Hong Kong leader orders probe into deadly inferno
An independent committee will investigate the cause of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, including an audit of renovation works blamed for the disaster that killed 151 people.
Police arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter as part of a criminal investigation into last week’s disaster; The anti-corruption agency also arrested 12 people as part of its investigation into possible corruption.
It is unclear whether any of these individuals have been arrested for either crime.
Officials pointed out that substandard plastic mesh and insulation foam used during renovation work at Wang Fuk Court fueled the fire, which quickly spread through seven high-rise towers that house more than 4,000 people.
“To prevent similar tragedies from happening again, I will establish an independent committee led by judges to examine the cause of the fire, its rapid spread and related issues,” Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said at a press conference on Tuesday. he said.
Investigators combed all but two of the seven burned towers and found the bodies of residents trapped in stairwells and on rooftops trying to escape the flames.
Approximately 30 people are still missing.
As public anger grows, some groups have called for greater transparency and accountability, with Beijing and Hong Kong warning that any attempt to politicize the disaster will be severely punished.
Asked about the detention of one student from the groups and two others who had reportedly opened an investigation into possible rioting by the media, Lee said: “I will not tolerate any crime, especially crimes that exploit the tragedy we are currently facing.”
He did not comment on specific cases.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticized the reported arrests.
“Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire, rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions,” Amnesty International said.
China’s national security office warned individuals not to use the disaster to “plunge Hong Kong back into chaos” in 2019, when mass pro-democracy protests challenged Beijing and triggered a political crisis.
Lee said Sunday’s legislative elections will take place as planned.
The city’s labor department said residents of Wang Fuk Court were told by authorities they faced “relatively low fire risks” in 2024 after complaining about fire hazards created by renovations.
A department spokesman said residents had raised concerns about the potential for flammability of the netting contractors used to cover the scaffolding.
Officials overseeing the investigations said tests on several samples of green netting wrapped around bamboo scaffolding in the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards.
General Secretary Eric Chan said contractors working on the renovations used these substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas and effectively hid them from inspectors.
Foam insulation used by contractors also fueled the flames and fire alarms at the complex were not working properly, officials said.
Thousands of residents gathered to pay tribute to the victims, including at least nine housemaids from Indonesia and one from the Philippines.
Vigils will also be held in Tokyo, Taipei and London this week.
Officials said the buildings being searched for remains were the most severely damaged and the search could take weeks.
The apartment blocks were home to more than 4000 people.
Approximately 1,500 people were moved from evacuation centers to temporary shelters; 945 people were placed in youth dormitories and hotels.
