Lai Tung-kwok explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Lai Tung-kwok
Native Name Lang:zh-hk
Office:Secretary for Security
1Blankname:Chief Executive
1Namedata:Leung Chun-ying
Term Start:1 July 2012
Term End:30 June 2017
Predecessor:Ambrose Lee
Successor:John Lee
Office1:Under Secretary for Security
Term Start1:2 November 2009
Term End1:30 June 2012
Predecessor1:Position Established
Successor1:John Lee
Office2:Director of Immigration
Term Start2:2002
Term End2:2008
Predecessor2:Ambrose Lee
Successor2:Simon Peh
Office3:Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start3:1 January 2022
Predecessor3:Constituency created
Constituency3:Election Committee
Birth Date:1951 11, df=yes
Birth Place:Hong Kong
Party:New People's Party

Lai Tung-kwok, GBS,[1] IDSM,[2] JP (; born 12 November 1951 in Hong Kong) is a retired civil servant and principal official who held the position of Secretary for Security of Hong Kong between 2012 and 2017. He previously served as Under Secretary for Security[3] from 2009 to 2012 and Director of Immigration from 2002 to 2008.[4] [5]

Lai joined the Hong Kong government as an Assistant Immigration Officer in 1973. He was promoted to Immigration Officer in 1980, Senior Immigration Officer in 1986, Chief Immigration Officer in 1990, Assistant Principal Immigration Officer in 1992, Principal Immigration Officer in 1995, Senior Principal Immigration Officer in 1997 and to Assistant Director of Immigration in 1999. He was promoted to Deputy Director of Immigration in 2001. Lai was appointed Director of Immigration in 2002. He ceased to be Director of Immigration in 2008 and retired in 2009 when he was succeeded by Simon Peh. In 2009, he was appointed as the Under Secretary for Security.[6] On 1 July 2012, Lai was promoted to Secretary for Security of Hong Kong. As head of the Security Bureau, he was responsible for overseeing most of Hong Kong's disciplined services.[7]

In February 2022, Lai told SCMP that he would be attending the 2022 Two Sessions, as a Hong Kong delegate.[8]

On 5 January 2022, Carrie Lam announced new warnings and restrictions against social gathering due to potential COVID-19 outbreaks.[9] One day later, it was discovered that Lai attended a birthday party hosted by Witman Hung Wai-man, with 222 guests.[10] [11] [12] At least one guest tested positive with COVID-19, causing all guests to be quarantined. Tung-kwok was warned by Legislative Council president Andrew Leung to not attend any meetings until after finishing his last mandatory Covid-19 test on 22 January 2022.[13] However, he decided to attend the meeting on 19 January 2022, against Leung's orders.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GovHK: Mr Lai Tung-kwok, SBS, IDSM, JP, Secretary for Security. 2012-11-10.
  2. http://www.immd.gov.hk/a_report_06-07/west/appendices/l_img/app_02.pdf
  3. http://news.gov.hk/en/category/administration/091022/html/091022en01001.htm New under secretaries announced
  4. http://english.people.com.cn/200706/24/eng20070624_387126.html Profile of Hong Kong gov't official: Lai Tung-kwok
  5. http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200803/28/P200803280076.htm Appointment of Director of Immigration
  6. http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200910/22/P200910220145.htm The Chief Executive (CE) appoints two Under Secretaries
  7. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-06/28/content_15530524.htm State Council appoints new HK govt lineup
  8. Web site: 2022-02-19. Beijing loyalists in Hong Kong weigh options on attending key political meetings. 2022-02-19. South China Morning Post. en.
  9. 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.
  10. Web site: 衞生防護中心最新發現洪為民宴會人數為222人 - RTHK.
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. Web site: 2022-01-19. Covid-19: Lawmakers embroiled in 'birthday bash' scandal return to legislature after home quarantine. 2022-01-19. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. en-GB.