Coronavirus: 3 top Hong Kong officials admit breaking social-distancing rules at private banquet

Customs boss Hermes Tang, immigration head Au Ka-wang and Undersecretary for Security Sonny Au say they violated four-person gathering limit at luxury clubhouse

The breach only came to light because police later investigated claims by a female guest she was sexually assaulted after returning home

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A sign outside government headquarters urges people to use the official Covid-19 risk-exposure app. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 10:58pm, 8 Jul 2021Updated: 8:44am, 9 Jul 2021

Three top Hong Kong officials have admitted they broke social-distancing rules while attending a dinner at a luxury clubhouse earlier this year, after media leaks and pressure from lawmakers forced them to come clean.

In another twist to the scandal, sources revealed on Thursday that police had discovered the violation of health safety rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic while investigating a complaint by a woman who attended the dinner that she had been sexually assaulted at home later that night.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise Hermes Tang Yi-hoi, Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang and Undersecretary for Security Sonny Au Chi-kwong admitted late on Thursday they were among the guests at the private event in Wan Chai on March 2.

Hermes Tang, commissioner of customs and excise. Photo: Dickson Lee

Sources told the Post that nine people had each been fined HK$5,000 (US$643) for violating the four-person limit on public gatherings enacted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

A senior executive of a mainland Chinese company was also said to have attended.

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