HONG KONG
Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians have filed an official complaint against a senior Public Servant who walked out of a meeting when District Council Members were debating a motion condemning the city’s police chief.
District Officer, Susanne Wong Ho Wing-sze (pictured) was accused of violating the political neutrality of the Public Service.
Ms Wong walked out of the meeting alongside Commissioner of Police, Chris Tang Ping-keung during a discussion on police conduct during anti-Government protests.
Commissioner Tang had been grilled by predominantly pro-democracy Council Members and left with Ms Wong and other officials after Chair of the Council, Cheng Lai-king began reading out an impromptu motion that accused him of condoning what she claimed was “police violence”.
Ms Wong’s actions were defended by her boss, Secretary for Civil Service, Joshua Law Chi-kong who said he believed she had not done anything wrong.
Ms Wong said the Government did not agree with the motion — which was later passed — because it was not based on facts.
The officials had been due to address the Council Members on a number of remaining items of the agenda, which covered land uses, epidemic prevention and public market management.
In a joint statement, 14 pro-democracy Councillors said the walkout had been unacceptable.
“The police issue has nothing to do with other matters [on the agenda]. The departure of the Government officials is putting politics before the livelihood of the people, and violating the principle of political neutrality of Civil Servants,” the statement said.
They filed a complaint with the Government’s watchdog, the Ombudsman.
Pro-democracy politicians control of 17 of the city’s 18 District Councils following November’s elections.
Hong Kong, 18 January 2020
