HONG KONG – Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday that the Tai Po fire had deepened his faith in the Constitution and the rule of law and vowed to translate the hard lessons learned from the disaster into steps to bolster urban safety and overhaul systems.
Speaking at a seminar to mark Constitution Day, he said setting up an independent committee chaired by a judge to probe the fire would allow government departments with investigative powers to assist the panel in its work so it can review the disaster, ascertain the truth, pursue accountability and prevent a recurrence.
President Xi Jinping, Lee added, attaches great importance to responses to the tragedy and that the central government is assisting with disaster relief.
He pledged to centre governance on people’s welfare.
“Let’s pull together and forge ahead,” Lee said, adding that “this fire has strengthened my belief in the spirit of the Constitution and the rule of law”.
“The spirit of the Constitution lies in the safeguarding of the people’s well-being.”
Lee said the Constitution is the country’s fundamental law and master plan for governing the nation and keeping it stable, adding that it is closely tied to the great rejuvenation of the nation.
He said it provided the legal and institutional framework to achieve the great rejuvenation of the nation.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government yesterday announced that the living allowance for households affected by the deadly Tai Po inferno will be doubled to HK$100,000 each.
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said officials decided to bump up the initial amount of HK$50,000 to better address the needs of Wang Fuk Court residents.
Mak said more than 300 households have already received the initial amount and will be offered the extra HK$50,000, whereas those that have yet to get the subsidy will be handed HK$100,000 in one go.
As for a HK$10,000 emergency fund, she said all but one of the 1,930 registered households have received the subsidy.
A total of 159 people perished in last Wednesday’s inferno.
– RTHK, MPD
