Shock Over Safe House Sex Reports, Police Stay Mum

Police remained silent on Wednesday over media reports that a senior officer was found to have been using a safe house as his sex pad, while some lawmakers expressed outrage over the alleged indiscretion.

A police superintendent from the Security Wing reportedly set up the safe house – using the force's special services expenditure – in an industrial building in Hung Hom and met his lover there.

But their cover was blown when a private investigator hired by the lover's husband followed her to the unit.

The deputy chairman of Legco's security panel and Democratic Party lawmaker James To, said if true, such an abuse of police resources could be very damaging.

"Any abuse of the safe house can compromise the security and safety of those who have to use it, including sensitive infiltrators, people who may give very sensitive information to police," he said.

"Compromising the safe house, in an extreme case, would risk the lives of people who have to give information to police," To said.

The legislator said any officer behaving in such a way should be severely punished.

New People's Party legislator and former security minister Regina Ip said if the report was true, it would be "truly quite shocking".

"Depending on the facts, the police would need to determine whether there's a criminal offence involved, or whether it's simply a case of misconduct, bringing the police force into disrepute," she said.

When asked for a response, all that a police spokesman would say was that the force attaches great importance to the conduct of officers and deals with any violations seriously.