Beijing asks Hong Kong leader to ‘take swift action’ against officials caught up in birthday party Covid-19 scandal
- Observers, government advisers say delay in resolving controversy could deal ‘serious blow to credibility of governance’
- Mainland China officials are also piling pressure on Hong Kong government to punish Cathay Pacific for triggering emerging fifth wave of infections, according to sources
Beijing has asked Hong Kong’s leader to “take swift action” against officials who attended a big birthday party in the midst of an outbreak of Covid-19 cases, the Post has learned.
Observers echoed the need for a prompt response to resolve the controversy and said any delay could deal a “serious blow to the credibility of governance”. Should a breach of discipline be confirmed, government advisers said suspension, demotion, pay cuts or even dismissal should be considered.
Fourteen senior officials and 20 lawmakers were among the 170 attendees at the birthday party on Monday for Witman Hung Wai-man, principal liaison officer for Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Qianhai Authority, where they were exposed to a guest infected with Covid-19.
Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, the most senior official involved in the scandal, on Saturday apologised again and said he “should have turned down the invitation”.
“I failed the citizens’ trust and expectation and damaged the overall anti-pandemic efforts,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “I will not make the same mistakes. I am also willing to make things right, and accept the treatment I deserve.”
Tsui, Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang and political assistant to the secretary for development Allen Fung Ying-lun – all of whom were present at the party after 9.30pm, when the confirmed coronavirus patient showed up – are now in quarantine at the government’s Penny Bay facility.