Former chief executive Donald Tsang talks about his time in jail and why Hong Kong is still a ‘place of happiness’ despite extradition crisis
- ‘God will care for us and we need not worry too much,” said Tsang, 74, to more than 500 fellow Catholics
- Former city chief talks about disgrace and imprisonment for first time since top court cleared him of criminal misconduct last month
“If you believe in Jesus Christ, Hong Kong is a place of happiness. God will care for us and we need not worry too much,” said Tsang, 74, to more than 500 fellow Catholics at the forum.
“Hong Kong will certainly get better. Of course, there will be some problem in the process [but] we need to have confidence.”
He continued: “I’m a Hong Kong boy. I believe in Hongkongers and love Hongkongers.”
I’m a Hong Kong boy. I believe in Hongkongers and love Hongkongers
Peaceful marches on consecutive Sundays, drew an estimated 1 million protesters on June 9 and 2 million on June 16. Police headquarters in Wan Chai was twice besieged by thousands of protesters, on June 21 and June 26.
“My grief beggared all description,” he said. “I suffered from insomnia and an anxiety disorder when I was jailed at Stanley Prison after the conviction. One night I woke up, having lost all sense of time and my body trembled.”
Former chief executive has charges of criminal misconduct quashed
Tsang, who was chief executive from 2005 to 2012, was held in solitary confinement in a cell without windows at Stanley Prison.
He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions and was in and out of the maximum security prison in Stanley after being granted bail pending numerous appeals.
“I read communion, stories of prophets and books written by saints like Mother Teresa. I started to reflect on my gains and losses in my life,” he said.
I started to reflect on my gains and losses in my life
I realised that the progress in our life should not be judged by the upwards mobility and success in human society, but going downward for other causes. Mother Teresa left her comfort zone and went to Kolkata to serve the poor.”
Tsang, a devout Catholic who has described himself as a “religious man”, said he realised that his imprisonment was actually an act of God.
“What I learned from the imprisonment is you will never live in peace if you always think about some people browbeating or framing you – and pondering how to take revenge,” he said.
The city’s top court ruled unanimously in favour of Tsang, the highest-ranking official to be jailed in the city, after finding the original trial judge had failed to properly direct his jurors.
The top court decided to quash Tsang’s conviction and sentence and not order a retrial.
During his seven-year ordeal, the city’s former leader was tried five times in open court, jailed for eight months for misconduct in office, and had his savings nearly emptied because of the protracted legal battle.
Tsang has since faced two trials, two appeals and a legal bill of HK$1 million (US$129,053), which was just the cost of prosecuting him.
Tsanf was accompanied on Sunday by his wife Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei, brother and former police commissioner Tsang Yam-pui, and sister Katherine Tsang King-suen.
Norman Chan Tak-lam, who served as director of the chief executive’s office from 2007 to 2009, also attended the session.
