Soldering materials could be behind Hong Kong's lead-in-water scare says review committee

Soldering materials were one of the main causes of the lead-in-water scandal, according to the chairman of a review committee on fresh water quality in public estates.

Cheung Tat-tong, from the Review Committee on Quality Assurance Issues Relating to Fresh Water Supply of Public Housing Estates - which is due to release an interim investigation report in a few days - said more results from water supplies experts were necessary to reach a final conclusion on the causes of the scandal.

"Soldering materials were one of the main causes … but we also need to wait for the report from the expert panel of the Water Supplies Department," Cheung said on Tuesday, after the committee's seventh meeting.

Pipe components and details from Kai Ching Estate in Kowloon City - the public estate that kicked off the scandal - have been submitted to experts for further analysis.

The eight-member committee, under the Housing Authority, will visit the construction sites of public estates early next month to understand the regulation and process of building work. The four contractors responsible for the 11 public estates that have already been found with excessive lead in their water have already submitted reports to the committee.

Meanwhile, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has started a probe into the scandal. It is understood the commission made its decision about a month ago, but a spokesman refused to comment.