The families of a divorced couple killed in a landslide in Tuen Mun on Saturday may face a long wait for compensation.
Government geotechnical engineer Raymond Chan Kin-sek said it had to find out the cause of the accident before dealing with compensation.
Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said preliminary investigations had shown the accident was caused by the collapse of a retaining wall on a slope near Cafeteria Old Beach in Castle Peak Road.
One-third of the wall was owned by the government while the rest was privately owned, she said, adding that an inspection in April found that the wall did not pose immediate danger.
Tuen Mun district councillor Chan Wan-sang, who is helping the families of the dead couple, said the case might be taken over by the coroner.
If this happened, 'the two families will have to wait for the end of the legal procedure before they can seek compensation. Otherwise, the families ... seek compensation ... [now].'
