TWO justices of the peace have been commissioned by Governor Chris Patten to conduct an independent inquiry into last week's tear-gassing of 1,500 Vietnamese boat people in a military-style operation which left hundreds of people injured.
The inquiry, which has been given wide-ranging terms of reference, follows admissions by the Government on Wednesday that it had not revealed the full facts about the number of injuries or the amount of tear-gas used at the Whitehead detention centre.
Evidence that includes police videos, used tear-gas canisters and the weapons seized in a search of the camp have been secured under orders from the Attorney-General Jeremy Mathews.
Professor David Todd and Executive Councillor Andrew Li Kwok-nang have until July 10 to report to Mr Patten on: The use of force in the operation; The injuries alleged to have been sustained by some of the Vietnamese inmates; The release of information concerning the operation; To advise whether any changes or improvements should be made in the conduct of such operations.
At the time of the incident, which involved the transfer of 1,500 people from the Whitehead detention centre to High Island detention centre, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) said only one woman had been injured and taken to hospital and about 250 tear-gas canisters were fired.
On Wednesday, the acting Secretary for Security, Ken Woodhouse, said more than 200 people sought medical treatment from the British Red Cross clinic at High Island on the day of the operation and in subsequent days.