More officials apologise over Covid party saga

More senior government officials have apologised for attending a party with over a hundred guests where they were exposed to people infected with Covid-19.

The undersecretary for innovation and technology, David Chung, and the political assistant to the IT chief, Lillian Cheong, said in a joint statement on Saturday that they had kept their face masks on and had used the government’s LeaveHomeSafe app when entered the venue.

Still, they said sorry for not being “vigilant and sensitive enough” in hindsight.

The undersecretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, Clement Woo, said in a separate statement that he only stayed briefly at the party on January 3 evening.

“Hong Kong is currently facing a severe epidemic situation. I apologise to the public for the additional burden to the anti-epidemic work caused by the incident. I have learned my lesson and will attach utmost importance to fighting virus and step up vigilance in the future,” Woo said.

In similar wording, the chief secretary’s political assistant, Kathy Siu, and political assistant to the education secretary, Jeff Sze, also apologised.

They were among thirteen senior government officials as well as 19 legislators who attended the birthday party of local deputy to the National People’s Congress Witman Hung.

Other officials, including police commissioner Raymond Siu, immigration chief Au Ka-wang, ICAC commissioner Simon Peh and treasury secretary Christopher Hui had also apologised earlier.