Hong Kong’s leader announced on Tuesday that a judge-led independent committee will be established to investigate the city’s deadliest fire in decades — a blaze that has already claimed at least 151 lives and left the city in shock. The probe will examine not only the cause of the inferno but also the renovation oversight failures and substandard materials that authorities believe intensified the disaster.
Police have launched a criminal investigation and arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter. In a parallel inquiry, the city’s anti-corruption watchdog has detained 12 individuals over possible graft linked to the renovation works. Officials have not clarified whether any of the suspects are being investigated under both cases.
Authorities say that plastic mesh and insulation foam used during renovation works at Wang Fuk Court — materials that failed to meet fire-safety standards — acted as fuel for the flames. The blaze spread rapidly across seven high-rise towers that housed more than 4,000 residents, making rescue operations extraordinarily difficult.
Chief Executive John Lee said the independent inquiry aims to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. “The committee will examine the reasons behind the fire, the rapid spread, and all related issues,” he told reporters. Investigators have already searched five of the seven charred towers, where they discovered bodies in stairwells and on rooftops — signs that many victims were trapped while attempting to escape. About 30 people remain missing.
Growing public anger over accountability has prompted calls for transparency, even as the government warns against “politicising” the tragedy. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have cautioned activist groups and individuals not to exploit the incident, with the national security office issuing stern warnings against actions that could “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” of 2019.
When asked about the reported detention of a student activist and two others under investigation for sedition, Lee said only that he would “not tolerate any crimes,” especially those that “exploit the tragedy.” He did not address the specific arrests.
Rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have criticised the response, saying authorities should focus on investigating the fire rather than detaining people raising questions. Amnesty urged the city to commit to a transparent process, warning against silencing legitimate concerns.
Meanwhile, residents of Wang Fuk Court say they had raised alarms months before the fire. According to the Labour Department, residents complained in September 2024 about dangerous conditions posed by renovation works, particularly the flammability of the scaffolding mesh. Officials later revealed that samples of the green mesh failed fire-retardant tests. Chief Secretary Eric Chan said contractors used substandard materials in concealed areas, making them hard for inspectors to detect. Investigators also found that foam insulation contributed to the rapid spread and that fire alarms in the complex were malfunctioning.
The death toll includes at least nine Indonesian domestic workers and one from the Philippines, prompting vigils and solidarity gatherings across Hong Kong. Additional memorial events are scheduled this week in Tokyo, Taipei, and London.
Search teams, clad in hazmat suits and protective gear, continue sifting through debris in the two most severely damaged towers — a process officials say may take weeks. Images released by police show rooms reduced to blackened shells, ash-covered furniture, and waist-deep water left from days of firefighting.
The fire also devastated the community’s pets: more than 60 animals, including cats, dogs, and turtles, were killed, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Over 200 animals survived and were rescued.
With more than 4,000 people displaced, the government has been working to stabilise the lives of survivors. Nearly 1,500 evacuees have moved from emergency shelters into temporary housing, while another 945 have been placed in youth hostels and hotels. Authorities are providing HK$10,000 (US$1,284) in emergency aid per household and assisting residents in replacing identity documents, passports, and marriage certificates lost in the fire.
Legislative elections scheduled for Sunday will proceed as planned, Chief Executive Lee confirmed, saying the government will ensure the polls are held safely despite the ongoing rescue operation.
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