District councillor Peggy Wong resigns amid proxy-vote claims after Tai Po blaze
Hong Kong district councillor Peggy Wong Pik-kiu has resigned from office and several other community roles citing health reasons, following mounting controversy over her team’s alleged proxy-vote collection before last year’s fatal Wang Fuk Court inferno. Wong, a directly elected district councillor for the Tai Po South constituency, also stepped down from her duties as a member of the Tai Po…
District councillor Peggy Wong has resigned from her position and several related roles following claims of proxy-vote collection before the tragic Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po last year. The resignation, announced by the Home Affairs Department on Saturday, stems from controversy surrounding her team's alleged vote manipulation.
Wong, a directly elected district councillor for Tai Po South, also withdrew from her duties as a member of the Tai Po South Area Committee and captain of two sub-district care teams. She cited health issues as the reason for skipping nine consecutive district council meetings. The allegations of proxy-vote collection have sparked criticism, with Wang Fuk Court residents accusing Wong of attempting to influence residents' decisions on the estate's renovation works.
Despite admitting to collecting votes in 2021 and 2024, Wong denied offering benefits in exchange. The 43-hour inferno at Wang Fuk Court resulted in 168 fatalities, including a firefighter, and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. Following the fire, Wong expressed her intention to report the incident to both the police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), stating her commitment to not tolerating any wrongdoing.
The fire investigation led to charges against seven individuals and two firms, including directors of the main renovation contractor and senior members of the project consultant firm. Wong's resignation from another advisory role in the Plover Cove Garden owners' committee has also been announced.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
