Donald Tsang’s motive for setting up independent review panel questioned at trial
Prosecutors see witness disagree with their claim former city leader created committee to deflect attention
A former Hong Kong leader’s motive for setting up an independent review panel after he offered contrite words over corruption allegations was called into question at his bribery trial on Friday.
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen wrote to his subordinates to say he had “learned a hard lesson” and would “act more rigorously” after media scrutiny intensified about his actions, the High Court heard, and prosecutors pressed a witness who worked with the top official about the ensuing decision to review conflicts of interest.
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They allege the former chief executive sought to shift focus by setting up an independent review committee, for which he appointed then chief justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang as chairman. Instead of looking into his corrupt conduct, prosecutors said, the committee would review the government’s protocols in general.
I don’t quite agree
But on Friday, Kevin Choi, then deputy private secretary of Tsang’s office, said: “I don’t quite agree”.
Choi, who served at the Chief Executive Office between 2010 and 2012, said he acknowledged the circular touched on the role of the committee, which was to review then existing rules governing politically appointed officials and chief executives on declaring conflicts of interest.
The circular was sent to civil servants on February 28, 2012, alongside an article Tsang wrote for the Sunday Morning Post, mentioning the same topic.
However, Choi, now the deputy secretary for transport and housing, testified on Friday that Tsang also offered his own thoughts in the circular.
Tsang wrote in its English version: “I have learned a hard lesson, but I remain hopeful that something constructive will come out of it.”