Hong Kong’s Secretary for the Civil Service, Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan, confirmed on Saturday that senior public servants may be subject to disciplinary action depending on the findings of a government-appointed panel. The panel is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding a deadly fire that occurred in Tai Po last year. The report, which is expected to be submitted this month, will evaluate whether specific officials bear administrative responsibility for the incident.

To manage the potential fallout from the investigation, the government is creating a dedicated support unit. This unit is designed to assist the Public Service Commission, which is tasked with reviewing the conduct of civil servants. While the Secretary emphasized the importance of accountability, the exact nature of the disciplinary actions remains contingent on the final report’s conclusions. The investigation aims to determine if there were lapses in administrative oversight that contributed to the tragedy. As of now, no specific individuals have been named, and the government has not yet disclosed the full scope of the potential penalties officials might face if they are found to be at fault.