Leung Chun-ying denies overruling Exco over HKTV licence

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying yesterday denied he over-ruled a majority of his cabinet to reject the application of Ricky Wong Wai-kay's company for a free-to-air television licence.

But his remarks in the morning failed to clear the clouds over the decision-making process, and Wong later asked whether the chief executive had become bigger than the law.

Leung said many reports of the past few days that quoted Executive Council members holding a different view from the government were "untrue", but hinted that the exclusion of Wong's HKTV was not a unanimous decision.

"From my experience, it is very rare for Exco members to agree on a certain subject unanimously," he said after a meeting of the council yesterday. "While the Basic Law allows the chief executive to not accept the majority opinion of the Exco - and put the specific reasons on record - it has never happened.

"The chief executive seeks advice from Exco members and he will not go against the advice from the majority of Exco."

Controversy has surrounded Exco - which comprises all principal officials and 14 non-official members - since Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung refused to reveal the reasons for the decision, citing the council's rule of confidentiality.