CE 'sorry' For Making Democratic Party Donation

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday apologised for her recent HK$30,000 donation to the Democratic Party, saying she was willing to say sorry for the move if it's "causing inconvenience" to the party and "unease" for the pro-government camp.

The move drew flak from government allies such as executive councillor Regina Ip of the New People's Party, who described the donation as grossly inappropriate and warned it could amount to "vote buying".

The CE said she had agreed to make the donation at the party's annual dinner after Democrat Fred Li said he would sing her a song. Lam said she has known the former legislator for more than 20 years and she wanted to "help a friend" by boosting the donation figures.

Lam said it was a member of staff's idea to write the words "big reconciliation" on an Instagram post of her appearing at the dinner last week.

But she said she found those words to be "very inappropriate" being as there has never been any major bust up between her and a political party, and therefore there is no need for any reconciliation.

Lam said the employee responsible for the Instagram post has apologised to her.

She said she will show more restraint in future if people don't want her to be so personable.