Lawmaker questions govt’s legal basis to invalidate suspected fraudulent jab exemptions

Lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon on Wednesday urged Hong Kong authorities to explain the legal grounds for invalidating more than 20,000 suspected fraudulent jab exemptions, adding that the city’s health chief has no authority to do so.  

Seven doctors in Hong Kong were previously accused of falsely issuing Covid-19 vaccine exemption certificates without proper consultation, leading to the invalidation of over 20,000 certificates issued by them. The suspect certificates will be voided on October 12.  

Speaking on a radio program this morning, Kong said Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau has no statutory right to invalidate the jab exemptions, calling authorities’ move trifling and domineering.  

The lawmaker explained that under the relevant legislation of the vaccine pass arrangement, it did not specify the government’s power to invalidate the jab exemption under specific circumstances.  

She also noted that if people have to resolve any matter through judicial review, the government will still lose people’s hearts even if they win the case.  

Separately, Kong pointed out that in Hong Kong, any person charged with an offense shall be presumed innocent until that person is convicted by the court.  

The government cannot invalidate the suspected certificates simply by saying there is a “reasonable doubt,” she said.