Who's really to blame for any 'transfer of benefit'?

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's cosy ties with tycoons have drawn a huge public outcry. One incident of alleged misconduct now under intense public scrutiny is the use of a private aircraft owned by mainland property tycoon Cheung Chung-kiu, also known as Zhang Songqiao, on a Phuket holiday.

Legislators and the public have stepped up their efforts to try to find out whether there was any transfer of benefits because of their close association.

At this stage, we cannot ascertain whether any transfer of benefits took place. But, on a related matter, it would appear that benefits were offered a few years ago to Cheung by the Development Bureau, which is responsible for urban planning and development.

In 2007, the bureau allowed Stephen Yow Mok-shing to sell the historical King Yin Lei mansion for HK$430million - well below its market value - to a private owner. The deal was signed by the managing director of Cheung's Y.T. Realty Group, signalling that Cheung was behind the deal.

When the case came to light, it created a huge public uproar, prompting the deal to be scrapped. At the time, the owner was in the process of demolishing the mansion for redevelopment.

In an unprecedented move, the government approved a land exchange proposal in order to preserve and revitalise the building. Under the land swap, the owner surrendered the site to the government in exchange for an adjacent site of the same size for private development.

The official responsible was Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, a well-regarded principal official who has been highly praised by Tsang for her combatant quality.