Hong Kong Minister Quits After Flouting Covid Rules at Party

(Bloomberg) -- A senior Hong Kong government official has resigned after attending a large birthday party that fueled complaints of double standards by authorities enforcing strict Covid-control measures.

Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui handed his resignation to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Monday and left the post immediately, he said in a statement. “As one of the principal officials taking the lead in the anti-epidemic fight,” Tsui said, “I have not set the best example during the recent outbreak.”

Tsui was among 15 officials who attended a party of some 200 people for the local representative of a mainland Chinese economic development agency on Jan. 3., where guests later tested positive for Covid. Days earlier, the government had urged the public to avoid large gatherings.

Lam said at a press briefing later Monday that 12 officials who attended the party had done so “just to exchange pleasantries” and wore masks, which was acceptable at that point as the city's infection rate was low.

Tsui, however, stayed for nearly two hours, didn't wear a mask and failed to use the city's contact tracing app, she added. “His conduct has brought the government into disrepute and his action has caused a negative perception by the general public,” Lam said.

Two other officials were given a verbal warning over their conduct. Allen Fung, political assistant to the Secretary for Development, stayed for more than four hours until midnight and due to intoxication couldn't remember certain details of the night, Lam said. Vincent Fung, deputy head of the Policy, Innovation and Coordination Office, went back to office even after he received a compulsory testing notification, putting his colleagues at risk of infection.

Tsui's resignation marks the first time a government official has left a post after flouting pandemic guidance, and comes after Lam faced pressure from Beijing to “take swift action” against the officials, according to the South China Morning Post.

Hot Pot Scandal Fuels Anger Over Hong Kong ‘Double Standards'

Other government attendees at the party included Financial Services Secretary Christopher Hui, Police Chief Raymond Siu, Immigration Director Au Ka-wang and Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Simon Peh. The guests also included at least 20 of the 90 lawmakers elected in December to Hong Kong's new opposition-free legislature.

The scandal marked the second time Au had been investigated for flouting Covid rules. In July, three Hong Kong officials -- including the immigration chief -- were fined for attending a hotpot dinner that breached virus measures, inflaming resentment toward the government.

Lam said Au hadn't resigned because he only attended the birthday party for 15 minutes and kept outside the venue in a communal space, which is why he hadn't used the city's contact tracing app.

She added Tsui had worked for the government for 10 years and had “climbed through the ranks” at a young age. “I think he was by and large a very responsible and diligent colleague,” she said. “It was unfortunate that he made the wrong judgment.”