Hong Kong officials to shun pro-democracy councillors’ panel
- District staff in Tai Po walked out of a council meeting on Wednesday after members established a committee they said went beyond the body’s power
- Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung backs the officers, and says officials will not engage with the panel
A committee set up by pro-democracy local councillors in Hong Kong will be shunned by the government and cut adrift from official channels after it was deemed illegal, the city’s No 2 official said on Saturday.
Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said setting up the panel, which was intended to focus on security and constitutional affairs, went beyond the powers of Tai Po District Council.
On Wednesday, a district officer for Tai Po and a group of her colleagues walked out during a council meeting as members set about choosing a chairman and vice-chairman for the new committee. The walkout, and a similar incident in another district, triggered controversy and one complaint to the Ombudsman, with some accusing the officials of displaying political partiality by leaving.
Cheung told a radio programme on Saturday: “The district officer sought legal advice, which clearly stated that the work of the committee deviated from the District Councils Ordinance. It’s ultra vires, which means beyond one’s power ... it could be illegal.”
He said that was why the officials could not stay in the meeting, telling reporters after the programme that officials would not join any of the committee’s future meetings.
“Relevant government officials will not attend, this is very clear,” he said, adding that district staff were unlikely to provide the usual secretarial services, “if the formation of the committee does not have a legal basis”.