In Hong Kong, a probe into the city’s deadliest blaze in recent memory has revealed alarming oversights. An independent committee is nearing the end of its investigation into the November fire that devastated an apartment complex, killing 168 people and displacing thousands in Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court.
The fire’s rapid spread across seven buildings was largely blamed on the use of non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting during a major renovation. Committee lead lawyer Victor Dawes highlighted that substandard practices, including the use of wooden planks that blocked smoke escape routes, played a significant role. A consultancy, Will Power Architects Company, and the main contractor, Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., were accused of cutting corners and deceiving regulators. “Certain professionals responsible for inspections signed documents like a ‘rubber stamp,’” Dawes noted.
Beyond the companies, Dawes criticized the government’s oversight, emphasizing the systemic failure when faced with dishonest actors. He stated, “When faced with dishonest bad actors, the entire system collapsed.”
Residents Express Discontent
During the final hearing, emotions ran high among residents. Yip Ka-kui, who lost his wife in the fire, expressed his frustration over the government’s failure to learn from the tragedy. He remarked on the government’s lack of decisive action, echoing the concerns of others like Lee Kwok-hung, who questioned the competence of government employees deceived by contractors. “What kind of salary are they earning? And they were hired just to be deceived by people?” Lee asked.
On the government’s behalf, Lawyer Jenkin Suen acknowledged weaknesses in the system but insisted that the departments were not the fire’s instigators. The trust placed in professionals and contractors was betrayed, Suen explained.
Jeffrey Tam, representing nine residents, pointed out that some witnesses appeared more interested in avoiding responsibility than uncovering the truth. He said, “We heard some witnesses appear that they just wanted to be shirking responsibility.”
Widespread Bid-Rigging Concerns
The committee also explored the potential involvement of systemic corruption and bid-rigging in the maintenance works. Dawes highlighted that bid-rigging was not isolated to Wang Fuk Court. Recently, authorities charged seven individuals, alongside Will Power and Prestige, with crimes including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud. These charges stem from allegations of concealing litigation records and manipulating tender scores to secure a lucrative contract worth over 300 million Hong Kong dollars.
High Court judge David Lok is set to lead the committee in making recommendations after evaluating the fire’s cause and potential systemic issues. Though the panel’s findings are pending, the investigation sets out to address regulatory gaps and suggest improvements, while law enforcement will handle legal liabilities.
