Decision on whether to axe minister over Omicron ‘partygate’ set to reveal how Beijing will enforce accountability among Hong Kong’s new ‘patriotic’ political elite
- Home affairs chief Caspar Tsui is said to be on his way out after angering city leader Carrie Lam by apparently flouting social-distancing rules at a birthday party
- But axing a minister is hardly straightforward in Hong Kong, where power lies with Beijing as well as the leader
A rare expected departure of a cabinet minister in Hong Kong has revealed the delicate relationship between the central authorities, the city’s leader and Beijing loyalists on political appointments and where the buck stops.
Tsui is likely to vacate his post as the central government had already started on the procedures involved, several sources familiar with the matter told the Post.
While Lam was pushing for a tough approach toward Tsui, Beijing had to consider carefully the impact of terminating a minister this way, a source familiar with Hong Kong-mainland Chinese affairs said.
It would mean setting a precedent on the standards of accountability for ministers, with implications on not just the conduct expected of them, but also their handling of problems. This was why there had to be careful deliberations, the source said, adding the pro-establishment camp had been advised “not to add fuel to the fire”.
Privately at least, they had done so, with, for example, Ip Kwok-him, a member of the Executive Council, Lam’s de facto cabinet, raising Tsui’s fate with the city leader during three meetings of the top policymaking body since the incident hit the headlines on January 6, sources told the Post.