Tung's top aide resigns over Tokyo photos with female friend

The chief executive's top aide, Lam Woon-kwong, resigned last night after a magazine printed photographs of him at a Tokyo hotel with a female friend.

In a statement late last night, the director of the Chief Executive's Office, apologised to his colleagues for any inconvenience caused by his sudden resignation.

'In view of the media report on my private affairs, I tendered my resignation to the chief executive today. The chief executive has accepted my resignation which takes immediate effect,' Mr Lam said.

'I am honoured to have served the chief executive and the Special Administrative Region government. I am deeply indebted to the chief executive for his guidance and tolerance over the years.

The latest edition of Sudden Weekly, which hit the streets last night, carried photographs of Mr Lam, 53, with barrister and former journalist Po Wing-kay taken in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo. The photographs accompanied a three-page article that included an interview with Mr Lam's wife of 28 years, Tonie Yuen.

It is not the first time Mr Lam and Ms Po have been photographed together. In 2002, they were snapped in a Central coffee shop during office hours. Questioned at the time, he told reporters he had taken an afternoon off and what he did in that time was his own business.