Panel members claim there are lessons to be learned from their investigation The inquiry panel that submitted its report on the Harbour Fest fiasco to the chief executive yesterday said there were lessons to be learned from what it described as a 'regretful' event. Tung Chee-hwa said the report, which included recommendations, would be made public tomorrow. Lawyer Moses Cheng Mo-chi and accountant Brian Stevenson also said they were tired after an inquiry lasting nearly five months. 'What is most regretful is that what set out to be a well-intentioned initiative to re-launch Hong Kong after Sars ended up with unexpected controversy,' they said in a statement. 'We have made our observations and conclusions based on information available to us. We do believe that there are a number of lessons to be learned.' The government set up the inquiry because Harbour Fest, a four-week series of concerts last October featuring international and local performers, was widely criticised for being poorly organised and a waste of $100 million of taxpayers' money. The Director of Audit also produced a scathing report last month, attacking government officials for mishandling the event, for which only 43 per cent of the tickets were sold. Mr Cheng and Mr Stevenson have examined the government's procedures in assessing and approving the American Chamber of Commerce's Harbour Fest plan. They also evaluated the organisers' work, identified any deficiencies in the procedures and, where appropriate, who should be blamed. The pair twice delayed their report, originally due by the end of March. They said the inquiry was a 'long and tiring process'. They met 28 people, some more than once, and received written submissions or information from 63 individuals or organisations. Meanwhile, the government yesterday announced the appointment of an independent three-member panel to probe the sacking of Patrick Yu Chung-yin as operations director of the Equal Opportunities Commission last year. The panel, which will also inquire into the incidents that have affected the credibility of the commission and suggest ways to restore its credibility, will be chaired by Tam Sheung-wai, president emeritus of the Open University of Hong Kong. Other panel members are Anthony Wu Ting-yuk and Fanny Lai Ip Po-ping. Mr Wu is the chairman of Ernst & Young, the Far East, China and Hong Kong, while Mrs Lai, a seasoned accountant, is proprietor of Fanny P Lai & Co. A government spokesman said the panel would submit its report to the secretary of Home Affairs within nine months and the report would be made public. The commission controversy started when it was revealed last October that its then chairman, Michael Wong Kin-chow, sacked Mr Yu, who was hired by Mr Wong's predecessor, Anna Wu Hung-yuk. This occurred even before he could take up the post of operations director. Mr Wong resigned in November.