Hong Kong Legco issues warning to lawmaker Judy Chan over traffic offence

Hong Kong’s legislature has issued a written warning to lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui for driving on the wrong side of the road earlier this year, urging her to be mindful of her conduct and meet the public’s expectations.

“I humbly accept the decision. I committed reckless driving out of convenience … I am deeply sorry for disappointing the public with my behaviour,” Chan told the press.

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 a report to the Legco following an investigation into a complaint, the committee said the incident “had a negative impact on the reputation of Legco”, but 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 under Legco’s five-tier disciplinary mechanism, with more severe ones ranging from admonishment and suspension of duty to deductions in remuneration.