he was not told why he was dismissed and having no redress,'' Mr de Speville told the South China Morning Post.
''Mr Tsui was given the opportunity to explain the situation and told at some length. I told him why.'' When asked whether Mr Tsui's campaign of allegations against the Independent Commission Against Corruption had led to the move, he said: ''Our position remains the same: We will not discuss individual personnel matters . . . but in this case he has chosen to make a public issue of it.'' However, Mr de Speville defended his right to keep future cases unexplained because of the highly-sensitive nature of the commission, saying it was vital he could continue to take action in private to ensure ''complete confidence in the integrity of his officers''.
At an emergency meeting last night, the Security Panel decided to call Mr de Speville immediately before Mr Tsui at its public hearing on April 13.