Lawmakers to condemn ex-ICAC boss Timothy Tong for 'deplorable' waste

Lawmakers are set to condemn former anti-corruption chief Timothy Tong Hin-ming in the strongest terms for his "deplorable" overspending.

A report to be submitted to the Legislative Council by its public accounts committee on November 27 will denounce Tong for "incompetency" after revelations about lavish spending on official entertainment, gifts and trips at the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

One member of the accounts committee said: "The report will pinpoint Tong's role as the graftbuster's former head. His lack of understanding of the rules and the breaches led us to question and condemn his incompetency in leadership and governance of the ICAC.

"We will be using very strong wording … including 'deplorable' and 'condemn'."

"Condemn" is the strongest wording used in earlier committee reports; more lenient criticisms included "regret" and "concern".

An 81-page report published by an independent review committee in September detailed 42 rule breaches by Tong in his five-year reign.

Members said that while the Legco committee had taken reference from the independent report, it would use the unprecedented term "deplorable" specifically over three breaches - making separate claims for alcohol and entertainment, buying luxury gifts and abusing duty visits for non-official activities.