‘It has to be whiter than white’: Donald Tsang interviews played at misconduct trial reveal efforts to shift attention, prosecutors say

Jury hears for first time 2012 interviews in which former Hong Kong leader explains his attempts to avoid appearance of impropriety

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Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang outside the High Court in Admiralty on Tuesday. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 4:30pm, 17 Jan 2017Updated: 11:34pm, 17 Jan 2017

Media interviews with Hong Kong’s former chief executive relating to his use of private jets and yachts in 2012 were heard in full detail for the first time at his misconduct trial on Tuesday.

Radio and television recordings of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen responding to concerns over his use of friends’ jets and yachts five years ago were played at the High Court as prosecutors sought to depict the former city leader as attempting to shift attention away from his actions by using the media.

In a Commercial Radio interview played in court, Tsang was heard telling hosts how the public expected officials to go above and beyond the rules to avoid impropriety.

“It has to be white, or, as the English saying goes, whiter than white,” he said of the expected conduct.

During that radio appearance – met with protesters who called him “corrupt official No 1” – Tsang also pledged to set up an independent committee chaired by former Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang to look into how Executive Council members and the chief executive declared conflicts of interest.