The Honourable
Lai Tung-kwok
GBS IDSM JP
黎棟國
Lai in 2023
Secretary for Security
In office
1 July 2012 – 30 June 2017
Chief ExecutiveLeung Chun-ying
Preceded byAmbrose Lee
Succeeded byJohn Lee
Under Secretary for Security
In office
2 November 2009 – 30 June 2012
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byJohn Lee
Director of Immigration
In office
2002–2008
Preceded byAmbrose Lee
Succeeded bySimon Peh
Member of the Legislative Council
Assumed office
1 January 2022
Preceded byConstituency created
ConstituencyElection Committee
Personal details
Born (1951-11-12) 12 November 1951 (age 72)
Hong Kong
Political partyNew People's Party
Lai Tung-kwok
Traditional Chinese黎棟國
Simplified Chinese黎栋国

Lai Tung-kwok, GBS,[1] IDSM,[2] JP[1] (Chinese: 黎棟國; Jyutping: lai4 dung3 gwok3; 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 in 2013

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.[5] 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.[12] 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.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "GovHK: Mr Lai Tung-kwok, SBS, IDSM, JP, Secretary for Security". Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  2. ^ http://www.immd.gov.hk/a_report_06-07/west/appendices/l_img/app_02.pdf [permanent dead link]
  3. ^ New under secretaries announced Archived 2009-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Profile of Hong Kong gov't official: Lai Tung-kwok
  5. ^ a b Appointment of Director of Immigration
  6. ^ The Chief Executive (CE) appoints two Under Secretaries
  7. ^ State Council appoints new HK govt lineup
  8. ^ "Beijing loyalists in Hong Kong weigh options on attending key political meetings". South China Morning Post. 2022-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  9. ^ "Bars, gyms to close, 6pm restaurant curfew as Hong Kong ramps up Omicron battle". South China Morning Post. 2022-01-05. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  10. ^ "衞生防護中心最新發現洪為民宴會人數為222人 - RTHK".
  11. ^ Hong Kong Finds New Suspected Covid Case at Official’s Scandal-Hit Birthday Party
  12. ^ a b "All 170 guests of Covid-19 scandal-hit birthday party sent to quarantine". South China Morning Post. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  13. ^ a b "Covid-19: Lawmakers embroiled in 'birthday bash' scandal return to legislature after home quarantine". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19.

External links

Government offices Preceded byAmbrose Lee Director of Immigration 2002 - 2008 Succeeded bySimon Peh Political offices Preceded byNew position Under Secretary for Security 2009 - 2012 Succeeded byJohn Lee Preceded byAmbrose Lee Secretary for Security 2012 - 2017 Legislative Council of Hong Kong New constituency Member of Legislative Council Representative for Election Committee2022–present Incumbent Order of precedence Preceded byChoi Pak-laiRecipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star Hong Kong order of precedenceRecipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star Succeeded byChan Kam-lamRecipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star
Current members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
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