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Three Hong Kong public housing tenants join tainted water probe

Three academics, two from overseas, will also participate in commission hearings to give their views on lead poisoning and better regulation

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Documents are brought in for the commission investigation being held at the Former French Mission Building in Central.Photo: Dickson Lee

Three public housing estate tenants affected by the lead-tainted-water scare have successfully sought to join a judge-led investigation into the scandal as concerned parties.

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In addition, two overseas scholars who have taken part in World Health Organisation work to prevent lead poisoning and improve drinking water safety and one local academic will serve as independent expert witnesses to help Hong Kong find ways to improve the regulation of drinking water quality.

The arrangements were laid out at the preliminary hearing of the Commission of Inquiry into Excess Lead Found in Drinking Water, set up to determine the causes of water contamination, evaluate the existing regulatory system and make appropriate recommendations.

The two-man panel is chaired by High Court judge Mr Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai, with former ombudsman Alan Lai Nin as commissioner.

The hearings will start on November 2.

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Two of the tenants, Lee Pui-yee of Kai Ching Estate and Liu Hui-ping of Kwai Luen Estate, are parents of children whose blood has been found to contain excessive lead.

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