Legco Probe Into UGL Payments Comes Up Blank

A Legco probe into former Chief Executive CY Leung’s acceptance of HK$50 million from the firm UGL has ended without reaching a conclusion, citing a lack of comprehensive evidence.

But a minority report from the pan-democrats said Leung's refusal to testify and provide enough evidence was "seriously regrettable".

Leung had said that the money was received before he became Hong Kong's leader, but lawmakers disputed this, and accused him of failing to declare a potential conflict of interest.

The probe committee was dominated by pro-Beijing lawmakers, and didn't have legal powers to call witnesses and documents.

Its chair, Paul Tse, told Legco it had much difficulty getting evidence for the inquiry.

In the report, he said Leung refused to testify, and many parties, such as CY’s former employers, the Chief Justice and the Exco secretariat, did not cooperate with the probe panel.

Tse said with how general the information they had at hand, the committee cannot draw any conclusions on their findings.

Tse said the committee concluded it’s difficult to proceed into fact-finding and discussion stage of the probe, given the circumstances.

However, accounting sector's Kenneth Leung led four democrats in issuing a minority report. He said Leung's attitude in not cooperating with the probe was seriously regrettable, as it meant the probe couldn't move forward and light couldn't be shed on the truth.

The lawmaker also condemned DAB lawmaker Holden Chow for holding secret talks with Leung about the scope of the probe, saying Chow had jeopardised the credibility of the probe and his personal integrity.

The probe’s report was submitted at the last session of this Legco term, after the committee was formed at the start of the term four years ago.

In late 2018, the ICAC decided to end its criminal probe against Leung without laying charges.