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The following is issued on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to The Hong Kong Institute of Education:
The Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to The Hong Kong Institute of Education submitted a report to the Chief Executive today (June 20), some four months after it was appointed to inquire into allegations relating to the HKIEd.
The report sets out the findings and conclusions of the commission.
Chairman and Commissioner of the Commission, Mr Justice Yeung, said, "Mr J P Lee and I have fulfilled our duty of conducting the inquiry independently and impartially. We have laid bare the truth without ill will, favour or fear."
"All the evidence related to the allegations was rigorously tested through cross-examination by counsel. The persons against whom allegations were made were given an opportunity to answer such allegations and to put forward their cases," he said.
"We are pleased to conclude the inquiry within a short time of some four months, with the co-operation of all parties concerned," he said.
The entire process has been transparent. The hearing was open to the public. The public and media were allowed access to witness statements adopted as witnesses' evidence-in-chief. Written submissions made by counsel were also made available to the public and media.
The commission came to its findings and conclusions after critically examining evidence taken from the oral testimony of 24 witnesses, witness statements, submissions and documents from various parties.
Evidence was heard during 35 days of public hearing conducted between March 29 and June 6.
The commission was appointed by the Chief Executive in Council on February 15, with statutory powers to summon people to give evidence and produce documents, and to report its findings and conclusions within four months.
Ends/Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:07
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