XN000022-1994-10-12 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1994

ON THE CONTINGENCY MEASURES FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THE FACTS OF THE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS EMERGENCY HAVE ALREADY BEEN LAID BEFORE MEMBERS BY WAY OF A DETAILED REPORT. SUFFICIENT TO SAY THAT INFORMATION SHOWS THAT ALL POLICE, FIRE SERVICE, HOUSING SOCIETY, BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT, DISTRICT ENGINEERS FROM GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING OFFICE AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT STAFF WERE ON SITE PROMPTLY. A COMMAND POST WAS SET UP BY 9.16 PM AND ABOUT 2,500 RESIDENTS WERE SAFELY EVACUATED BY 10.30

PM.

TEMPORARY SHELTERS WERE OPENED. MEALS, BLANKETS, AND RELIEF ARTICLES WERE PROVIDED. A 24-HOUR HOTLINE WAS SET UP BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO FACILITATE ENQUIRIES. ALL OF THESE AND OTHER POST-INCIDENT ACTIONS TOOK PLACE PROMPTLY IN VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. I ARRIVED BACK FROM LONDON JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT IN TIME TO VISIT THE SITE THAT NIGHT AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE MEASURES.

MEMBERS WOULD BE WISHED TO BE ASSURED THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THE TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION DOES PROVIDE EVIDENCE A FURTHER INQUIRY IS NEEDED INTO THE CONDUCT OF PUBLIC BODIES OR PUBLIC OFFICERS

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TRAGEDY, THE APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. THE CHIEF SECRETARY IS ON RECORD TO CONFIRM THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT AVOIDING THIS ISSUE. WHILST THE ESSENTIAL FIRST STEP IS TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE SLOPE FAILURE, THE TECHNICAL ENQUIRY PHASE DOES NOT PRECLUDE FURTHER ENQUIRY ON THE QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY, BUT INDEED THIS PRESENT PHASE IS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE BODY OF EVIDENCE NEEDED TO DETERMINE RESPONSIBILITY.

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MR PRESIDENT, TO SUM UP, TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION IS NOW WELL IN HAND. THE INDEPENDENT REPORT FROM PROFESSOR MORGENSTERN AND THE FINDINGS OF OUR OWN TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JUST A FEW WEEKS. OUR ACTIONS ARE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT. THE EXISTING COMMUNICATION CHANNELS BETWEEN LEGCO AND THE ADMINISTRATION ARE EFFECTIVE AND AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS AT ALL TIMES. THE APPOINTMENT OF A SELECT COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME WILL NOT ADD TO THE PRESENT ENQUIRIES. AND INDEED MAY WELL HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PROGRESS AND QUALITY OF THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION. MR PRESIDENT, MAY I ASK HONOURABLE MEMBERS TO KEEP THIS IMPORTANT POINTS IN MIND WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR INDIVIDUAL DECISIONS. THANK YOU.

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