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Security chief apologises to travellers

Hong Kong's security chief has taken responsibility for the hundreds of residents stranded in Thailand and apologised.

'As the security chief, I shoulder full responsibility for the hundreds of residents stranded in Thailand and I apologise to travellers affected,' Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong said at a Legislative Council security panel meeting yesterday.

He said a review would be held of the government's emergency measures to avoid a recurrence, and admitted the government did not know the number of Hong Kong residents stranded in Thailand.

Legislators expressed concern that problems might arise with making such arrangements when a secretary was out of town. Mr Lee was in South Korea last weekend.

Lawmaker James To Kun-sun said it appeared no one was in charge of the security bureau when Mr Lee was away. Mr To said he heard that Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Stephen Lam Sui-lung was acting security chief but could only instruct Permanent Secretary for Security Chang King-yiu how to deal with problems. Ms Chang is a civil servant.

However, Mr Lee said Mr Lam did not have any role in the situation and had only to cover for him at Legco meetings. He said Ms Chang took over for him at the bureau last week.

Mr Lee confirmed that the Security Bureau had not notified the chief executive, chief secretary or the Executive Council of the situation last weekend. The government decided on Monday to arrange charter flights.

Lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee said the incident showed a lack of governance.

Lawmaker Wong Kwok-hing said Hong Kong residents felt ashamed that residents were stuck in Thailand. He said one stranded resident said she wanted to stop paying taxes or move to Macau, which had arranged a charter flight on Saturday.

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