Hong Kong district councillor with traffic offence record facing investigation

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.