【新唐人2014年10月10日訊】香港學生的雨傘抗爭仍處風口浪尖之際，特首梁振英的一則回佣醜聞，猶如在香港投下一枚震撼彈。澳洲傳媒爆出，梁振英在2011年宣佈參選特首後，與一家澳洲企業簽訂秘密協議，換取高達5,000萬港元的報酬。令人關注的是，這則爆料的時間點，正值梁振英因港警察催淚彈事件，被各界要求問責下臺之際。
10月8號，澳洲媒體Fairfax Media，以「香港特首梁振英面對澳洲企業支付700萬澳元秘密款項的質疑」為題，披露樑上任特首前，與澳洲工程企業UGL的秘密協議。
報導說，UGL澳洲工程公司在2011年，收購了戴德梁行。同年12月2號，也即梁振英宣佈參選特首後五天，UGL與剛剛辭去戴德梁行董事職務的梁，簽下一份秘密協議，分兩期支付他400萬英鎊，也就是在梁振英當上特首之後的2012年和2013年，分別支付這些款項。
而UGL向梁振英提供巨款的這份「秘密合約」，是為了支持UGL和戴德梁行在亞洲業務的回報。
香港立法會議員單仲偕：「簡單的說，他有違反董事的誠信，違反《基本法》申報的規定，也有違反行政會議的申報規定。這幾個問題加起來，我們會要求在立法會內，成立一個特權法授權之下的一個委員會。調查這個事件。」
消息曝光後，特首辦為梁振英進行辯護。梁振英透過他的發言人和律師表示，收受這筆款項沒有任何不當之處。
特首發言人在給BBC的一份書面回應中說，梁振英當時是戴德梁行亞太區主席。他在2011年11月24號辭去了該公司主席的職務。根據協議，梁振英在結束戴德梁行工作離職時，UGL向他支付一筆款項，同時為戴德梁行支付已同意，但尚未支付的獎金。
這份書面聲明說，梁振英辭去戴德梁行的職務，和他同UGL公司簽署的協議均發生在梁振英出任特首之前。根據目前的制度，不需要梁振英對以上收入做出申報。
不過，根據《基本法》第47條，香港行政長官就任時，應向終審法院首席法官申報財產，記錄在案。
單仲偕：「《基本法》要求他將自己的資產向首席大法官申報。應收未收的款項也是資產的一部分。我們會根據《基本法》啟動彈劾程序，這件事情我們相信有足夠的表面證據去啟動足夠的彈劾程序。」
此外，報導披露，2011年，戴德梁行以約9.5億港元的價錢，出售業務給UGL，然而，UGL今年6月正向美國私募公司TPG，出售戴德梁行業務，涉及作價約89.7億港元。因此，外界認為，2011年曾是戴德梁行董事局成員的梁振英，有賤賣公司資產的嫌疑。
單仲偕：「第一，他沒有向當時的清算官去申報，也賤賣自己的公司，違反誠信，違反作為公司的董事保護股東的利益。所以他可以涉及兩個問題。第一個是作為公司董事的誠信問題，第二個是這個款啊，好像是一個合約，但也可以起著一個賄款（的作用）。」
梁振英未有申報收取UGL約400萬英鎊巨款的消息，引來香港政圈譁然，而更令人關注的是，爆料時間點，十分敏感。目前正處於香港各界對梁振英非常不滿的階段，要求梁振英下臺的呼聲高漲。
香港《蘋果日報》引述一位政界人士的觀察猜測，有關醜聞有可能成為梁振英下臺的「黃金契機」，因為「不僅香港，連海外執法機關都隨時會查」。
身兼大律師的公民黨議員郭榮鏗，也向《蘋果日報》表示，戴德梁行前主席Tim Melville Ross，以及當時接管的安永會計師行，都不知道UGL和梁振英之間的協議，梁振英有《防止賄賂條例》第9條之嫌，廉政公署可介入調查。
採訪/易如 編輯/王子琦 後製/蕭宇
Does CY Leung’s Explosive Scandal Signal His Downfall?
