It is hard to believe it took the Government more than a week simply to decide to call on the familiar figure of Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing to head the independent commission that is to investigate why the opening of Chek Lap Kok went so badly wrong. That is not to question his credentials for the job. As chairman of the Electoral Affairs Commission, which oversaw May's election of the Legislative Council, as well as its pre-handover equivalent, he has a reputation for fairness and a jovial manner that makes him popular with the community.
But if the Government had been sure all along that it wanted Mr Justice Woo, then this announcement could have been made soon after the creation of the inquiry was announced 10 days ago, defusing much of the controversy that continued throughout the past week. So it is hard to avoid the suspicion that he may not have been Tung Chee-hwa's first choice.
The nature of the inquiry has changed since it was first announced. Regrettably, it proved impossible to recruit the international aviation experts originally envisaged, since, it appears, no one suitably qualified was prepared to spend the next six months in Hong Kong. But that should not be seen as an insurmountable handicap, especially since the inquiry has been upgraded to a commission, placing it on a par with judicial proceedings.
The terms of reference are also encouragingly specific, suggesting a genuine desire to get to the root of the Chek Lap Kok chaos. In asking the Woo Commission to examine if there was adequate communication between all the parties involved, and how far the airport was ready to open on July 6, the Government has pointed it in the right direction.
With such a well-drawn remit, it is questionable whether the Ombudsman's and Legco's inquiries are necessary; although legislators may wish to keep a watching brief, to ensure the government commission stays on track. The real concern is that by the time it reports six months from now, some key figures in the Airport Authority may have left, making it too late to take decisions on issues such as their contract gratuities. In practice it is difficult to see how the commission could complete a thorough investigation any more quickly. But serious consideration should be given to whether an interim report could be issued.
