Ex-HK leader remanded in custody

HONG KONG: Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, the highest-ranking ex-official to be charged in the city’s history, was remanded in custody on Monday ahead of his sentencing later this week for misconduct in public office.

A nine-person jury had earlier found that Tsang failed to disclose private rental negotiations with property tycoon Bill Wong Cho-bau while his cabinet discussed and approved a digital broadcasting licence for a now defunct radio company, Wave Media, in which Wong was a major shareholder.

Tsang, 72, is due to be sentenced on Wednesday in what the judge said was unlikely to be a suspended sentence.

He faces a possible seven-year sentence.

On Monday, Tsang, in a white shirt, dark suit and trademark bow tie, entered Hong Kong’s High Court holding the hand of his wife Selina.

His family remained silent throughout the hearing.

Scores of high-profile Hong Kong officials, including chief executive candidate John Tsang, former No.

2 government official Anson Chan, veteran pro-democracy barrister Martin Lee and ex-chief justice Wong Yan-lung, wrote letters in support of the former Hong Kong leader. 

Tsang’s conviction adds to a number of scandals ensnaring powerful officials that have marred Hong Kong’s reputation as a relatively corruption-free society, while posing a challenge for China’s leaders who have strived to maintain stability in Hong Kong since it reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997.