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The Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, received a request from Mr Barry Cheung this evening (May 21) to take leave of absence from all public service positions, including the Executive Council, the Urban Renewal Authority, the Standing Committee on Disciplined Services Salaries and Conditions of Service as well as the Commission on Strategic Development, since the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange (HKMEx) is now under police investigation.
The Chief Executive has acceded to the request. Mr Cheung's leave of absence will take immediate effect.
Mr Leung stressed that the HKMEx is regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) under the law, and both the Police and the SFC have statutory enforcement powers and will act in accordance with the law. "I am confident that the regulatory and the law enforcement bodies will act impartially without fear or favour. As the Chief Executive, I should not comment and would not interfere with their work," he said.
Ends/Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:05
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