XN000022-1996-11-21 — Page 4

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Let me tell the Council what we understand to be the latest position. I am sure that the Council will understand that it is difficult at present to be precise about the figures. We are still trying to identify bodies and relate those who were reported missing to the bodies that can be identified. But the position as I left to come to the Legislative Council this afternoon was that 37 people have been confirmed killed. There may be two other confirmed fatalities. Seventy-eight people have been injured. Thirty-nine people have been reported missing. But this number may include some of those whom we already know have been killed, but whose bodies have not yet been identified. As Honourable Members will understand there are considerable difficulties in identifying the bodies that have been found, many of which have been very badly burned. The Fire Services Department, assisted by forensic experts from the Police, are in the process of combing the entire building. It will not be until this lengthy process is completed that we will be in a position to issue final casualty figures.

This is plainly a terrible tragedy. I would like to extend on behalf of the community our deep sympathy to the families of all of those who have lost loved ones. Let me pay tribute to Senior Fireman Liu Chi-hung, who lost his life battling courageously to save the lives of others.

Let me pay tribute also to the great bravery and skill of our emergency services in tackling this disaster. The Fire Service, the Police, the Ambulance Service, the Government Flying Service, the Auxiliary Medical Services, the Hospital Authority and the St John's Ambulance worked tirelessly to fight the fire and rescue the victims. Their efforts are still continuing. I wish to pay a special tribute to the Fire Services Officers who have behaved with the bravery and dedication which we know and expect from them. I visited the scene of the fire yesterday evening as well as the hospitals treating the injured; and the Chief Secretary has been there this morning, We saw for ourselves the scale of the disaster and the difficulties facing the emergency services.

Our task now is to do everything we can to assist the victims of this fire and to help the families of those who have lost their lives. I have instructed that no effort should be spared to make sure this happens. A press conference will be held at 4 pm this afternoon by the Director of Fire Services, the Director of Home Affairs, the Director of Social Welfare and a representative of the Hospital Authority to provide as much information as possible on the fire, and what we are doing in its aftermath.

We must also make absolutely sure that we all learn lessons from this tragedy, and do everything we can to minimise the risk of it ever happening again in our crowded, congested city. The Director of Fire Services will conduct an immediate investigation into the fire. This investigation will try to establish the cause of the fire and the reasons why so many people died and were injured. Its preliminary findings will be available within two weeks, and we will make public everything that we are legally able to make public at that stage. In the light of these findings, I will decide whether to establish a full Commission of Inquiry chaired by a Judge.