The Hong Kong Railway Inspectorate (HKRI) was formerly a small regulatory body within the Transport and Housing Bureau

Transport and Housing Bureau

The Transport and Housing Bureau is an agency of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for a range of activities such as the internal and external transportation, including air services, land transport, maritime transport and logistics in Hong Kong....

, responsible for overseeing the safe operation of railways in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

. In February 2008, it was aborbed into the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department is responsible for a wide range of services and policy in Hong Kong. The department is under the Development Bureau and the current Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services is Stephen Chan....

 as its Railways Branch, having always received substantial technical support, including most of its staff, from EMSD.

The HKRI oversaw the railway lines operated by the MTR Corporation

MTR Corporation

MTR Corporation Limited is a company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and included in the Hang Seng Index. MTR owns and runs the Hong Kong MTR metro system, and is also a major property developer and landlord in Hong Kong...

 and the automated people mover

People mover

A people mover or automated people mover is a fully automated, grade-separated mass transit system.The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks, but is sometimes applied to considerably more complex automated...

 operated by the Airport Authority

Airport Authority Hong Kong

The Airport Authority Hong Kong is the statutory body of the government of Hong Kong that is responsible for the operations of the Hong Kong International Airport.-History:...

 in the terminal building of the Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...

. It was earlier responsible for the railway lines operated by the former Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation.

Its main functions were:
(a) investigation of railway incidents
(b) oversight of safety practices by the railway operators
(c) assessment and approval of new railways and major modifications
(d) assessment and follow up of improvement measures by railway operators.

The HKRI was established in 1990 and was attached to the
then Transport Branch of the Government Secretariat

Government Secretariat (Hong Kong)

The Government Secretariat is collectively formed by the Offices of the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary and twelve policy bureaux....

which is now the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB). The HKRI consisted of (at its demise) nine staff.