James Tien says steps taken in the 1990s to beat the recession were not collusion
The government's decision to award the Cyberport project without open tender was a mistake, but not evidence of collusion, Liberal Party leader James Tien Pei-chun said yesterday.
The government was only trying to boost confidence amid a flagging economy in 1999 rather than collude with businesses.
Speaking on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong programme, the pro-business party chief called for an end to the debate over whether the government was colluding with big corporations.
'I am worried that the debate will put off foreign investors. We must quickly get the message out that Hong Kong's economic playing field is very level,' he said.
The controversy over the Cyberport - awarded to tycoon Richard Li Tzar-kai without open tender - deepened last week when the government attempted to clear its name, but only raised more questions.
Mr Tien said the project, along with the Disneyland theme park, was meant to boost confidence after the Asian financial crisis.