Report of the Honourable E.N. Hughes, Q.C. on the sale of Fantasy Garden World Inc. --

Includes appendices, ca. 50 leaves.

Running title: Hughes inquiry.

"April 2, 1991"

Review requested by the Premier. Cf.[p. 1]

BC Royal Commission document scanned by LLBC.

Premier William N. Vander Zalm appointed E.N.(Ted) Hughes "to conduct a review for the purpose of determining whether he was in a conflict of interest situation "past, present or future" with respect to his role, if any, in the sale of Fantasy Gardens." (p. [1]). Hughes, as Acting Conflict of Interest Commissioner, undertook this assignment without statute authority as the Members' Conflict of Interest Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 286) was proclaimed in December 1990, after the sale of Fantasy Gardens had occurred. On April 2, 1991 Hughes concluded as follows: "1. The Premier played the primary and dominant role in the 1990 sale of Fantasy Gardens; 2. By the Premier's participation in the events that led to the sale of Fantasy Gardens and the sale itself, the Premier was in breach of his Conflict of Interest Guidelines." (p. 61). Upon release of the Hughes report the Premier resigned. After further investigation by Special Prosecutor Peter C. M. Freeman, the Attorney-General charged Vander Zalm on September 12, 1991 with breach of trust for accepting $20,000 U.S. from Tan Yu, of AsiaWorld Development Corporation, contrary to Section 122 of the Criminal Code of Canada. In June 1992 Vander Zalm was acquitted of criminal charges.