Omicron: top Hong Kong officials caught up in birthday party Covid-19 scandal, sparking rebukes, apologies all round and deep cleaning of government offices, legislature
- Home affairs minister Caspar Tsui among 10 bureaucrats at party with suspected Covid-19 case, with Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam expressing ‘deep disappointment’
- Just days earlier, Lam had summoned top Cathay Pacific officials to chastise them over aircrew flouting pandemic rules and causing community cluster of Omicron variant
“I am very disappointed, because this anti-pandemic work has persisted for so long, so many of us have been working so hard to fight against the pandemic, so as principal officials of the administration, we should lead by example and refrain from taking part in private events,” Lam said.
Those attending the party at Spanish tapas bar and restaurant Reserva Iberica in Wan Chai to celebrate the 53rd birthday of Witman Hung Wai-man, principal liaison officer for Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Qianhai Authority and a city delegate to the National People’s Congress, included not just top officials but also pro-establishment lawmakers and politicians, with the Post identifying at least 10 of them present at different parts of the evening.
Sources told the Post that many other guests were legislative assistants and others involved in political work. On Thursday evening, the government headquarters at Tamar and the Legislative Council and its extended offices underwent cleaning and disinfection.
