A day after criticising the Urban Renewal Authority for selling 'pricey' and 'fancy' flats, chief executive candidate Henry Tang Ying-yen had to defend himself yesterday against counter-criticism that he approved the authority's expensive projects when he was financial secretary.
Authority chairman Barry Cheung Chun-yuen hit back in a radio programme yesterday morning, saying its projects needed approval from Tang, who was the financial secretary between 2003 and 2007.
He said he felt obliged to defend his staff, even though he was currently on leave to help campaign for Tang's rival for the chief executive job, Leung Chun-ying.
'I feel obliged to speak up in their defence,' he said. 'They have worked hard and done a lot for residents living in old areas of the city. I think their contribution should not be denied by [such a] comment.'
He said a government agency should not be 'dragged through the mud' for political gain in an election campaign.
'The authority was set up to implement government policy and all projects were developed according to the law and the government's instructions,' Cheung said.
