16
Standing Committee on Pressure Groups files
Following is a question by the Hon Anna Wu Hung-yuk and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In his written answer of 15 February 1995 to my question in this Council concerning the establishment and subsequent activities of the Standing Committee on Pressure Groups (SCOPG), the Secretary for Security stated that all SCOPG files containing assessments and reports had been destroyed. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
(c)
when, under whose direction and for what purpose the SCOPG reports destroyed;
what is the Government's policy concerning the destruction of Government documents; and
on what basis did the former and current Secretary for Security tender their answers to SCOPG-related questions asked at 15 June 1994 and 15 February 1995 sittings of this Council since all SCOPG reports have been destroyed?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
The Standing Committee on Pressure Groups files containing reports and assessments were destroyed over a number of years from the 1980's. Destruction of such files was carried out under the authority of the relevant Branch Secretary or Head of Department. These files were destroyed for record management purposes.