Senior public servants found accountable for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire could face disciplinary action if named in an investigation report that a government-appointed panel is expected to submit this month, Hong Kong’s civil service chief has said.
Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also said on Saturday that a support unit was being set up to assist the Public Service Commission if investigations into officials’ “administrative responsibilities” were eventually launched.
“If the [investigation] report clearly pinpoints an individual [official] and points out what he or she has done inadequately, or there is prima facie evidence established, I would not rule out the possibility of launching disciplinary action directly,” she told a radio programme.
“Otherwise, if system failure is said to be a main issue, the Public Service Commission could also probe the officials’ administrative responsibilities.”