Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying insisted he had taken full charge of the rescue operation, dismissing suggestions he was overshadowed by a Beijing liaison official during a hospital visit.
In an interview with the yesterday, Leung recounted how he had learned of the disaster while watching the National Day fireworks from the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. "When I heard that over 100 people were on board a vessel that was sinking … It was past nine o'clock. I could sense the proportion of the problem and I came straight back to the office."
He said that after a quick discussion with colleagues, they went to police headquarters to listen to a report by the deputy commissioner. Then they set up a control centre at Queen Mary Hospital - before Li Gang, deputy head of the liaison office of the central government in Hong Kong, arrived.
"I should appeal to all in Hong Kong about the need to get the facts right … I had been in hospital before Mr Li arrived.
"I told the press I had been using [the hospital] as a control centre because Dr Ko Wing-man, the food and health minister, had to be in the hospital."
Leung has been criticised for allowing Li to play a key role during the hospital visit. Li spoke for two minutes at the hospital, even becoming the first public official to confirm deaths. Leung said Li had initiated the visit himself.
