Former chief executive Donald Tsang is to face an additional charge over the violation of the Preventions of Bribery Ordinance, the High Court decided on Tuesday at a pre-trial hearing.
Tsang will now face three charges in relation to the leasing and refurbishment of a luxury flat in Shenzhen. He was previously charged with two counts of misconduct in public office over the incident due to failing to make a declaration of interest in Executive Council meetings.
The flat was owned by a major investor in a broadcaster seeking a licence from the Hong Kong government. Tsang also failed to declare that an architect he proposed for a government award was employed as an interior designer for the flat.
In December, he pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The former chief executive was not officially charged until October last year, and the sluggish progress of the investigation has frequently been criticised. His trial is set to begin on January 3, 2017.
