Hong Kong leadership campaign rocked by "underground palace" row

Feb 16, 2012, 8:24 GMT

Hong Kong - The campaign of the front runner in Hong Kong's leadership election was in crisis Thursday after he admitted having an illegal extension built at one of his family's luxury homes.

Government building inspectors were examining what the city's newspapers called 'an underground palace' at one of the homes of Henry Tang, who is seen as Beijing's pick to become chief executive in March.

Plans for the 223-square-metre basement obtained by newspapers showed it contains a wine cellar, a wine-tasting room, a home theatre, a gymnasium and a Japanese bath.

Tang admitted the basement was illegally built but said it was used 'mainly for storage' and said he had not seen the floor plans. The property is in the name of Tang's wife.

The dispute is embarrassing for Tang, a former financial secretary, who previously denied having illegal structures at his homes when questioned by reporters.

Albert Ho, the pro-democracy camp's candidate for chief executive, called on Tang to withdraw from the race.

Ho is chairman of the Democratic Party, which champions full universal suffrage in the former British colony. Hong Kong currently only has limited democracy with half of its 60 legislators directly elected.

'His public credibility is on the line,' said Ho, calling on Tang to let reporters into the property to look at the basement.

The next Hong Kong leader, who is to succeed Donald Tsang, is to be picked by a 1,200-member, largely pro-Beijing election committee, which is considered likely to opt for China's chosen candidate.

While the controversy over the illegal basement would not necessarily affect Beijing's perceived support for Tang, China was unlikely to want to support a candidate who is widely unpopular with the people of Hong Kong.

Ho has conceded he has no chance of winning because of his pro-democracy credentials but a third candidate, former government adviser Leung Chun-ying, has consistently scored higher than Tang in public opinion polls.