WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1977
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO SEK KONG ACCIDENT
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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPOINTED A HIGH COURT JUDGE MR. JUSTICE ZIMMERN, TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO THE ACCIDENT AT SEK KONG AIRSTRIP ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE DIED AND 65 OTHERS WERE INJURED.
THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN A LIGHTING STAND COLLAPSED DURING A MOTORCYCLE SHOW WHICH WAS BEING BROADCAST LIVE AT THE TIME,
ARE:
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE ONE-MAN COMMISSION OF INQUIRY
* TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE EVENTS PRECEDING A
LIVE TELEVISION BROADCAST BY TELEVISION BROADCASTS LTD. ON JULY 1, 1977 FROM MILITARY LAND AT SEK KONG-
* TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON THE EVENTS DURING THE EVENING
OF JULY 1 BOTH PRIOR TO THE BROADCAST AND WHILE IT WAS TAKING PLACE-
*
HAVING REGARD TO ITS REPORT THEREON, TO APPORTION RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EVENTS DURING THE EVENING OF JULY 1-
AND
* TO ADVISE ON ANY OTHER MATTER WHICH THE COMMISSION THINKS
PROPER.
MR. JUSTICE ZIMMERN IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT HIS REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR BEFORE NOVEMBER 19 THIS YEAR.
COMMENTING ON THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY IT WOULD BE ABLE TO COVER A WIDER AREA THAN A NORMAL CORONER'S INQUIRY,
+
+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WHICH ARISE FALL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF A CORONER'S INQUIRY, HE SAID. + IF THEREFORE ONLY A CORONER'S INQUIRY WAS HELD, A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WOULD NOT BE EXAMINED AT A PUBLIC INQUIRY.+
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON MR. JUSTICE ZIMMERN.
MR. JUSTICE ZIMMERN WAS APPOINTED A HIGH COURT JUDGE IN MARCH THIS YEAR, PREVIOUS TO THIS HE WAS A QUEEN'S COUNSEL. HE WAS CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR BY THE INNER TEMPLE IN NOVEMBER 1958 AND HAS BEEN PRACTISING IN HONG KONG SINCE 1959.
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