Political Assistant To Home Affairs Chief Resigns

The government confirmed on Friday that Jade Lai, the political assistant to the secretary for home affairs, has resigned, saying she needs to take care of her family.

News broke on Thursday that Lai, who is in her 40s, had quit.

In a statement, the government said Lai was currently on leave and would vacate her post on January 20.

Lai worked as a director of policy advocacy at the Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre think tank and as a senior executive at the Hong Kong United Foundation before joining the CY Leung administration in 2013.

She served as political assistant between 2013 and 2017 to the then secretaries for labour and welfare, Matthew Cheung and Stephen Sui.

Between 2017 and 2020, she was political assistant to the former home affairs secretary, Lau Kong-wah. She continued her role when Casper Tsui took office as secretary for home affairs in April last year.

A government spokesman said Tsui thanked Lai for her contribution during her tenure and wished her a happy life.

Lai was among 26 under secretaries and political assistants who swore allegiance to the SAR and the Basic Law last month, setting the stage for the city's 180,000 civil servants to soon follow suit.