The Public Service Commission (the Commission) has received the referral from the Chief Executive to investigate the alleged deficiencies and failings in the discharge of duties by civil servants relating to the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court. The Commission has announced the formation of an Investigation Team under Section 5 of the Public Service Commission (Investigation) Regulation (Cap. 93B) (the Investigation Regulation) to conduct the investigation.
Members of the Investigation Team include the Chairman of the Commission, Ms Maisie Cheng Mei-sze, and two Commission members Mrs Ann Kung Yeung Yun-chi and Mr Adrian Wong Koon-man. The Investigation Team will conduct the investigation in accordance with the terms of reference drawn up by the Chief Executive in the referral. The terms of reference include:
(1) With reference to the deficiencies and failings of the relevant departments (the Independent Checking Unit, Buildings Department, Fire Services Department and Labour Department) in discharging their duties and responsibilities relating to the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court as pointed out in the report (the Report) submitted by the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (the Independent Committee), to collect evidence and investigate into the responsibilities of the officers concerned on the individual level, and to inquire whether they had failed their duties and contravened relevant departmental guidelines, the Civil Service Code and civil service administrative regulations.
(2) Based on the evidence and facts collected, to provide advice to the Government for consideration on the disciplinary or administrative action that should be taken in respect of the officers with alleged deficiencies or failings in accordance with the relevant departmental guidelines and/or regulations, the Public Service (Administration) Order, and the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation and other relevant regulations.
Ms Cheng said, "The Investigation Team will lead this investigation and will also directly participate in and supervise the entire investigation process. The other two members of the Investigation Team, Mrs Kung and Mr Wong, have extensive experience in administrative management and public service. Over the years, they have served in various public boards and committees, including various important statutory bodies as well as the Commission. They are well versed with the operation of government departments and the management of the civil service. They also have ample experience in their respective professional fields and in corporate management, particularly in the area of compliance management. I am confident that with their participation, the Investigation Team will be able to conduct this investigation under the principles of being fair, just and impartial."
The Investigation Team has established a Support Office under Section 6(1)(d) of the Investigation Regulation to assist its work. With the arrangements and co-ordination by the Civil Service Bureau, the Government has proactively made early arrangements since August and deployed personnel from different grades to gradually join and take part in the preparatory work. Over the past few weeks, the Support Office personnel have devoted their full efforts to studying the voluminous information which has been made public by the Independent Committee, in order to assist in the work of the Investigation Team in the first instance. With the commencement of work of the Investigation Team today, the Support Office is now formally in operation. It will assist in the work of the Investigation Team, including requesting information from the relevant departments and arranging meetings with relevant civil servants in a professional, rigorous and serious manner.
Ms Cheng added, "The purpose of this investigation is to look into the deficiencies and failings of individual civil servants in discharging their duties relating to the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court. We will take the Committee Report and the voluminous information which has been made public earlier as a starting point, uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality in the course of ascertaining the facts as well as sorting out and clarifying the administrative responsibilities of the civil servants concerned, including whether they had failed their duties and contravened relevant departmental guidelines, the Civil Service Code and civil service administrative regulations."
As requested by the Chief Executive, the Investigation Team will complete its investigation within three months.
Earlier today, the Chief Executive announced the activation of the "Administrative Responsibility Two-tier Investigation Mechanism" under the "Heads of Department Accountability System". Under Section 3 of the Investigation Regulation, the Commission is requested to conduct an investigation into the alleged deficiencies and failings of the civil servants concerned in the oversight of the fire risks associated with the works at Wang Fuk Court.