Tycoon praises John Tsang for 'open-minded' approach to public spending
Lai Sun chief defends financial secretary's track record on spending after he's derided as miserly
A second tycoon gave his backing to Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah yesterday after he was accused by another mogul of mishandling the government's finances.
Lai Sun Group chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, praised the finance chief's "open-mindedness" and a willingness to listen to different opinions.
People always ask for more infrastructure, but the fact is that you still need a sufficient number of doctors and nurses after you build a hospital to make things work
"People always ask for more infrastructure, but the fact is that you still need a sufficient number of doctors and nurses after you build a hospital to make things work," said Lam.
He said the secretary had listened to people's opinions across society and that he knew clearly what he needed to do.
"I hope people stop criticising him," Lam said.
Real estate tycoon Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong, chairman of Sun Hung Kai Properties, was the first to leap to Tsang's defence last week, describing him as a reliable official who had handled the treasury prudently.