Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui Resigns

Caspar Tsui resigned as home affairs secretary on Monday, saying he had behaved inappropriately by attending a party earlier this month as Hong Kong was bracing for a new wave of Covid infections.

Tsui was one of a number of officials and lawmakers who ended up in quarantine after another guest at the birthday party for NPC deputy Witman Hung was found to have the virus.

"As one of the principal officials taking the lead in the anti-epidemic fight, I have not set the best example during the recent outbreak. I made the wrong decision to attend a banquet on January 3 and behaved in an inappropriate manner when all efforts should have been devoted to controlling the spread of the virus," Tsui said in a statement.

"I will take responsibility for my actions, and I have therefore decided to resign from the position of secretary for home affairs."

Tsui added that he was grateful for having had the opportunity to join the government and serve the people of Hong Kong and he wanted to thank Chief Executive Carrie Lam and his colleagues and friends for their support and guidance.

Last week, Lam said she had ordered Tsui not to return to work until a disciplinary investigation was completed into his attendance at the party.

She said of all those who were implicated in the saga, it was Tsui she was most disappointed with.

Tsui’s partymate, DAB chairwoman Starry Lee, said she respects his decision to resign.

“One has to have the courage to bear responsibility, as one of the politically accountable officials,” she said in a statement.

Lee added that she hopes Tsui will keep the public at heart and contribute to society going forward.

Tsui joined the government in 2008 as one of its first political assistants.

He was made undersecretary for labour and welfare in August 2017 and less than three years later was appointed as the head of the Home Affairs Bureau.

Tsui is the sixth minister to leave the Carrie Lam administration, which has seen the highest government departure rate since the handover.

In the last couple of years, Matthew Cheung, Nicholas Yang, Joshua Law, James Lau and Lau Kong-wah also left the government.