HK races to remove mesh blamed for fuelling deadly fire
Hong Kong authorities are rushing to remove all nets from buildings undergoing renovations across the city after the materials were blamed for fueling a fire that killed at least 159 people.
The government late Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of scaffolding nets on all public and private residential buildings by Saturday to “protect public safety and reassure residents and businesses.”
The move comes as authorities investigate the cause of the city’s deadliest fire in decades, which they say fueled an inferno that engulfed seven high-rise apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex last Wednesday.
Renovations to the financial center will effectively come to a halt for an indefinite period while inspectors verify that the networks meet security standards.
Police detained 21 people in their investigation into the fire.
These include 15 people suspected of manslaughter from various construction companies, including two executives and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction, the main contractor of Wang Fuk Court.
Six more fire installation contractors were arrested on suspicion of fraud.
Authorities said substandard plastic mesh and insulation foam used during renovations at the dilapidated property likely fueled the 40-hour inferno, and fire alarms were not working properly.
The city’s Works Department said residents of Wang Fuk Court, home to 4,600 people, were told by officials they faced “relatively low fire risks” in 2024 after they complained about fire hazards created by renovations.
In response to calls for transparency and accountability, city leader John Lee directed a judge-led committee to investigate the fire and review oversight of building renovations.
More than 200 private buildings, as well as more than 10 public housing and government buildings, will have to remove the networks, Development Minister Bernadette Linn said on Wednesday, adding that contractors would have to cover the costs.
Hong Kong’s construction department plans to issue a new code of practice next week requiring field sampling of all scaffolding netting materials.
Networks will only be installed after their compliance with the relevant requirements has been confirmed by the relevant laboratories.
Authorities also suspect fake security documents for networks from a Shandong-based manufacturer used at two refurbishment facilities in the city.
Wang Fuk Court’s main contractor, Prestige, is involved in renovation work at one of those sites, according to officials and notices at the site seen by Reuters.
Prestige did not respond to calls and letters left at its closed offices.
Authorities say 140 of the 159 bodies found since the Wang Fuk Court fire have been identified: 91 women and 49 men, aged between 1 and 97.
Among the 31 people still missing are foreign domestic helpers from Indonesia and the Philippines.
The government said more than 2,900 residents were placed in temporary accommodation, while 1,152 were staying in hostels, camps or hotel rooms.
Another 1,765 residents were moved into temporary housing units.
