HONG KONG — Former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang pleaded not guilty on Friday to corruption charges in a district court, which later moved the case to the High Court for a full trial.
Tsang, 71, the first and highest-ranking official ever involved in a graft case in the territory, maintained in and outside the court that he was innocent of two charges of misconduct in public office.
Accompanied by his wife Selina, Tsang appeared in court and pleaded "not guilty" when asked for his plea by magistrate Jason Wan in the brief hearing, the South China Morning Post reported.
The High Court trial is yet to be set, with the broadcaster RTHK estimating it will take place no earlier than 2017.
Tsang was alleged of failing to declare to the cabinet his negotiations with a businessman, who was applying for a digital broadcasting licence, over a lease for a residential unit, and his referral for an award of an architect who helped decorate the unit, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Tsang kept quiet on Friday, but he has said in a statement previously he is confident that "the court will exonerate me after its proceedings