Public Service Commission Launches Investigation into Civil Servants' Oversight of Fire Risks at Wang Fuk Court

Public Service Commission forms Investigation Team to investigate individual responsibilities of civil servants relating to overseeing of fire risks associated with works at Wang Fuk Court

The Public Service Commission (the Commission) has received the referral from the Chief Executive to investigate the alleged deficiencies and failings in the discharge of duties by civil servants relating to the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court. The Commission has announced the formation of an Investigation Team under Section 5 of the Public Service Commission (Investigation) Regulation (Cap. 93B) (the Investigation Regulation) to conduct the investigation.

Members of the Investigation Team include the Chairman of the Commission, Ms MaisieCheng Mei-sze, and two Commission members Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi and Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man. The Investigation Team will conduct the investigation in accordance with the terms of reference drawn up by the Chief Executive in the referral. The terms of reference include:

(1) With reference to the deficiencies and failings of the relevant departments (the Independent Checking Unit, Buildings Department, Fire Services Department and Labour Department) in discharging their duties and responsibilities relating to the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court as pointed out in the report (the Report) submitted by the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (the Independent Committee), to collect evidence and investigate into the responsibilities of the officers concerned on the individual level, and to inquire whether they had failed their duties and contravened relevant departmental guidelines, the Civil Service Code and civil service administrative regulations.

(2)Based on the evidence and facts collected, to provide advice to the Government for consideration on the disciplinary or administrative action that should be taken in respect of the officers with alleged deficiencies or failings in accordance with the relevant departmental guidelines and/or regulations, the Public Service (Administration) Order, and the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation and other relevant regulations.

Ms Cheng said, "The Investigation Team will lead this investigation and will also directly participate in and supervise the entire investigation process. The other two members of the Investigation Team, Mrs Kung and Mr Wong, have extensive experience in administrative management and public service. Over the years, they have served in various public boards and committees, including various important statutory bodies as well as the Commission. They are well versed with the operation of government departments and the management of the civil service. They also have ample experience in their respective professional fields and in corporate management, particularly in the area of compliance management. I am confident that with their participation, the Investigation Team will be able to conduct this investigation under the principles of being fair, just and impartial."

The Investigation Team has established a Support Office under Section 6(1)(d) of the Investigation Regulation to assist its work. With the arrangements and co-ordination by the Civil Service Bureau, the Government has proactively made early arrangements since August and deployed personnel from different grades to gradually join and take part in the preparatory work. Over the past few weeks, the Support Office personnel have devoted their full efforts to studying the voluminous information which has been made public by the Independent Committee, in order to assist in the work of the Investigation Team in the first instance. With the commencement of work of the Investigation Team today, the Support Office is now formally in operation. It will assist in the work of the Investigation Team, including requesting information from the relevant departments and arranging meetings with relevant civil servants in a professional, rigorous and serious manner.

Ms Cheng added, "The purpose of this investigation is to look into the deficiencies and failings of individual civil servants in discharging their duties relating to the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court. We will take the Committee Report and the voluminous information which has been made public earlier as a starting point,uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality in the course ofascertaining the facts as well as sorting out and clarifying the administrative responsibilities of the civil servants concerned, including whether they had failed their duties and contravened relevant departmental guidelines, the Civil Service Code and civil service administrative regulations."

As requested by the Chief Executive, the Investigation Team will complete its investigation within three months.

Earlier today, the Chief Executive announced the activation of the "Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism" under the "Heads of Department Accountability System". Under Section 3 of the Investigation Regulation, the Commission is requested to conduct an investigation into the alleged deficiencies and failings of the civil servants concerned in the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court.

Source: AI-found images

Statement by ExCo Non-official Members

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (October 29) issued the following statement on the Government's follow-up work in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court:

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today released the report of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The Chief Executive and Principal Officials also held a press conference to give an account of relevant matters to the public. ExCo Non-official Members expressed full support for the Government in facing up to the problems, shouldering responsibility, and pursuing comprehensive reforms.

The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "The Chief Executive and Principal Officials have clearly explained to the public the Government's follow-up work, and, on behalf of the HKSAR Government, apologised to the residents of Wang Fuk Court and the community, demonstrating sincerity and political commitment. The Chief Executive also called on his team to continue to give their utmost in their respective positions in pressing ahead with various reforms and the extensive work ahead, while drawing lessons from the incident and better exercising leadership to step up the implementation of the result-oriented governing approach. I support this position."

"The Government's plans to implement comprehensive reform on the basis of the Independent Committee's report are comprehensive and pragmatic, addressing the crux of the issues. I concur with the seven major directions of systemic reform put forward by the Government. These include combatting bid-rigging in building maintenance and renovation projects, establishing a cross-departmental task force to combat crimes related to bid-rigging in such projects, establishing a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, reforming the operation and regulatory system for building maintenance and renovation, reforming the structure of the Buildings Department, establishing a centralised data system and reforming the complaint mechanism, and establishing a steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration to follow up on the Independent Committee's recommendations."

As regards accountability, the Government has demonstrated its determination to pursue responsibility comprehensively and enforce accountability at various levels. On criminal liability, law enforcement authorities have successively instituted prosecutions against the companies and individuals involved in the incident. The Government has also initiated the Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism under the Heads of Department Accountability System, and is strictly following up on the administrative responsibility of the civil servants concerned. As for political accountability, the Chief Executive, having considered a wide range of factors, decided that the Secretary for Housing should take political accountability, and has accepted the Secretary's resignation.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court has exposed a number of long-standing inadequacies at different systemic levels, and the issues involved are complex and intertwined. Properly addressing these issues requires firm resolve as well as precise and decisive decision-making. ExCo Non-official Members will give their full support to the Government in taking forward comprehensive reforms and will continue to fully support its governance. ExCo Non-official Members firmly believe that, as long as society works together with dedication to turn grief into the strength to move forward, learns from the experience, and thoroughly implements systemic reforms, similar incidents can certainly be prevented, making Hong Kong a safer and better home.