Hong Kong authorities stated they will factor public sentiment into decisions regarding a new mechanism to investigate senior officials. The scrutiny could extend to Permanent Secretaries not covered by the proposed accountability system.

Hong Kong authorities will take public opinion into account when deciding whether to trigger a new investigation mechanism to hold senior officials accountable for problems identified, the city’s civil service minister has said. Permanent secretaries of bureaus – who are not covered by the proposed “Heads of Department Accountability System” – would also face scrutiny if they were found to be involved in management failures, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on...