Deputy Secretary for Security Cheung Siu-hing says there is no need to set up an independent committee to investigate last month's Tsim Sha Tsui shootout for the time being, adding the Government would wait until the possible judicial procedure was finished, before considering an independent inquiry.

Speaking at a Legislative Council meeting this afternoon, Ms Cheung said the Police had launched a criminal investigation and would ensure the probe was conducted in a fair and impartial way.

The Police have submitted a preliminary report to the coroner's court and a final report will be submitted in the coming weeks. The coroner will then decide whether to launch an inquest into the deaths.

Since an inquest may be launched, Ms Cheung said it would be more appropriate to wait till the possible judicial procedure was finished, before considering an independent inquiry.

Final report covers three cases

Assistant Commissioner of Police Lee Ka-chiu said the final report would present evidence of three cases - the Tsim Sha Tsui shootout in mid-March, the Leung Shing-yan case in 2001, and the bank robbery on Castle Peak Road in 2001.

Hoping that the coroner would give verdicts for all three cases, Mr Lee said it was up to the coroner to decide how to handle the incidents.

He said Police had sufficient evidence to prove that the suspect, who was shot dead in the Tsim Sha Tsui shootout, was involved in all three cases.