Hong Kong’s incoming deputy justice secretary to quit pro-Beijing group amid concerns membership could undermine impartiality
- Horace Cheung reveals on social media he will not retain membership of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong
- Decision comes amid concerns his party affiliation could undermine public perception of impartiality in handling prosecution matters
Hong Kong’s incoming deputy justice secretary has said he will quit the city’s biggest pro-Beijing political party amid concerns that his affiliation could undermine public perception of his impartiality in handling prosecution matters.
Lawyer-turned-politician Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan, who earlier resigned as vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) but had intended to keep his membership, revealed that he had changed his mind.
In a statement posted on his social media account on Wednesday, Cheung, who also resigned from his lawmaker’s position for his new role, said he had met DAB chairwoman Starry Lee Wai-king on Tuesday.
He said he had notified her of his “decision not to retain DAB membership to pave the way for taking up my official duty, notwithstanding that holding the membership fully complies with the requirement of the HKSAR government and the law”.
He added: “I expressed my gratitude to the DAB for the support all along and the opportunity given to me.”