XN000022-1994-09-09 — Page 3

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1994

2

TRANSCRIPT OF ACTING CS'S MEDIA SESSION

HIS

ACTING

OF THE INSPECTION SITE THIS (FRIDAY)

FOLLOWING IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEDIA SESSION BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR

LEUNG, AFTER MICHAEL COLLAPSE OF A WALL AT A NATHAN ROAD DEMOLITION MORNING:

THE

MR LEUNG: THIS HAS BEEN A VERY TRAGIC ACCIDENT AND WE EXPRESSED DEEP REGRET THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST OF ALL, OUR CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO HAVE DIED OR INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT AND THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING TIME. EVERY HELP TO ALL THE FAMILIES OF THOSE AFFECTED AT THE PRESENT SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED, THE FIRE SERVICES, THE POLICE, AND THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT AND ALL INVOLVED IN EASY HELPING THE RESCUE OPERATIONS WHICH ARE QUITE DIFFICULT AND NOT IN THIS SITUATION. BUT THEY HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK IN GETTING

IS THIRDLY, THE GOVERNMENT RESCUE OPERATIONS FINISHED BY THIS TIME.

WE HAVE NOW DETERMINED TO FIND OUT THE CAUSES OF THIS ACCIDENT. ESTABLISHED A TEAM OF EXPERTS IN THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT TO LOOK DEVELOPER, THE CAUSES OF THIS ACCIDENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE

THE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

REGULATION OF AUTHORISED PERSON DEMOLITION EXERCISE AND WE PLEDGE TO FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSES OF ACCIDENT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF THE OUTCOME IS AVAILABLE.

QUESTION: WILL THE PROBE BE MADE PUBLIC?

INTO

THE

THIS

THIS

MR LEUNG: CERTAINLY, WE WILL MAKE THE FINDINGS KNOWN WHEN WE HAVE THE THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. BUT I DO ASSURE THE PUBLIC AND ALL

ΤΟ FIND PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPARE NO RESOURCES OUT THE CAUSES AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL OUR BUILDING ACTIVITIES ARE SAFE VERY AND SECURE AND HONG KONG PEOPLE CAN REST ASSURED WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THIS IS DONE.

QUESTION: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IN CHARGE HERE?

OF DEMOLITION

REINSTATEMENT SUPERVISED

WORK FOR

THIS

BY

THE GOVERNMENT

MR LEUNG: THE COMPANY LOOKING AFTER THIS IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE THAT PARTICULAR DEMOLITION SITE AND THEY ARE

NOW IN BUILDING, CONCERNED

TO

FOR CHARGE OF THE AND CHECKED

SURE MAKE

PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS

THAT IT IS

SAFE AND SECURE.

QUESTION:

IT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THIS KIND OF

ACCIDENTS

HAPPENING

RECENTLY?

I THINK

DAY IN HONG YEAR, DAY

MR LEUNG: I DON'T THINK THERE HAVE BEEN THAT MANY ACCIDENTS. BEARING IN MIND THE LARGE NUMBER OF DEMOLITIONS EVERY KONG, THERE MUST BE HUNDREDS OF THESE GOING ON YEAR AFTER AFTER DAY IN HONG KONG. THIS IS A VERY, VERY RARE ACCIDENT INDEED HONG KONG. BUT WE ARE NOT COMPLACENT. WE MUST FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSES INVOLVED OF THIS AND TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THIS.

IN

/QUESTION