Hong Kong’s ICAC sacking ‘nothing to do with Leung Chun-ying’s millions’
Graft-buster’s advisors tell people to stop speculating about outside interference, or provide evidence of it
Advisers to Hong Kong’s graft-buster said they had found no evidence that the agency’s management reshuffle last year was related to outside pressure, or to a probe into the city’s chief executive taking HK$50 million from Australian firm UGL, urging people to stop speculating.
The comments came during an annual press conference by the four advisory committee chairs of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Wednesday.
Chow Chung-kong, committee chairman on corruption, said he believed the removal of powerful operations head Rebecca Li Bo-lan from her post in July was purely “a matter concerning personal arrangement”.
He also stressed allegations that the incident might be related to cases being handled by the ICAC or that its chief, Simon Peh Yun-lu, came under outside pressure were “groundless speculations” without any substantiated evidence. He said his committee respected and supported Peh’s decision.
“You cannot prove the negative. If I was accused of hitting my wife, it is difficult for me to prove I did not do so. You ought to find evidence to prove that I did assault her,” Chow said, adding that his group had spoken to different staff members and received two reports from Peh.
“It has been six months [since Li’s removal]. Bring up evidence if you claim something did happen. Otherwise please stop talking about it.”
