Hong Kong lawmakers are to probe a cop shootout that left two officers dead amid growing concerns over the way police are handling the investigation, a media report said yesterday.
The Legislative Council's security panel will look into the deaths of Tsui Po-ko (徐步高) and Tsang Kwok-hang (曾國衡), who died in a shootout in an underpass on March 17. A third officer, Sin Ka-keung (洗嘉強), survived with gunshot wounds.
Police have said the midnight gunbattle flared up spontaneously and blamed Tsui for starting it by attacking the other two because he wanted their ammunition.
Media, citing police sources, have poured doubt on the official explanation.
It is widely believed the three clashed over a multi-billion dollar soccer betting syndicate that is allegedly rooted within the police force.
The Sunday Morning Post said that lawmakers would meet on Friday to discuss whether an independent inquiry was necessary.
"There are areas of concern and I would say a panel meeting would be justified," security panel member Audrey Eu (
Lawmakers were worried that public concerns, including those on the alleged links to soccer betting -- which have been denied by police -- were not being addressed in the investigation, the paper said.
James To (涂謹申), who heads the panel, said lawmakers may use an untried legal provision to force a public inquest into the killings, the newspaper added.
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