Former NSW Labor boss Jamie Clements has told a corruption inquiry Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo gave him $35,000 hidden in a wine box to pay his legal fees.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) examining allegations that Mr Huang, a property developer, was the source of a $100,000 donation to NSW Labor in 2015, which was disguised in a straw donor scheme.

Mr Clements told the hearing he was summonsed to Mr Huang's Mosman home in 2015 and handed the wine box with with a handwritten note in English "for your legal fees".

© ABC News Images Former NSW Labor boss Jamie Clements has told a corruption inquiry Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo gave him $35,000 hidden in a wine box to pay his legal fees. He says he took it and they went downstairs and "had a cup of tea".

He says he didn't think it was unusual because Mr Huang had paid the legal fees of former Labor senator Sam Dastayari.

It is alleged NSW Labor was part of a scheme to use "straw donors" to disguise the donation from Mr Huang.

Mr Clements is giving evidence for the first time at the inquiry, which has heard Mr Huang delivered the cash to him in an Aldi shopping bag at the party's Sydney headquarters.

Mr Huang has denied he made the donation.

More to come.