Former ally of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying talks about life behind bars in letters to friend
RAYMOND.YEUNG@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Wednesday, 27 April, 2016, 5:29pm
Lew Mon-hung is planning to appeal against his 18-month jail sentence. Photo: Nora Tam
Disgraced businessman Lew Mon-hung is living in a “protected zone” in an isolated cell neighbouring former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan and former Sun Hung Kai chairman Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong, he revealed in letters to a friend.
The former close ally of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is also “fully confident” he can overturn the 18-month sentence he is serving for perverting the course of justice.
In a letter dated March 18 – nearly three weeks after he was put behind bars in Stanley Prison – Lew said he was maintaining a “calm, optimistic and determined” mindset as he led a disciplined lifestyle of nutritious meals, while his labour duties were only “symbolic”.
The 67-year-old also said he took a one-hour stroll outdoors daily, isolated from other inmates to protect his safety. But rather than hostility, he recalled hearing chants from other inmates saying, “Dream Bear, well done! We support you!” one time as he walked past the sports ground. Dream Bear is Lew’s nickname, and is derived from his Chinese name.
The three letters were sent to Chan King-sing, secretary-general of the pro-Beijing East Asia Public Sentiment Research Institute. Photo: SCMP Pictures
In another letter dated April 16, Lew said he was planning to submit an appeal application by the end of the month, and was told by a “senior counsel” that his chances of being granted bail were “very high”. He reiterated that his sentence was a miscarriage of justice that was “100 per cent” orchestrated by Leung.
The three letters were sent to Chan King-sing, secretary-general of the pro-Beijing East Asia Public Sentiment Research Institute, which co-organised a symposium on Wednesday about “one country, two systems” and the budding independence movement. Lew had agreed to sponsor HK$20,000 for the event.
During the symposium’s morning session, Chan read out an article by Lew titled “How to ensure the one country, two systems principle stays in place and not be distorted”.
Lew said calls for independence and self-determination for Hongkongers were against theBasic Law and would definitely not be tolerated by the central government.
But he pointed out the budding independence movement would never have happened if the “one country, two systems” principle could guarantee Hongkongers – especially young people – happiness and hope.
Indicating that he was keeping up with the news while behind bars, the former member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference claimed it was not a “coincidence” that the chief executive was embroiled in “luggage gate” – an ongoing controversy over whether Leung’s family had received special treatment after his daughter had left behind a piece of luggage at Hong Kong International Airport last month.
Lew said Leung went against the original intentions of “one country, two systems” by using “combat philosophy” to create conflict in society.
The once-staunch Beijing loyalist also revealed that, following his jailing, pan-democratic lawmakers Albert Ho Chun-yan, Sin Chung-kai, Alan Leong Kah-kit and Leung Kwok-hung had paid him a visit.
“Pan-democrats respect people’s lives, values and dignity more than their pro-establishment counterparts after all,” he added.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1939054/jailed-hong-kong-businessman-lew-mon-hung-living-protected
