New | Declaration of interests vital, Hui and Kwoks corruption trial hears

Executive councillors are trusted to declare conflicts of interest to ensure "impartial and fair" policymaking, the trial of former chief secretary and Exco member Rafael Hui Si-yan was told yesterday.

Exco clerk Kinnie Wong Kit-yee made this point as the first evidence was given in the Court of First Instance corruption trial involving Hui, the Kwok brothers of Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) and two others.

The court also heard about a letter from Hui's ex-boss, former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, praising him for his candour and exemplary service.

Prosecutors have alleged that Hui, 66, failed to disclose his interests with SHKP - including the receipt of millions of dollars and the extension of unsecured loans - when he was an Exco member in his capacity as chief secretary from 2005 to 2007 and unofficial member until 2009.

Wong, the first witness in the trial, was asked by prosecutor David Perry QC if Exco practice involved "trusting a member" when declaring interests, and whether a member had to declare payments from another source or the provision of services for a client.

She agreed regular disclosures of such matters were required to "uphold the government's policy of openness".

Hui is alleged to have received HK$34 million in cash and other inducements from SHKP co-chairmen Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen and two others, without disclosing them. The prosecution alleges he was paid to be the "inside man" and "eyes and ears" of the developer in the government.