- Title: Key events in the political life of Hong Kong's former leader Donald Tsang
- Date: 2nd January 2017
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (FILE - OCTOBER 5, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF TSANG AND HIS WIFE, SELINA TSANG WALKING PAST JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE EASTERN LAW COURTS SIGN READING (English/Chinese): "EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING" EXTERIOR OF COURT TSANG WALKING OUT OF COURT VARIOUS OF TSANG STANDING AT ENTRANCE OF EASTERN LAW COURTS Tsang was charged with two counts of misconduct in public office, the latest in a string of scandals that have ensnared senior business and former political figures in the financial hub on October 5, 2015. The Independent Commission Against Corruption said the charges related to a rental deal for a penthouse flat in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and the nomination of an architect doing design work on the flat for a government award.
- Embargoed: 17th January 2017 05:51
- Keywords: Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang profile trial bribery
- Location: HONG KONG AND BEIJING, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG AND BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Reuters ID: LVA0065XE0IMD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
Donald Tsang, 72, was Hong Kong's second Chief Executive and retired in 2012 after a high-flying career as a civil servant, serving as a senior official in the former British colonial administration and a former Financial Secretary.
He began his civil service career in 1967 with the former British colonial administration and slowly climbed the ranks to becoming Hong Kong's leader in 2005 after the city's first post-handover leader Tung Chee-hwa resigned in March 2005.
Tsang was born in October 1944, the son of a police officer. He, unlike most civil servants, joined the civil service without attending university. He is married to Selina Tsang, with whom they have two sons.
Tsang was well known for his preference of wearing flamboyant bow-ties and he was widely known among local Hong Kong people as Bow-Tie Tsang.
Tsang was knighted by Prince Charles for his distinguished public service under the British colonial administration prior to Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule in 1997. His close links with the former British colonial government created unease in Beijing and among pro-Beijing elements in Hong Kong community.
As the city's leader Tsang maintained close ties with Beijing, his popularity and experience made him Beijing's ideal leader.
Tsang said he and his family would leave Hong Kong after his second five-year term finished in 2012.
But he became involved in a junket controversy in February 2012 after it was discovered he received favours and hospitality from business tycoons on various occasions.
Public resentment toward Tsang centered on reports of lavish spending on overseas duty visits, trips with tycoons by private jet and luxury yacht, accepting a sweetheart rental deal for a 6500-square-foot penthouse in southern China, and staying in a high-roller suite at the Venetian casino resort in Macau.
Tsang stepped down as the Independent Commission Against Corruption, began an investigation. The city's anti-corruption watchdog officially charged him of two counts of misconduct in public office on October 5, 2015.
Hong Kong's High Court ruled on October 11, 2016 that Tsang should face an extra count of accepting an advantage from an agent for violating the Prevention of Bribery ordinance. Tsang is set to stand trial from January 3, 2017.
He is now the highest-level official ever charged in Hong Kong history. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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