Hong Kong authorities investigate district councillor following conviction

Hong Kong authorities have appointed a five-member supervisory committee to investigate the conviction of a district councillor for having sex with a 13-year-old girl 15 years ago.

Yuen Long district councillor Sei Chun-hing, 39, is the first elected officeholder to face possible imprisonment for a criminal offence since Beijing’s 2021 electoral overhaul, which restricted public office to candidates vetted as “patriots”.

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said in a statement on Tuesday that the government placed strong emphasis on the conduct and integrity of district councillors.

She said the performance monitoring guidelines for councillors expressly required them to conduct themselves at all times and in every respect in a manner in line with public expectations and commensurate with the reputation of the council and its members.