Hong Kong apartment fires: hearings to begin into Wang Fuk blaze that killed 168 people

"The blaze on 26 November at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise apartment complex in the financial hub's Tai Po district, was the world's deadliest residential building fire since 1980. It engulfed seven out of eight residential towers in the complex, which were undergoing renovations and covered in bamboo scaffolding, protective netting and foam boards that may have contributed to the fire's rapid spread."

"A judge-led independent committee will investigate whether fire safety standards were inadequate, if construction practices contributed to the fire, and if there were failures on the part of government officers or contractors."

"The committee's website said it will also seek to determine whether there were more systemic problems, such as undue connected interests, conflicts of roles, or improper collusion and whether bid-rigging corruption, or irregularities were involved in the tendering process of these works."

Hong Kong is conducting a judge-led independent investigation into a devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in November that killed 168 people, making it the world's deadliest residential building fire since 1980. The inquiry will examine whether fire safety standards were inadequate, if construction practices contributed to the rapid spread, and whether government officers or contractors failed in their duties. The complex was undergoing renovations with bamboo scaffolding, protective netting, and foam boards that may have accelerated the fire. The investigation will also explore systemic issues including conflicts of interest, corruption, and bid-rigging in the tendering process. Witnesses include government officials, residents, construction firm directors, and management committee members. Parallel criminal investigations have resulted in 38 arrests for manslaughter suspicion and 6 for fraud, while anti-corruption authorities arrested 23 additional people.

Read at www.theguardian.com