Development chief Paul Chan to co-operate in drink-driving inquiry

The development secretary has volunteered to help police investigate a newspaper claim that he recently drove his car under the influence of alcohol, he said on Thursday.

Paul Chan Mo-po was responding to an allegation in Thursday’s edition of Apple Daily that he drove after drinking a 500ml glass of beer during lunch with his family on Tuesday. It identified the beer as German Paulaner, and the restaurant as the Jockey Club in Happy Valley.

The newspaper showed a photo of Chan drinking the beer and another of him driving away in a private car. It also alleged Chan broke traffic regulations by crossing a double white line on a road.

The report said the pictures were taken between 1pm and 2.30pm on Tuesday, while other government officials were busy dealing with the aftermath of the collision between two ferries off Lamma Island, which killed 38 people, on Monday.

Chan responded by saying: “Regarding the media reports, I have actively contacted the police traffic branch on Hong Kong Island for their follow-up. I will fully co-operate in their investigation.”

The development chief has faced calls to step down after a company owned by his wife was linked to illegal partitioned flats – a key issues that Chan is supposed to combat as secretary.