Tang planned to quit for free speech sake

Phila Siu

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Talking to the broadcaster yesterday, Tang said he revealed Leung's views on the matter last week because he knew his rival candidate for chief executive "stands a real chance of getting elected" and the public deserve to know what kind of leader they are getting.

During Friday's TV debate, Tang also accused Leung of urging that riot police and tear gas be deployed against demonstrators after 500,000 people took to the streets to protest a proposed anti-subversion law on July 1, 2003.

Tang was secretary for commerce, industry and technology at the time, while Leung was Executive Council convener.

Tang also said the two revelations were not premeditated, explaining that Leung provoked him by mentioning his extramarital affairs and referring to a sofa in his office that an alleged mistress reportedly referred to in an e-mail.

"He made use of unconfirmed information, and that was mean and shameful," Tang said.

He said Leung called for a shortening of Commercial Radio's license from 12 to three years in an Exco meeting after the 2003 protest, in a bid to muzzle hosts Raymond "Mad Dog" Wong Yuk-man and Albert Cheng King-hon.

Leung said the pair "were being tough with the government in that they kept criticizing it," Tang alleged. "He [Leung] suggested making use of the licence

But Tang had insisted the license period not be shortened because freedom of speech is one of the SAR's core values.

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Tang planned to quit for free speech sake