Hong Kong ex-finance chief John Tsang shrugs off accusations he failed to declare employment

Tsang says he was in touch with Hong Kong leader’s office last month regarding television series he worked on

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Former financial secretary John Tsang speaks outside the High Court on Thursday. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 7:02am, 27 Oct 2017Updated: 7:01am, 27 Oct 2017

Former Hong Kong financial chief John Tsang Chun-wah on Thursday shrugged off suggestions that he had been uncooperative as he refuted accusations he had failed to declare his employment after leaving the government.

Tsang revealed that he had been in touch with top staff at Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s office as early as mid-September regarding a television series he helped produce with public broadcaster RTHK.

Controversy over his work with the station erupted last Saturday when it was revealed that promotion of the 10-episode show titled Hong Kong Stories, to be aired next month, would be suspended, even though the programme involved unpaid appearances by Tsang.

The saga prompted Lam to urge her former colleague and competitor in the Hong Kong leadership race this year to “respect the system” like other officials.

Carrie Lam has said the government guidance notes on post-office work apply to ‘any employment’. Photo: David Wong

But Tsang said on Thursday: “I have been in contact with Jessie via email. It has absolutely nothing to do with disrespecting the system or being uncooperative.”