Au Ka-wang explained

Au Ka-wang
1Blankname:Chief Executive
1Namedata:Carrie Lam
John Lee
Predecessor:Erick Tsang
Successor:Benson Kwok
Term End:19 September 2023
Term Start:2 July 2020
Office:Director of Immigration
Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Birth Place:British Hong Kong
Native Name Lang:zh-hk

Au Ka-wang (; born 1967) is a Hong Kong politician who served as the Director of Immigration. During his tenure, Au had been criticised for breaking social distancing rules and raised concerns of misconduct after a luxurious meal with business executives.[1]

Career

He joined the Immigration Department in November 1988 as an Assistant Immigration Officer. In 1992, he was promoted to Immigration Officer. In 2003, he was promoted to Senior Immigration Officer. He was then promoted to Chief Immigration Officer in 2009, to Assistant Principal Immigration Officer in 2014 and to Principal Immigration Officer in 2015. He was elevated to Assistant Director of Immigration in 2018 and Deputy Director of Immigration in 2019.[2] He has been the acting Director of Immigration since 23 April 2020 when Director Erick Tsang became Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs,[3] until the State Council officially appointed him as Director on 2 July 2020.[4]

In July 2021, it was revealed that Au was fined for breaking social-distancing rules by attending a banquet dinner of Evergrande Group at a luxury clubhouse.[5]

On 5 January 2022, Carrie Lam announced new warnings and restrictions against social gathering due to potential COVID-19 outbreaks.[6] One day later, it was discovered that Au attended a birthday party hosted by Witman Hung Wai-man, with 222 guests.[7] [8] [9] At least one guest tested positive with COVID-19, causing all guests to be quarantined. Au failed to show authorities his check-in time at the venue with the "LeaveHomeSafe" app,[10] mandatory for all visitors at restaurants.[11] According to Lam, Au claimed to have "only stayed for a very short time, and did not enter the restaurant's core area". He was ordered to take leave until 24 January. [12]

Au retired on 19 September 2023 and was succeeded by Benson Kwok Joon-fung, Deputy Director of Immigration,[13] who was also embroiled in the Evergrande-scandal and probed for accepting gifts from an executive director of the company.[14] [15]

Personal life

In August 2022, Au tested positive for COVID-19.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-07-18 . Why Hong Kong security trio’s mystery hotpot dinner is still on the boil . 2023-09-20 . South China Morning Post . en.
  2. Web site: GovHK: Mr Au Ka-wang, IDSM, Director of Immigration. 2020-12-15. Hong Kong SAR Government. en.
  3. Web site: 2020-07-02. Carrie Lam's top aide to head Hong Kong committee for security law. 2020-12-15. South China Morning Post. en.
  4. News: 2 Jul 2020. Au Ka-wang elevated to head immigration. The Standard. 15 Dec 2020.
  5. Web site: 2021-07-11. Hong Kong officials caught violating Covid-19 rules have paid the price: Lam. 2021-07-11. South China Morning Post. en.
  6. Web site: 2022-01-05. Bars, gyms to close, 6pm restaurant curfew as Hong Kong ramps up Omicron battle. 2022-01-07. South China Morning Post. en.
  7. Web site: 衞生防護中心最新發現洪為民宴會人數為222人. RTHK.
  8. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-10/hong-kong-finds-another-suspected-covid-case-at-notorious-party Hong Kong Finds New Suspected Covid Case at Official’s Scandal-Hit Birthday Party
  9. Web site: 2022-01-07. All 170 guests of Covid-19 scandal-hit birthday party sent to quarantine. 2022-01-07. South China Morning Post. en.
  10. Web site: 2022-01-06. Anger, apologies as top Hong Kong officials caught in Covid-19 party scandal. 2022-01-07. South China Morning Post. en.
  11. Web site: 2022-01-07. Covid-19: Quarantine for 170 guests at Chinese official's b'day party, inc. 13 senior Hong Kong officials & 19 lawmakers. 2022-01-07. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. en-GB.
  12. Web site: Leave extension defuses Tsui resign speculation.
  13. Web site: Appointment of Director of Immigration (with photos) . 2023-09-19 . www.info.gov.hk.
  14. Web site: 2021-12-08 . Gift hampers for 2 top Hong Kong immigration officers spark probe . 2023-09-19 . South China Morning Post . en.
  15. Web site: Cheng . Selina . 2021-12-08 . Senior Hong Kong immigration officials receive gift hampers worth over HK$3,000 from Evergrande exec. director - report . 2023-09-19 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
  16. Web site: Standard . The . Immigration chief tests positive for Covid   . 2022-08-25 . The Standard . en.

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