ICAC drops High Court bid for Lew Mon-hung iSun Affairs interview records

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Lew Mon-hung, a former ally of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, attends the official National Day reception at the Hong Kong Convention Centre in Wan Chai last week. Photo: Sam Tsang.

Published: 3:08pm, 7 Oct 2013Updated: 9:19pm, 7 Oct 2013

The Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday withdrew its bid to obtain records of a magazine’s interview with Lew Mon-hung, a former supporter of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

The application was withdrawn by the anti-corruption agency’s lawyers after Mr Justice Thomas Au Hing-cheung in the High Court on Monday questioned the agency’s need for the materials. Au also dismissed the ICAC’s request to adjourn the case to a later date.

The agency had sought a court order demanding that magazine publisher iSun Affairs hand over the unedited records of an interview given to it by Lew, a former Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Standing Committee member.

In the interview published by the magazine in January, Lew said Leung had lied over his handling of illegal structures at his Peak homes and that Leung considered pan-democrats "enemies".

Lew also alleged that Leung broke his promise to appoint him to the Executive Council or recommend him for another term as a member of the CPPCC, as a reward for his support during the chief executive election campaign.

The court also ordered the anti-corruption agency to pay the fees for the court proceedings.

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