Transport and Housing Bureau to lead investigation of MD on ferry collision

As to ensure the impartiality, the government's internal investigation on last October's Lamma ferry collision will be directly headed by the Transport and Housing Bureau, Anthony Cheung, secretary of the bureau announced on Monday.

The investigation will be held by the permanent secretary for transport of the bureau, excluding any civil servants from the Marine Department, Cheung stated in a meeting of Legislative Council (Legco).

"The internal investigation will probe into the problems pointed out by the report of the commission of inquiry," he said. "If any of the Marine staff were proved of acting irregularities, they would be put into legal processes."

A detailed report of the ferry collision by an independent commission was released last month, accusing the Marine Department of contributing to the tragedy which killed 39 with "serious systemic failings" on safety control.

The Director of Marine, Francis Liu Hon-por made his first public apology to the victims for the department's faults 27 days after the report on the Legco's panel.

Liu, who has been working in the department for more than 27 years, was blamed by the public, especially the victims' families of his evasive response after his department's misconducts had been exposed by the report.

Relatives of the victims have publicized an open letter they wrote to C.Y. Leung, the chief executive, slamming the Marine Department for the accident and demanding an independent probe on May 8.

"He had no shoulder or backbone to bear responsibilities and admit faults," the open letter said.

Many of the Legco councilors expressed distrust over the "internal investigation" within governmental system.

Fernado Cheung and Albert Chan, councilors from the pan-democracy camp raised motions urging the administration "to carry out an investigation and a systemic reform on the basis of independent and professional principles," and "to pay compensation to the families of victims, deceased or injured." All councilors attended the panel voted for the motions.

"The report is expected to be carried out by the end of this year," Liu said, "and there may be prosecutions involved." The public will be able to access the final report on the website of the Marine Department after the investigation, he added.