Top government officials were given wrong reports on the readiness of Chek Lap Kok, the Airport Authority has confirmed.
The authority's project director, Douglas Oakervee, admitted before the Legco inquiry that reports on the system governing access to restricted areas were wrong.
The Airport Development Steering Committee was told two days before the July 6 opening that the access control system was 'on line' although the authority knew it never functioned properly.
Eighty per cent of the public phones were said to be installed but the figure was later found to be referring to block wiring rather than the phones. About 150 handsets had actually be stolen.
Mr Oakervee admitted the access control system report was wrong but argued the telephone system as a whole could work even though the handsets were missing.
He said he was not aware of the reporting mistake and could not explain why the report was submitted without his approval.
