Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang on Wednesday denied he had breached bribery laws, after he admitted taking a luxury yacht trip offered by a tycoon during a private visit to the gambling hub of Macau.
Tsang, whose term is due to expire in June, faced accusations of bribery and conflict of interest after local media published pictures of him and his wife spending a weekend on the triple-deck luxury boat with a few tycoons last week.
Tsang said he was “saddened” by the claims, after confessing that he had accepted the offer but said he had paid for the expense of getting there at “market price”.
“I am saddened by the reports which questioned my integrity and suggested there is a collusion between the government and businessmen,” Tsang told public broadcaster RTHK, which said he called the station to offer an explanation.
The chief executive Ä whose wife is from Macau Ä said he was in the gaming hub, which is about an hour ferry ride from Hong Kong, for a private visit including tomb-sweeping and denied there was luxurious treatment on the yacht.
“I had a breakfast, consisted of fruits, porridge and noodle. I was not treated to any entertainment show, the only entertainment I had was to watch TV news, there was no karaoke, gambling or performances,” he said.
He also revealed he accepted another invite for a private helicopter ride to Thailand's popular resort island of Phuket during a vacation earlier this month, but said he had paid for the cost. He did not reveal how much.
“I never thought of any personal gains,” Tsang told the broadcaster.
Under Hong Kong's tough anti-bribery laws, the chief executive is barred from any acts of “solicitation and acceptance of advantage and possession of unexplained property”. He must declare all gifts valued over HK$400 (US$52).
The southern Chinese city of seven million, which has one of the world's highest income gaps between rich and poor, has consistently faced criticisms that the government is colluding with big business at the expense of the poor.
This includes claims that the government is protecting the interest of the city's powerful property tycoons, leading to a monopoly which critics say is to be blamed for the soaring cost of affordable housing. - Sapa-AFP