Judge-led independent panel to probe HK fire

A judge-led independent committee will be established to conduct comprehensive reviews of the fatal fire in Tai Po, with a view to fixing flaws in Hong Kong's building works system and preventing similar tragedies, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Wang Fuk Court fire — which broke out on Wednesday and burned for 43 hours — had claimed 156 lives, with 40 more people still receiving hospital treatment.

Residents of Wang Chi House, the sole unaffected building in Wang Fuk Court, will be allowed to return to their homes on Wednesday and Thursday to retrieve essential belongings, police said.

At a briefing before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee listed eight areas where serious negligence had occurred and systematic reforms are required. They include safety during repair works and daily maintenance standards, any improperly connected interests or collusion among parties, the thoroughness of materials lists, and the effectiveness of inspection regimes.

He said accountability needs to be determined for all relevant parties, including government departments and accredited professionals.

"I will contact the judicial authority to invite a judge to chair the review committee's work and examine its detailed work scope," Lee said.

Since the fire, communities in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland have devoted efforts to help those affected. Donations received or pledged under the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, launched by the government with a startup fund of HK$300 million ($38.5 million), have reached HK$2.3 billion.

He also thanked central authorities and rescue teams from the mainland for providing crucial support such as medical supplies, emergency lighting appliances and drones to facilitate rescue and relief operations.

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, has commended the HKSAR government's relief efforts and pledged full support to continue the work, Lee said.

Xia and officials from the Ministry of Emergency Management visited Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Monday and were briefed on developments in the fire's relief efforts.

As of Tuesday, the ministry had coordinated with relevant government departments and public welfare foundations to provide two batches of equipment and materials for rescue and relief, including portable outdoor charging stations, blowers, protective suits and organic vapor filter boxes. Most of the equipment has been delivered to Hong Kong and made available to on-site search and rescue personnel.

Tuesday marked the seventh day following the devastating fire, the "first seven" in traditional Chinese funeral custom — a day of remembrance for the deceased.

Public resting areas and lawns near Wang Fuk Court were set aside as spaces for people across the city to place white flowers, paper cranes, and cards with blessings on Tuesday.

At Tai Po's Kwong Fuk sitting-out area, people gathered to console one another. Many wore sunglasses and masks, though tear-filled eyes and red noses were still visible.

The site also included a section for pet owners to commemorate animals that perished, with cat and dog food placed nearby. One note read: "Farewell my little one. Be happy on the rainbow bridge."

A Tai Po resident surnamed Chui brought flowers with friends to honor those who died. "Today is already the 'first seven'. Hopefully, everyone can look forward, as life must go on," she said. Chui has lived in the Tai Po district for more than 20 years and walks past Wang Fuk Court every day.

"It's hard for us, especially the residents of the court, to face this area," she said with a sigh.

One resident wrote her blessings on a card and spoke with a volunteer who had come to provide comfort. "Everyone of us is a parent, a child or a neighbor. Hopefully, the government can find out the truth about the fire," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

At the same news conference, Lee also announced that the General Election for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's eighth-term Legislative Council will be held as scheduled on Sunday, citing a functioning legislature as indispensable to the city's recovery and reforms following the Tai Po blaze.