Hong Kong’s legislature has issued a written warning to lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui for driving on the wrong side of the road, urging her to be mindful of her conduct and meet the public’s expectations.
The official warning was issued by the Legislative Council’s Supervisory Committee on Wednesday, four months after the 45-year-old New People’s Party lawmaker was filmed driving against the flow of traffic in Wan Chai on January 23.
In its report to the Legco following an investigation into a complaint, the committee said its members unanimously concluded that Chan’s misconduct “did not reach a serious level” and that this was her first such offence.
“The committee … decided to issue a written warning to Ms Chan, with a view to sternly warning her that she must be mindful of her words and deeds at all times and ensure that she lives up to the public’s expectations of Legco members,” it said in the report.
A written warning is the mildest sanction in the five-tier mechanism, while more severe ones range from admonishment and suspension of duty to deductions in remuneration.
The committee also reminded lawmakers that they must take an “exemplary lead” in upholding the rule of law and abide by it.
They should also uphold the legislature’s reputation, observe the highest standards of personal conduct and ethics at all times and strictly adhere to all requirements of the code for lawmakers.
In March, Chan was fined HK$2,000 and disqualified from driving for one month after pleading guilty to careless driving.
In sentencing, the magistrate said the case was “fairly serious”, noting that the act was clearly carried out “after careful thought” and did not last a short time.
The Supervisory Committee is a revamped body, renamed from the former Committee on Members’ Interests, with an expanded role to investigate real-name complaints against lawmakers over their conduct.
The committee, chaired by Legco President Starry Lee Wai-king, comprises 13 lawmakers.