Hong Kong patriots: civil service chief backs promotion of senior official accused of ignoring Lennon Walls in 2019 unrest

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip says promotion mechanism for government workers is robust, urging critics to base accusations on facts

Newly appointed permanent secretary for food and health Vivian Lau under fire from pro-Beijing newspaper accusing her of not fulfilling patriot role

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Lennon Walls were flash points of conflict between opposing camps at the height of the 2019 social unrest in Hong Kong. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 9:56pm, 1 Mar 2021Updated: 1:05am, 2 Mar 2021

Hong Kong’s civil service chief has thrown his support behind a recently promoted senior official who was accused by Beijing-friendly media of turning a blind eye to the so-called Lennon Walls that carried anti-government messages during the 2019 social unrest.

Vivian Lau Lee-kwan, appointed as the permanent secretary for food and health last month, found herself at the centre of a brewing political storm after pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao ran a front-page article on her post.

The report questioned if Lau, who was director of food and environmental hygiene in 2019, met the requirement of “patriots governing Hong Kong”, a principle described by President Xi Jinping as a bottom line for ensuring the city’s stability.

The piece accused Lau’s department of failing to efficiently clear up Post-it notes with anti-government messages, splashed across walls in public areas as the city was gripped by the months-long social unrest in 2019.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen broke his silence on Monday to back Lau’s promotion, saying he had assessed the move.

Newly appointed Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Vivian Lau. Photo: Handout