Health chief Ko Wing-man defends paid study leave for civil servant

Health secretary Dr Ko Wing-man on Thursday defended his decision to approve one year’s full-paid leave for a senior official at the Health Department to train as a barrister.

Assistant director of health Dr Sarah Choi Mei-yee was on leave until October to take a one-year barrister internship, the Chinese-language Oriental Daily newspaper reported.

The report said Ko approved an arrangement whereby Choi would receive her monthly salary of HK$133,150, plus other allowances, during her leave just as she would if she were still working for the department.

Choi was head of the emergency response and information branch of the department’s Centre for Health Protection before taking leave.

When asked to explain about the department’s decision, Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said he felt it was appropriate an official with legal expertise could help the department handle issues related to international health laws at a time when the world face a growing threat of contagious diseases.

“The director of health has the authority to assign civil servants to receive training that is relevant to their jobs,” he said.