Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying stands firm on accusations about his role in ICAC controversy
Leung calls allegation that he was involved in removal of ICAC acting head of operations ‘speculation’; he also again defends HK$50m payout by UGL
Hong Kong’s top official was grilled by lawmakers from across the political spectrum on Thursday over a top-level staffing controversy at the city’s anti-corruption agency, but he dismissed their allegations about his involvement as “speculation”.
At his last question-and-answer session before the Legislative Council ends its term, five lawmakers pressed Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying on the recent turmoil at the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
They raised concerns about the agency’s reputation and reminded him of its contribution to the rule of law and the business-friendly environment. Their questions centred on the surprise removal of Rebecca Li Bo-lan, acting head of the ICAC’s operations department and one of its most experienced investigators.
ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu took sole responsibility this week for deciding to force Li out, offering her a de facto demotion to her previous role. But the lawmakers highlighted the Democratic Party’s allegations that Leung had engineered Li’s downfall over an ICAC probe into his receipt of a HK$50 million payment from Australian firm UGL.
“You have been building safeguards in the ICAC for the benefit of your own case. Can we still be confident that the ICAC is independent?” Democrat James To Kun-sun said.
