Scope of existing review panel is too limited, they argue
Lawmakers have called for an independent inquiry into the Tin Shui Wai tragedy where a woman and her two daughters were stabbed to death.
Most of the 16 legislators who attended a joint meeting of the welfare services and security panels said yesterday the new inquiry, which should be headed by a judge, required a comprehensive probe as opposed to an existing internal three-member review committee's terms of reference, which were too narrow.
The existing panel will focus mainly on the family services available in Tin Shui Wai, where Kim Shuk-ying, 31, and her two children Li Yin-li, six, and Li Tsz-wan, five, were killed last month. Kim's husband, Li Pak-sum, 44, died of stab wounds in hospital 12 days later.
Director of Social Welfare Paul Tang Kwok-wai said the existing internal review panel was necessary 'to enable us to make quick changes to the procedures' to try to avoid another tragedy.
But the chairman of the Legislative Council's security panel, James To Kun-sun, said a more comprehensive probe was needed.
Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong legislator Lau Kwong-wah said an independent inquiry would look into the circumstances of the case and the extent of co-operation between the departments, including the police.
