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Transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary
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Following is the transcript of the Chief Secretary, Mrs Anson Chan's remarks to the media at Government Secretariat today (Friday):
Question: (on invitation for Mrs Chan to become chief secretary for administration of the Special Administrative Region.)
Chief Secretary: I did have an opportunity today, the first opportunity I've had to speak with Mr Tung and of course to congratulate him on his election. I am also very happy to know that Mr Tung has confidence in me. I very much hope that he will make a decision on the rest of his team as early as possible and certainly in terms of giving confidence and maintaining morale and stability in the civil service, it would be a very good thing if all existing principal officials could carry on with their work after 1997.
End
Appointment of statutory Commission of Inquiry recommended
The Government will recommend to the Executive Council the appointment of a statutory Commission of Inquiry to look into the fire at Garley Building last month.
Releasing the reports by two Fire Services Investigation Teams on the No. 5 fire today (Friday), a Government spokesman said that an independent inquiry chaired by a judge was appropriate and commensurate with the scale of the disaster and the public concern over the incident.
He said the Government had accepted and would implement immediately where possible the recommendations made by the Investigation Teams.
"In fact, the administration is already pursuing some of the recommendations," he added.
These include the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Bill which is now under scrutiny by a Legislative Council Bills Committee. It requires enhancement to current standards in the provision of fire service installations, means of escape and access, and fire-resisting construction in certain prescribed commercial premises.