After acknowledging on Tuesday links with Auckland businessman Yikun Zhang, who Jami-Lee Ross alleges provided a donation of $100,000 to Simon Bridges, Mr Tong yesterday confirmed to the Otago Daily Times he was in China on a trip paid for by Mr Zhang.
The trip was planned about a year ago.
Mr Tong said he had ''nothing to hide'' over his relationship with Mr Zhang and reiterated that no-one was accusing Mr Zhang of any wrongdoing.
He was yet to speak to Mr Zhang about the unfolding events.
It was ''disappointing'' Mr Zhang had been caught up in the scandal, but it was now just a matter of letting the political situation in New Zealand ''sort itself out''.
The trip to China was aimed at building links between Southland and China, and Mr Tong was confident the efforts would pay off for the region's economy.
''I believe it is going to be a massive benefit to Southland in the very near future.''
The culture in China meant it took a while to gain trust, but Mr Tong was now on his fifth visit and believed he was making progress.
Mr Zhang was ''100% committed'' to helping make sure connections were forged between Southland and China.
''I've got nothing but admiration for the man.''
Mr Tong said the businessman's interest in Southland came after he saw ''what the Southland Regional Development Strategy was all about''.
''He was very keen on helping where he could,'' Mr Tong said.
Information released by the Southland District Council under the Official Information Act said Mr Zhang first came to Southland in 2016, at the invitation of Central Government.
Mr Tong said while Mr Zhang had established businesses in Auckland, he did not have any property interests in Southland and was ''not looking for any''.
