Accountability applies first and foremost to those in public office. It would seem, therefore, that the political fate of William Wong Kam-fai was sealed soon after news of
his arrest for alleged drink-driving and a hit-and-run accident came to light on Wednesday. The lawmaker rightly resigned from the Legislative Council on Friday.
The Election Committee lawmaker and associate dean at the Chinese University’s engineering faculty said he felt overjoyed and proud when he posted photos online of himself attending activities in celebration of the 29th anniversary of the city’s reunification with the motherland on July 1. It turned out that he had been arrested in connection with the accident on Monday evening.
A source said the 66-year-old allegedly drove away after he lost control of his car which hit a stationary vehicle at a staff residence on campus. He reportedly returned later and failed a breathalyser test after a security guard reported the incident to the police. He has been granted bail and must report to the police in late July. He also
failed to report the case to Legco as required under the new code of conduct. The university has suspended him from administrative duties.
Apologising for the distress caused to society and Legco amid a public outcry, Wong said he decided to resign immediately to “avoid impacting the operation of the Legislative Council”. It is ironic that he wrote an article in a Chinese language newspaper in 2024, lamenting that many people risked driving after drinking and calling for the use of artificial intelligence to crack down on the problem. Wong’s legal liability will now be a matter for the court to decide.
It would not be surprising if the public feels let down by the performance of individual lawmakers. In March, lawmaker
Judy Chan Kapui was fined HK$2,000 (US$255) and banned from driving for a month after pleading guilty to driving against the flow of traffic in January. She also apologised to the public. The legislature’s supervisory committee issued a written warning. Wong’s resignation is in line with expectations that those who fail to abide by the law and uphold the highest standards of conduct in office will be held accountable. It is also a reminder to people vested with governance powers that they carry the highest expectations of society.
