New People’s Party legislator faces careless driving summons after viral video showed her Tesla limousine travelling against traffic in Wan Chai
A Viral Video, a Summons and a Hearing on Monday
Hong Kong lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui, a legislator for the New People’s Party representing Hong Kong Island West, has been served a summons and charged with careless driving after she was filmed driving against the flow of traffic on Jaffe Road in Wan Chai on January 23. The charge was confirmed by a police source on Thursday, more than six weeks after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The footage, which was widely shared and commented upon, showed a black Tesla limousine travelling the wrong way on Jaffe Road. Chan subsequently confirmed she was the driver of that vehicle, and visited Traffic Police Hong Kong Island on January 24 to give a statement. She and her legal representative must appear at Eastern Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Chan told media on Thursday that she would attend the hearing, but declined to comment further on the specific charge.
The Delay in Prosecution
The six-week gap between the incident and the formal charge has drawn public attention. While police investigations can take time, the fact that the driver was quickly identified — and was a sitting lawmaker — and that the video was in wide circulation raises questions about the pace of the legal process. The charge, careless driving, is a relatively straightforward traffic offence. Under Hong Kong law it carries a potential fine and driving licence points.
Who Is Judy Chan?
Judy Chan Kapui is a member of the New People’s Party, a pro-establishment political party founded by former secretary for security Regina Ip. Chan represents the Hong Kong Island West geographical constituency in the Legislative Council. The New People’s Party sits firmly within the pro-Beijing bloc of Hong Kong politics and supports the government on national security and social order issues. The irony of a lawmaker associated with law-and-order politics facing a traffic offence charge has not been lost on Hong Kong commentators.
Accountability Under Hong Kong’s Changed Political System
In Hong Kong’s pre-2020 political environment, an incident like this would have attracted significant opposition criticism in the Legislative Council and potentially led to calls for resignation or parliamentary inquiry. Under the current patriotic legislature, in which all members are vetted for loyalty to Beijing and the opposition has been eliminated, there is no independent body to scrutinise lawmaker conduct. The incident is a reminder that without genuine political opposition and a free press, accountability for public figures in Hong Kong operates through a far narrower channel than in a functioning democracy. The Hong Kong government information service provides official statements on legal proceedings. The Hong Kong Judiciary remains nominally independent, and the careless driving case will proceed through the courts in the usual way. Whether the legal outcome for a pro-establishment lawmaker would be the same as for an ordinary citizen is a question that observers of Hong Kong’s justice system are likely to watch carefully.
Hoi Yan Tsang
Courts & Justice Affairs Journalist, Apple Daily UK
Contact: hoiyan.tsang@appledaily.uk
Hoi Yan Tsang is a courts and justice affairs journalist with professional experience reporting on judicial proceedings, civil rights cases, and legal accountability. She received formal journalism training at a leading Chinese journalism school, where she specialized in court reporting, legal documentation analysis, and media law, establishing a strong foundation for precise legal journalism.
Her reporting career includes work with Apple Daily and other liberal Chinese newspapers, covering trial developments, sentencing decisions, procedural justice, and the impact of legal rulings on civil society. Hoi Yan’s journalism is grounded in direct courtroom observation, verified court records, and expert legal commentary.
She has operated in newsroom environments where legal accuracy is essential, developing practical expertise in translating complex legal processes into accessible, fact-based reporting. Editors rely on her disciplined sourcing practices and careful use of legal terminology.
Hoi Yan’s authority is reinforced by sustained publication within established media institutions and adherence to editorial review and correction standards. At Apple Daily UK, she delivers trustworthy legal reporting rooted in firsthand experience, professional judgment, and respect for the judicial record.
