Senior judge Michael Lunn to head safety inquiry after deadly Hong Kong bus crash
Independent panel, to start work this month, expected to hand in report on bus safety and management issues within nine months in light of accident that killed 19
A High Court judge in Hong Kong who previously led an inquiry into the Lamma ferry disaster of 2012 will lead an independent review of bus safety and management issues in the wake of the city’s deadliest bus crash in more than a decade.
Eight of those injured were still in hospital on Tuesday, one in serious condition.
“The purpose and objective of this independent review committee is to ensure the safety and reliability of Hong Kong’s franchised bus services,” Lam said.
“The franchised bus service plays a very important role in Hong Kong’s public transport, and is responsible for 4 million passenger trips every day.”
The two other panel members were Lingnan University council chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-kuen and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology chair professor and head of civil and environmental engineering Lo Hong-kam. Lam said the two were experts in corporate management and transport planning.
Lam said the committee’s scope of work had three parts: to review the operation and management of franchised buses; to review the monitoring and supervision of franchised buses; and to make recommendations to her office to maintain the safety and reliability of the city’s franchised buses.
Investigations into the reasons for the fatal bus crash and legal responsibilities would be under the purview of the police, Lam said.
This current review committee does not have extensive powers given to the two previous inquiries, which were set up under Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance, according to a spokesman of the chief executive’s office. Under the ordinance, a commission has the power to summon any persons to give evidence, inspect any premises, issue warrants for the seizure of articles and documents and appoint someone to inspect all the books and documents related to a corporation.
Instead, according to its terms of reference, the committee is allowed to invite submissions from interested parties and the public on the areas under review.
In a brief statement, committee member Rex Auyeung said: “I will do my best to support the committee chairman and the working team to review the system and make appropriate recommendations in due course.”
The review comes as bus companies face intense pressure to address the grievances of drivers, who feel overworked and underpaid.
Lam said it would be impossible to avoid matters such as working conditions in the review, as they were related to the operation and management of franchised services.