Govt officers overseeing Wang Fuk works to be probed

Chief Executive John Lee said government officers who oversaw renovation works at Wang Fuk Court before the fire will be investigated under a new accountability system, with results to be announced in three months. A report submitted by an independent committee tasked with probing the deadly inferno was released on Thursday. The report identified "deficiencies and failings" by four government bodies in relation to the oversight of fire risks associated with renovation works at the Tai Po estate. They are the Buildings Department, the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit, the Fire Services Department, and the Labour Department. Lee said these departments will now be investigated under the second tier of the Heads of Department Accountability System. Under the system, a Tier II investigation is carried out "if a serious problem occurs in a department or the problem is widespread or a repetitive, systemic one", or "there are indications that the head of department concerned is implicated in the problem". The investigation will be commissioned by the Public Service Commission (PSC), an independent statutory advisory body which advises the Chief Executive on civil service appointments, promotions and discipline. "The investigation will gather evidence regarding the individual responsibilities of officers involved, and assess whether there has been any dereliction...