Hong Kong government to replace Tai Po district officer Eunice Chan

Hong Kong authorities have replaced Tai Po district officer Eunice Chan Hau-man, who recently apologised for her choice of attire at the funeral of the firefighter who died in the catastrophic Wang Fuk Court fire.\nTwo government sources told the Post on Tuesday that her removal was not triggered by the episode, but had been planned “for a long period of time” after multiple internal complaints against Chan, who had served in the role for seven years.\nThose complaints were related to her abrasive management approach, her attendance at lavish banquets and her reluctance to consider community feedback, among others, according to the civil servants, who asked to remain anonymous.\n“The Tai Po district officer is a strategic role in government. All eyes are on how authorities will follow up on the fire, requiring great skill in articulating and communicating with stakeholders,” one source said. “The move is timely.”\nThe Home Affairs Department announced on Tuesday that Chan would be succeeded by Tiffany Chung Wai-ting, an assistant director of market development at the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, from Wednesday.\nThe government confirmed that Chan, one of the most experienced district officers among her peers, would be swapping roles with Chung. Both hold the same D2 rank within government.\nChan drew online criticism for her attire – a black-and-white dress with a hexagonal pattern – during the official funeral and public procession held last month for Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who perished in the line of duty while battling the Tai Po blaze last November.\n\nThe inferno broke out at Wang Fuk Court housing estate on November 26 and destroyed seven of its eight towers, killing 161 people and displacing nearly 5,000 residents.\nThe Fire Services Department held an official funeral for Ho at Universal Funeral Parlour on December 19, attended by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and other top government officials.\nUnlike other officials, who dressed in plain black or other solid-coloured clothing, Chan’s more elaborate choice of attire drew opprobrium from social media users, who accused her of being inappropriate and lacking common sense. Chan later apologised for her choice of clothing.\nHer successor, Chung, joined the administrative service in 2010 and has served in various bureaus and departments, including the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Education Bureau, the Development Bureau, the former Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office and the former Food and Health Bureau.\n