Hong Kong Minister Resigns over Lockdown Birthday Party

Hong Kong's Home Affairs Minister Caspar Tsui resigned on Monday for attending a birthday party, breaking the Covid-19 restrictions.

"I have today tendered my resignation to the Chief Executive and intend to leave the post today," Tsui said in a statement. "As one of the Principal Officials taking the lead in the anti-epidemic fight, I have not set the best example during the recent outbreak."

A birthday bash was held on January 3 at a tapas restaurant for Witman Hung, a member of China's top lawmaking body. The party put the government in a critical situation as it had called on people to avoid large gatherings to fight a coronavirus outbreak.

Among the more than 200 people present were over a dozen top officials -- including the city's police, immigration and anti-corruption chiefs -- as well as 20 lawmakers.

Tsui, 45, was a remarkable political star groomed by Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing party, the DAB, which has further thrived under a new "patriots only" political system imposed by Beijing that has criminalized much of the traditional pro-democracy opposition.

Two weeks ago, Hong Kong’s international airport temporarily banned transit flights from about 150 countries deemed to be high coronavirus risks.

The territory of about 7.5 million announced tougher restrictions in recent weeks as it looks to open quarantine-free travel with mainland China, which has pursued a zero-COVID policy.