Judge David Lok Kai-hong, who chairs the Electoral Affairs Commission, will lead an independent review committee set up by the government to investigate the Tai Po fire that killed at least 160 people, Hong Kong’s leader has announced.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday that the appointed committee members included Legislative Council finance committee chairman Chan Kin-por and outgoing MTR Corporation chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-keun.
The probe is expected to be completed within nine months, with all findings set to be made public.
Advertisement
“The government will fully support the committee’s work, proactively offer information and make full use of each department’s investigative powers to help in gathering evidence,” Lee said.
To ensure the probe is completed within nine months, Lee said the committee would be given flexibility to simplify procedures and apply judicial powers in specific areas of their investigation.
Advertisement
“If the committee deems it necessary to obtain statutory powers on certain issues during the investigation, it may apply to the chief executive to be established as a commission of inquiry, thereby gaining those powers,” he said.