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Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang taken to hospital while in custody

Ex-chief executive faces up to seven years’ jail for misconduct in office, as he waits behind bars for sentencing

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Donald Tsang being escorted on Monday. Photo: Felix Wong

Disgraced former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen became Hong Kong’s first leader to spend a night in custody, as he was ­remanded ahead of sentencing tomorrow, when he is almost ­certain to be jailed for misconduct in office.

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In a stunning reversal of ­fortune, Tsang, 72, swapped his suit and trademark bow tie for a prison jumpsuit last night after a judge sent him to the maximum security Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre and indicated a sus­pended sentence was unlikely.

Former chief executive Donald Tsang is wheeled into the custodial ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Photo: Handout
Former chief executive Donald Tsang is wheeled into the custodial ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Photo: Handout

But at about 9.25pm, he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s custodial ward, in chains, after complaining of feeling ­unwell.

Tomorrow the former head of the city’s government will find out his punishment on one count of misconduct, which carries a maximum seven-year sentence.

On Friday, Tsang became the highest-ranked leader in the city’s history to be convicted at a criminal trial, when a nine-member jury found him guilty of de­liberately concealing a conflict of interest.

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