Hong Kong’s education minister, Eddie Ng, accused of abusing power by calling Security Bureau to deal with reporters on his tail
Lawmakers say he should have called police on 999 if he felt under threat and demand an explanation
Education minister Eddie Ng Hak-kim has been accused of abusing his power by seeking help from the Security Bureau rather than the police after being chased by two reporters.
The Apple Daily reporters were detained by the police for more than 90 minutes on Christmas Eve on suspicion of loitering, even though they produced press cards to officers.
A police spokesman said earlier that they had received a report referral that a man had been followed by strangers, but he did not reveal the source of the report.
The Security Bureau confirmed to the Post yesterday that it received a report from the Education Bureau on Christmas Eve in which it stated that its minister, Ng, felt threatened as he had been followed by unknown strangers and a vehicle several times during the week. The Security Bureau transferred the case to the police for follow-up action.
Lawmakers slammed Ng for abusing his power and said he had taken advantage of his title to handle a personal issue.
“How on earth is he justified to use the Education Bureau to contact the Security Bureau to handle an obvious personal matter of his?” asked Civic Party lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit.
Leong said Ng owed the public an explanation.