OUTGOING information co-ordinator Mike Hanson has acknowledged helping set up the Eastern Express, prompting one legislator to accuse him of going beyond the legitimate role of a government official.
In a farewell interview with the Sunday Morning Post, Mr Hanson said for the first time that he played a part in the establishment of Hong Kong's third English-language newspaper, although he insisted his role was a minor one.
The local Chinese-language press has long alleged Government House actively encouraged the setting up of the Eastern Express, and even that it recommended Stephen Vines as founding chief editor to Oriental Press Group chairman Ma Ching-kwan. But, until now, there had been no confirmation.
'My role was simply that of giving them some occasional advice. C. K. Ma is a friend of mine and Stephen Vines is a friend of mine, and I'd leave it at that,' he said.
Mr Hanson, who on Tuesday takes up a new post co-ordinating a review of civil service training, insisted he saw nothing wrong in such behaviour and would be happy to do it again.
'In a place like Hong Kong, for anyone dealing with PR, the birth of a mainstream newspaper is to be welcomed, and I would help any such paper get off the ground,' he said.