HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government is setting up an independent commission of inquiry to look into a tap water contamination scare in the city.
The move comes after excessive amounts of lead were found in the tap water at three public housing estates, affecting thousands of households.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said a judge would be appointed to head the commission, and would have a wide brief to find out how and why the contamination happened and to review the current systems in place.
Authorities have yet to trace the source of the contamination.
Mr Leung said: "Our first priority is to identify as soon as we can the source of contamination and to focus our work on the testing of water samples on certain estates in Hong Kong will help us in that regard."
Tests are being carried out in 10 public housing estates. The Housing Authority revealed that two samples of soldering material used in pipes at the affected Kai Ching estate in Kowloon City contained 50 percent lead.
It ruled out pipes brought from the mainland as the source of contamination.
The housing minister has put the responsibility on the main contractors of the housing estates, namely China State Construction International and Shui On.
Anthony Cheung, Secretary for Transport and Housing, said: "Through the main contractors, we're trying to install downpipes from the rooftop water tanks to each floor so that the inconvenience to individual households will be reduced.
"At the same time, the Housing Authority is talking to the main contractors on the non-compliance with contract conditions, and that the contractors make good whatever's been done wrong."
A separate task force established to look into the cause of the water contamination at two of the public housing estates held its first meeting on Friday (Jul 17).
- CNA/al
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/asiapacific/hk-government-sets-up-coi/1991006.html
