5
26
Phase F.
Phase G.
Investigations into the measures at present operative in regard to storage, insurance and fire prevention and in- spection services.
Additional evidence the necessity for which might become plain during the course of the inquiry, and evidence which might aid the Commission in its recommendations.
In practice, Thases F and G were so interlinked that their separation was neither practicable nor indeed necessary.
12.
Although the instrument appointing the Commission gave no specific direction, we decided that in view of the magnitude of the disaster and the great public interest aroused at the time, as well as the number of rumours that were prevalent, the public interest would best be satisfied by holding our Inquiry in public, although this inevitably had the effect of slowing down its pace. We accordingly invited all persons who had information which could assist the Commission to communicate with us.
Visit to the Fire Area and Demonstration of the Burning of Film: 13. We visited the scene of the fire on 19th October, 1948 and were shown round the premises by Mr. R.C. Torry, the Assistant Government Chemist and by officers of the Fire Brigade, the Police Force and the Sanitary Department. A thorough inspection was made of the tenements and the godown below them, but we inspected only the ground floor and the exterior of the main godown. We also had the opportunity of witnessing the burning of a small quantity of celluloid film on a piece of waste ground and experiencing the intense heat generated and the rapidity of
combustion.
Taking and Hearing of Evidence:
14. We held our first hearing in the afternoon of 2nd November in the Supreme Court, and subsequent to that there were either in the morning or the afternoon 13 further hearings. In addition we met in private on 7 occasions to discuss proceedural matters, the evidence heard, and our recommendations.
15.
Evidence was given on oath by 52 witnesses, the whole of this evid- ence being transcribed by court reporters. In addition the General Cham- ber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce were invited to nom-