Hong Kong woman who attended scandal-hit birthday party of Witman Hung sentenced to 160 hours of community service for misleading health officials tracing Covid

Celia Wong misled officials by hiding fact she had visited supermarket and met friends only hours before attending party thrown for Witman Hung on January 3, 2022

‘Not only did she pose a great risk of infection on others, but she also threatened our public health as a whole,’ Magistrate Ophelia Yap says

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Celia Wong (second left) and Witman Hung (centre) during the latter’s 53rd birthday party at Reserva Iberica Tapas Bar and Cafe in Wan Chai. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:00pm, 4 Mar 2024

A magistrate has handed down a sentence of 160 hours of community service to a Hong Kong marketing executive who misled health officials tracing Covid-19 patients linked to an infamous birthday party in early 2022 with a guest list boasting top officials and lawmakers.

Magistrate Ophelia Yap Ching-ching of Kowloon City Court imposed the non-custodial sentence on Celia Wong Sze-nga, 38, on Monday after finding her guilty of four counts of knowingly giving false information to health officials.

“Not only did she pose a great risk of infection on others, but she also threatened our public health as a whole,” Yap said. “The court should impose a deterrent sentence for such a serious offence.”

Celia Wong, 38, was found guilty of misleading officials by hiding facts about her movements before attending a party thrown for Witman Hung on January 3, 2022. Photo: Brian Wong

Wong misled health officials by hiding the fact she had visited a supermarket and met friends at a social gathering only hours before attending the party thrown for Witman Hung Wai-man, a former deputy to the country’s legislature, on January 3, 2022.