While the umbrella revolution continues, Hong Kong chief
executive Leung Chun-ying’s scandal involving a huge bonus
fee has exploded like a bombshell.
Australian media’s report on Leung’s secret contract with an
Australian company reveals that he pocketed $6.4 million
in 2011 after he announced to run for chief executive.
This news has come at a sensitive time when Leung is being
asked to step down following Hong Kong police
using tear gas against the student movement.
On Oct. 8, Fairfax Media’s report, “Hong Kong chief executive
CY Leung faces questions over secret [AU]$7 million payout
from Australian firm”, revealed a secret contract between
Leung and Australian engineering firm UGL.
The report says that in 2011, UGL acquired property services
firm DTZ Holdings, where Leung was the Asia Pacific director.
The report says: “The arrangement is outlined in a secret
contract dated December 2, 2011, before he was elected
chief executive, in which Australian engineering company
UGL agreed to pay the Beijing-backed politician £4 million.
The payments were made in two instalments,
in 2012 and 2013, after he became Hong Kong’s top official.”
These payments were made in return for promoting UGL
and DTZ’s Asian business ambitions.
Sin Chung-kai, Hong Kong Legislative Council member:
“Simply put, he has violated good faith practice as a director,
violated the provisions of Basic Law
and the provisions of declaration of the Executive Council.
We will ask the Legislative Council to authorize a committee
under the law of a privilege to investigate this case.”
The Chief Executive’s Office defended for Leung,
including Leung’s spokesman and lawyer.
Leung’s spokesman Michael Yu told BBC that Leung
announced his resignation from DTZ on Nov. 24.
Leung’s spokesman in a statement,
“According to an agreement between UGL (which was at that
time acquiring DTZ) and Mr Leung on the conclusion of his
employment with DTZ, UGL undertook to make payments
to him over two years and to underwrite for DTZ the payment
of outstanding agreed bonus.”
Yu also added: “Both the resignation from DTZ
and conclusion of the agreement with UGL took place before
Mr Leung was elected as the chief executive.
There is no requirement under our current systems of
declaration for Mr Leung to declare the above.”
However, according to Article 47 of Basic Law, “The Chief
Executive, on assuming office, shall declare his or her assets
to the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region. This declaration shall
be put on record.”
Sin Chung-kai: “Basic Law requires declaration of his [Leung’s]
assets to the Chief Justice.
The amounts receivable are also part of the assets.
We will start impeachment proceedings according
to the Basic Law.
We believe that there is sufficient prima facie
evidence to initiate impeachment proceedings.”
In addition, Hong Kong’s Apple Daily reported DTZ was sold
to UGL at a price of $122 million in 2011.
UGL is now selling DTZ to U.S. private equity firm TPG,
for the amount of $1.15 billion.
Leung is suspected to sacrifice DTZ assets as a member of its
board of directors.
Sin Chung-kai: “He didn’t report his assets to the then
government for one, and he sold his own company cheaply.
He has breached the trust of a director to protect the interests
of shareholders of the company.
He could be faced with two questions.
First is his the credibility as a director of the the company,
the second is the money, which is in the contract,
but can also play [the role of] a kickback.”
This news of Leung not declaring assets of about $6.4 million
from UGL has caused uproar in Hong Kong’s political circles.
But even more interesting is that the timing of the news
comes following increasing demands for Leung
to step down as dissatisfaction against him grows.
Apple Daily quoted politicians’ observation that the scandal
may become the golden opportunity for Leung Chun-ying
to step down.
He will be subject to investigation not just in Hong Kong
but also by overseas law enforcement agencies.
The Fairfax report says, “DTZ’s administrators, Ernst & Young,
and its chairman at the time of its sale to UGL,
Tim Melville Ross, said they were not aware of the Hong Kong
politician’s agreement with the Australian company.”
Leung is thus suspected of violating section 9 of Prevention
of Bribery Ordinance, which is under the jurisdiction
of the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption).
Interview/YiRu Edit/Wang Zhiqi Post-Production/XiaoYu