One week after the fatal fire in Tai Po, Chief Executive John Lee announced on Dec. 2 the establishment of a judge-led independent committee to investigate the blaze. The committee will examine the cause of the fire, the reasons for its rapid spread, and related issues. Lee pledged that the committee's investigation report would be made fully public.
In a response to media inquiries on Dec. 3, the Chief Executive's Office stated that the independent committee will operate similarly to previous major incident investigations. It will reference and review the experiences of past inquiries, including the 2003 Tuen Mun highway crash and the 2018 Tai Po Road coach accident. After considering the government's experience in handling and reviewing those two incidents, the decision was made to establish a judge-led committee to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.
The CE's Office further indicated that the government will assist the committee in operating efficiently. Apart from carrying out work as requested by the committee, the government will proactively provide additional information to facilitate its work, aiming for an early completion. The committee will then submit its recommendations and report to John Lee.
The response added that establishing the independent committee aims to continue with full force, expediting and enhancing the efficiency of the investigation work, including the criminal investigation. John Lee has invited the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal to recommend a judge to serve as chair of the independent committee. The government will announce the committee's terms of reference and membership once finalized.
On Feb. 10, 2018, a KMB route 872 bus traveling from Sha Tin Racecourse to Tai Po was involved in a crash, resulting in 19 deaths and 66 injuries. The government established an "Independent Review Committee" to investigate the accident. In 2020, KMB and the driver pleaded guilty to 19 counts of manslaughter and 19 counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. The driver was sentenced to 14 years in prison and received a lifetime driving ban.
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