"Lee said there had been serious problems regarding construction and supervision, and that people would be held accountable. What do we know about the Hong Kong fire probe? Lee, the territory's chief executive, said a judge-led committee would conduct a review of building practices. Officials have said the blaze spread rapidly through exterior scaffolding netting that failed to meet fire-resistance standards. Lee said authorities had already identified multiple failures and that reforms would be needed in safety rules, supervision procedures and overall standards."
""I call for a thorough investigation and serious reform," said Lee. "We will overcome the obstacles of vested interests and pursue accountability, regardless of who he or she is." "The shortcomings will be addressed," he said. "The bottlenecks will be addressed. And we will reform the whole building renovation system to ensure that such things will not happen again." While Hong Kong normally relies on such "commissions of inquiry" for major fact-finding investigations, a system inherited from British rule, Lee used the term "independent committee.""
A judge-led independent committee will review building practices after a Hong Kong housing-block fire that killed at least 151 people. The blaze spread rapidly through exterior scaffolding netting that failed fire-resistance standards and reached seven of the complex's eight towers, burning for more than 40 hours. High winds and substandard materials, including highly flammable foam panels and non–flame-retardant green construction netting, contributed to the spread. Multiple failures were identified, prompting promised reforms in safety rules, supervision procedures, and overall standards. Detentions have been made and accountability will be pursued while the building renovation system is reformed.
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