Legco Commission To Discuss Hui's Phone Grab

The Legislative Council Commission is to meet on Thursday to discuss the conduct of Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui, who could be facing criminal charges for snatching the mobile phone of a government official during a council meeting on Tuesday.

Hui said he took the phone of the Security Bureau official to see what information was on it because he suspected she had infringed the privacy of lawmakers by tracking their whereabouts in the Legco building.

He admitted on Wednesday what he he did was wrong and apologised to the officer.

The Chief Secretary, Matthew Cheung, described "Hui's actions as rude" and unacceptable.

He said the official was shocked and emotionally disturbed by the incident, and that police are now looking into the case.

Cheung also called on Legco President Andrew Leung, in following up on the matter in the council's commission, to ensure that government officials are protected when they perform their duties in the Legislative Council building.

“There was no question of invasion of privacy here. In fact the Legislative Council Secretariat had written to us some time ago enquiring about the modus operandi of the so-called marshalling duty, and we provided a lot of information to them and they came back and accepted our explanation,” he said.

The explanations were also accepted by the Privacy Commissioner, Cheung added.

Security Secretary John Lee also said the officer was simply performing her normal duties by reporting the whereabouts of lawmakers, whether they are present at Legco or not.