Former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang has charges of criminal misconduct quashed by Court of Final Appeal
- Tsang had been sentenced to 18 months in jail, later reduced to a year, for failing to disclose conflict of interest involving mainland Chinese businessman
- The former city leader was released in January, having been plagued by ill-health throughout his sentence
The Court of Final Appeal on Wednesday ruled unanimously in favour of the former chief executive, who was the highest-ranking official to be jailed in the city, after finding the trial judge had failed to direct his jurors properly.
“My family and I are jubilant and deeply moved. We have suffered more than seven years because of this litigation,” Tsang said.
The devout Catholic spoke of the struggle and torment he and his family had faced, having spent almost all their savings on the lawsuit. He thanked his family, friends, former colleagues and fellow church members for their support.
“My heart is full of gratitude, thankful to the wisdom of the Court of Final Appeal, for the strong support of my church, family, friends, former colleagues,and my legal team,” he said.