Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defends minister Patrick Nip over family property purchases made before unveiling of new housing measures
- Lam says constitutional affairs secretary not involved in discussions on relaxing mortgage restrictions ahead of policy address
- Nip apologises amid suggestions of potential conflict of interest, but says he was not involved in the policy and neither he nor his family gains from it
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has sought to exonerate one of her ministers whose family bought properties shortly before the government unveiled housing measures, insisting he was not involved in prior discussions about the policy announcement.
The city’s chief executive defended Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip Tak-kuen against suggestions the purchases raised the possibility of a conflict of interest.
On his Facebook page on Sunday, Nip apologised for raising public concern and allowing suspicions to develop about the property purchases.
“I understand that this incident may have caused the public to develop misunderstandings and a negative impression about me. I feel deeply sorry and I will be more prudent in the future,” he wrote on the social media.
According to Nip’s new declaration of interests dated October 2 as an official member of the Executive Council (Exco), Lam’s de facto cabinet, his family bought the properties in Sham Shui Po about a month ago.
