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Following is the transcript of a media session given by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, this (Tuesday) afternoon at the Central Government Offices:

Mr Tung: The Executive Council has decided to appoint a commission of inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance to inquire into the operation of the new Hong Kong International Airport since its opening on July 6. The Commission will be independent, statutory and credible. It will be vested with adequate investigatory power. We have decided to appoint Justice Woo Kwok-hing as the Chairman of the Commission and Mr Edgar Cheng as the Commissioner. The Commission will have full powers to call experts in airport management, or in other fields, from Hong Kong or overseas to give advice as necessary.

The Commission will have the following terms of reference: first, to examine the planning and preparation for the opening of the new airport, including the adequacy of the communication and co-ordination between all the interested parties; two, to examine the decision to open the new airport on July 6, 1998 and the extent to which it was ready to begin operation on that date; three, to examine the operation of the new airport since it opened on July 6, 1998, including, but not limited to, the flight information display system, franchised air cargo services, ramp handling, baggage handling, and any other such examination that is necessary, and to identify the roles of the various parties involved; fourth, to identify the problems encountered in the operation of the new airport and to establish the causes and where the responsibility for each of them lies. We look forward to receiving the report of the Commission in six months' time and we'll give a full and open account to the public.

We have already established a secretariat to provide support to the Commission. Like every member of our community, I hope that the Commission will conduct thorough investigation into the operation of the new airport and the problems encountered since it opened. The findings of the Commission would establish where the responsibility lies and help to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.

Reporter: How concerned are you that this investigation, as it is going to take six months, is going to be preempted by the Ombudsman's inquiry and how would you look at the report from...?

Mr Tung: I think the Ombudsman will basically have to make his own decision as to how to proceed. I think from my point of view, this will be a very comprehensive and thorough investigation because the Commission will be vested with all the power that is necessary, including the legal backing for a very thorough investigation.

Transcript of Chief Executive's media session (Chinese part)

End/Tuesday, July 21, 1998

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