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Ng Kang-chung

A Hong Kong district councillor with a record of convictions for traffic offences is being investigated for alleged misconduct by a government-appointed special panel and could be suspended from his duties in the worst-case scenario.
Home affairs minister Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Friday that she had appointed a five-member supervisory committee to investigate the alleged misconduct of Kenneth Yip Kat-kong, an appointed member of the Tuen Mun District Council.
In May, the 62-year-old retired businessman was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and had his licence suspended for six months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving in a head-on collision with a taxi in Sheung Shui in August last year.
Yip had failed a breathalyser test.
During hearings on the case, a court also heard that Yip had previous drink-driving and careless driving convictions from 2017.
“The government places strong emphasis on the conduct and integrity of [district council] members,” Mak said.
“And they should conduct themselves in a manner that is in line with public expectations and commensurate with the reputation of the [district council] and its members.”
“Under the [District Councils] Ordinance, the government may investigate [district council] members’ misconduct and impose sanctions according to the performance monitoring mechanism … to ensure that every [district council] member upholds their duties faithfully to serve the people.”
The supervisory committee has five members, including one who is not a district councillor. The other four are members of district councils.
The non-member is Li Tak-hong, a former Wong Tai Sin District Council chairman.

The other four serving district council members are Luparker Wong Shuk-fan of Tsuen Wan, Ng King-wah of Kwai Tsing, Janus Lau Yuen-yee of Wong Tai Sin and Lau Kar-wah of Kwun Tong.
Mak added: “[The committee members] have diverse backgrounds and rich district experience. The supervisory committee will handle the investigation in a robust, fair, just, impartial, independent and objective manner in accordance with the established mechanism.”
The government statement did not specify how long the supervisory committee would take to complete the investigation.
It only said that on completion of its investigation, the committee would decide whether any breaches constituted grounds for imposing sanctions against the councillor. The committee would also give its opinion on what measures should be imposed.
The group will submit a report to Mak.
This is the first time the government has set up a supervisory committee to look into a councillor’s alleged misconduct.
“The [minister] will make a decision after considering the report and announce such a decision in due course,” the government’s statement said.
According to section 72D of the District Councils Ordinance, possible sanctions could include a warning, a financial penalty or suspension of the member’s functions and duties.
Yip was not immediately available for comment.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said it would not comment on the case to avoid affecting the supervisory committee’s probe.
The government in late 2023 issued performance-monitoring guidelines for district council members, which lists some behaviours that may constitute misconduct. Among them are the failure to complete tasks given by a district council chairman, absence from meetings twice or more a year, stirring up social conflicts, breaking the law and using foul language at meetings.


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Politics

Kenneth Yip, an appointed member of Tuen Mun District Council, had driving licence suspended earlier this year


Kenneth Yip, an appointed member of Tuen Mun District Council, had driving licence suspended earlier this year.


Hong Kong district council election

Hong Kong district councillor with traffic offence record facing misconduct probe

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Kenneth Yip, an appointed member of Tuen Mun District Council, had driving licence suspended earlier this year

Kenneth Yip, an appointed member of Tuen Mun District Council, had driving licence suspended earlier this year