Government launches probe into 40 to 50 civil servants
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago7 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong government has activated the second tier of its accountability system for heads of departments after the independent commission on the Wang Fuk Court fire said four departments bore part of the responsibility for shortcomings in supervising fire risks linked to works projects. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he was very disappointed with the performance of the departments concerned, while the case will be referred under the Public Service Commission (Inquiry) Regulation for a three-month investigation and recommendations on disciplinary or administrative penalties. The Civil Service Commission expects to interview about 100 civil servants from different departments and ranks, with around 40 to 50 likely to be formal subjects of investigation. A separate commentary argued that accountability should focus on enforcing the commission’s 120 recommendations and keeping the current leadership in place to carry out reforms rather than resigning immediately
Key Points
- The independent commission said the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit, the Buildings Department and two other departments had deficiencies in overseeing fire risks arising from works, and should bear part of the responsibility
- The government will use the two-tier administrative accountability mechanism for heads of departments and refer the case under the Public Service Commission (Inquiry) Regulation, with completion targeted within three months
- Civil Service Commission chairperson Cheng Mei-sze (鄭美施) said a probe team had already completed weeks of preparation, could start work immediately, and would invite about 100 officers to interviews
- Cheng said about 40 to 50 officers from different departments and grades were expected to be investigation targets, while no criminal issues had been identified at this stage
- Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan (楊何蓓茵) said possible penalties, depending on severity, range from dismissal, compulsory retirement and demotion to severe reprimand or lighter administrative punishment
Why It Matters
The investigation will test whether the government can turn the fire commission’s findings into individual accountability while preserving enough administrative continuity to push through the wider reform programme described in the report. It also matters for public confidence because the commission’s findings pointed to systemic, multi-layered failures, meaning the outcome will be judged not only by punishment but by whether the promised reforms are carried through