Fury over Beijing’s role in aftermath of sinking

Published on 05/10/2012 00:00

A SHOW of concern by Beijing over a boat collision that killed 38 people in Hong Kong this week has apparently backfired.

Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying allowed Chinese official Li Gang – Beijing’s deputy director of the Central Liaison Office – to play a high-profile role at a news briefing. It came just hours after Monday night’s accident in which more than 100 people were injured when a boat taking 120 power company staff and relatives to watch a fireworks display collided with a ferry and sank.

Mr Leung was accompanied by Mr Li on a visit to some of the injured at a hospital. After Mr Leung made some remarks to reporters, Mr Li spoke for about two minutes. Yesterday, the Apple Daily slammed Mr Leung for letting Mr Li hog the spotlight, saying that his “cowardice” was “hard to believe”.

“Leung Chun-ying should not have allowed Li Gang to interfere in such a high-profile way,” the newspaper said. Mr Leung, who took office in July, denied Mr Li had taken control.