Leung Chun-ying apologises for illegal structures

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying apologised yesterday over the illegal structures at his home on The Peak, a day after issuing a statement to explain them.

And he denied hiding anything, after critics questioned why he had waited until now to disclose the existence of several more unauthorised works on top of the six identified by government officials in June.

Leung made the apology before attending a public function. "There was negligence [when I handled] the incident, … and I apologise to the people of Hong Kong for that," Leung said. "I hope from now on, me, my team and the entire government can work with the society with one heart … and I can with all my energy, serve the people of Hong Kong, and face the challenges."

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor urged the public to give Leung some leeway to concentrate on policy issues. But he faces pressures from across the political spectrum to appear before the Legislative Council to explain himself. Lawmakers have already voted to request he appear before them, and yesterday at least two Beijing loyalists suggested he must do so.

Leung said in a written statement on Friday that a "lapse of memory" was responsible for his confusion over the structures.

However, he revealed he had ordered the sealing up of a 200 sq ft laundry four months before the chief executive election, after realising that the room had been expanded by the home's previous owner.