Donald Tsang 'grateful' Legal Ordeal Is Over

Former Chief Executive Donald Tsang said on Wednesday that he is incredibly grateful that a long legal battle spanning more than seven years has come to an end, after the Court of Final Appeal quashed his conviction for misconduct in public office.

Tsang had been convicted by the High Court of failing to tell the Executive Council about a property deal he had with a businessman whose company was applying for a digital radio licence between 2010 and 2012.

But the top court on Wednesday ruled that the trial judge had not given jurors adequate directions before they found the former CE guilty in 2017.

In a statement, Tsang, 74, said he had undergone a period of internal struggle over whether to take the case to the top court, as he and his family were exhausted from the investigation and trials, and he had already spent almost all his savings on legal costs.

He said it was his wife, Selina, who insisted on clearing his name, while he also wanted to make sure that his case would not set a precedent for the future or deter public officers from participating in crucial decision-making processes just to avoid remote potential conflicts of interests.

Tsang also thanked his family, friends, former colleagues and “tens of thousands of Hong Kong people” for their support, and said he will continue to pursue a peaceful life.

Some of those who had earlier written letters to the court pleading for leniency for Tsang, including former chief secretary Henry Tang and former mainland and constitutional affairs chief Raymond Tam, said they are glad to hear his name has been cleared.

Former Democratic Party legislator Albert Ho had also written a mitigation letter for the court. He told RTHK on Wednesday that while they held different political views, he never believed Tsang was corrupt.