A 2005 file image of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen during Mass at St. Joseph's Church which is near Government House, the official residence of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. Tsang has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for misconduct. (ucanews.com photo)
Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, a Catholic, was given a 20-month sentence for misconduct in public office during the last two years of his term as Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
Justice Andrew Chan handed down the sentence on Feb. 22, two days after the conviction. He said the seriousness of the case was that Tsang was supposed to be responsible to the citizens and government during his term — from 2005 to 2012 — and thus he should be honest.
"Never in my judicial career have I seen a man fall from so high," Chan said.
Tsang was convicted of failing to disclose plans to lease a luxury penthouse from an investor whose license applications he approved. The penthouse, prepared for his retirement, was in Shenzhen, a southern China city neighboring Hong Kong. It was within walking distance of a church as Tsang was in the habit of attending Mass every morning.
Taking into consideration testimony from Tsang's former colleagues and others, Chan admitted that the well-known Catholic had contributed a lot in his past 40 years in the civil service and cut 10 months from the original 30-month sentence.
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong told ucanews.com said he wrote to the court, saying that Tsang, through his own efforts, achieved much through his work.
"His misconduct might have been an oversight and I hoped the judge would exercise leniency in meting out punishment," said Cardinal Zen.
The cardinal visited Tsang in hospital on Feb. 21. Soon after Tsang was remanded in custody after conviction on Feb. 20, he complained of breathing problems and was taken for treatment.
"He told me that he had asthma. He was coughing seriously when I met him. I suggested celebrating Mass for him [there] but he said it needs permission from the authority," said Cardinal Zen, who visits prisons twice a month.
After the sentence, Tsang's wife, Selina Pau told media that they would appeal. "Our family members felt very disappointed and sad about the sentence," she said.
Tsang faces a retrial penciled for September on a further charge of bribery because the jury failed to reach a verdict on Feb. 17.