Concerns have been raised by lawmakers and residents that parts of the water scare report may be redacted
EDDIE LEE, ALLEN AU-YEUNG AND JASMINE SIU
UPDATED : Thursday, 12 May, 2016, 8:31am
Edmond Ng Yat-long, 8, fetches water from temporary pipes on a floor at Sheung Ching House in Kai Ching Estate during the water scare last year. Photo: May Tse
The government is considering whether to release a full report on last year’s tainted water scare that affected about 29,000 households on 11 public housing estates, or if it should redact certain information before release.
The move has prompted concern that possible concealment could help officials and building contractors involved in the water safety scandal shirk responsibility.
Some worried residents also questioned the need to withhold the findings from the public.
The incident happened in June last year when tests showed tap water at Kai Ching Estate in Kowloon City contained amounts of lead exceeding World Health Organisation standards. Government tests later found similar levels at several other public housing estates, where pipes in flats were soldered with materials containing lead.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying yesterday received the report compiled by a judge-led commission that had conducted 67 days of hearings from November last year to March this year and examined evidence from 72 witnesses to determine the causes of the contamination.
But the government has yet to fix a date for making the results of the inquiry public, saying it would consult the Department of Justice “on the manner of the publication of the report”.
This included “whether any redaction is necessary”, the Chief Executive’s Office said.
The administration did not state what information needed to be redacted, but the latest decision can be compared to the government report on the Lamma ferry collision in 2012 that claimed 39 lives.
Parts of the report on the sea tragedy relating to issues concerning the responsibilities of the coxswains were redacted so as not to affect the criminal proceedings against them, the government said in 2013.
But Democratic Party lawmaker Helena Wong Pik-wan said yesterday it would be in the public interest that a full report on the tainted water saga was published.
“It will give members of the public a reason to question whether the authorities intend to help various departments, officials and contractors absolve themselves of their responsibilities for the contamination if parts of the report are covered up,” Wong added.
Cho Wai-fung, a housewife living in Kai Ching Estate with two children, said she would like the government to disclose the findings of the inquiry to the public soon.
“We need an answer,” said Cho.
Andy Fung, a father living in another affected housing scheme Shui Chuen O Estate in Sha Tin, also urged the government to disclose the report soon.
“It’s best if the government makes the report open,” Fung said.
Of the 5,600 residents having their blood tested, 165 people, including 129 children, showed elevated lead levels, the government said in reply to an inquiry by the Post.
By May 4, 133 residents returned to normal blood lead levels.
Putting aside the fact that evidence given by any person before the commission, according to the Commission of Inquiry Ordinance, shall not be admissible against the person in any civil or criminal proceedings, it may still be difficult for affected residents to seek compensation through legal means.
Lawyers said claims in any civil action would need to be substantiated by medical evidence, such as lead poisoning caused by contaminated water, otherwise they would likely only win small amounts as compensation or nominal damages.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1943934/concerns-over-government-censoring-report-lead
