Undersecretary For Constitutional Affairs Resigns

The undersecretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Andy Chan, has resigned, with the government saying on Thursday that he was leaving for health reasons.

Chan, who is in his late 40s, is currently on leave and will vacate the post on February 28, the government said.

His departure comes just a few weeks after the resignation of Jade Lai, the political assistant to the secretary for home affairs.

The government had said Lai, who is also in her 40s, left because she needed to take care of her family.

In December, Chan and Lai were among 26 under secretaries and political assistants who swore allegiance to the SAR and the Basic Law.

Since then, the government has ordered all of the city's almost 180,000 civil servants to make the same pledge.

Chan took up the undersecretary position in August 2017 after previously spending five years as a deputy secretary for transport and housing.

He joined the administrative service in 1994 and served in various parts of the government, including the Security Bureau, Food and Health Bureau and Home Affairs Department.

"The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, thanked Mr Andy Chan for his contribution during his tenure and wished him a healthy and happy life," a government statement said.