An independent committee investigating Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades heard final arguments Wednesday as survivors and bereaved families expressed frustration that those responsible are deflecting accountability for the November blaze that killed 168 people.
The fire engulfed seven buildings at Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in suburban Tai Po district, shattering a close-knit community that housed thousands. Former residents and relatives of the deceased have been waiting for answers since the Hong Kong city government established the committee in December with an expectation that the work would take nine months.
A Cascade of Safety Failures
When hearings began four months ago, committee lead lawyer Victor Dawes said evidence showed multiple factors contributed to the disaster. Fire alarms and hose systems were shut off. Non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting was used. Windows were covered with foam boards.
Lawyer Martin Ho, representing ISS EastPoint Properties, said the property management company's in-house electrician inadvertently switched off the fire alarm system when emptying water tanks. The mistake was regrettable but could have been avoided if the complex's fire service installation contractor had been present during the process, Ho said. Another installation contractor later noted the issue but didn't follow up properly, Ho said, adding that a director of that contractor pointed to the industry's mentality of not teaching other companies how to work. The lawyer called it "baffling."
Aaron Chan, a lawyer for a director of one of the fire service installation contractors, said his client agreed the fire alarm system would help reduce casualties but hoped the committee could consider the window to escape might be very short and other factors. Judge David Lok, who led the committee, stepped in and asked Chan not to tell him the alarms are useless. Chan quickly denied it but said he wanted to present other factors for consideration.
Residents See Responsibility Dodged
Some Wang Fuk Court residents who listened to Wednesday's arguments said part of those involved in the incident seemed to be trying to deflect responsibility. Betty Ho was unsure if she could learn the truth, but said she hoped the committee could find justice for the deceased victims. "I don't think we'll get what we hoped for in the end," she said.
Patrick Liu said he doesn't have much expectation. "Basically, everyone is just shirking responsibility. There's no need to even think about it," Liu said, adding that he learned about what had happened but he still needed to wait for the committee's report and a court trial to fully understand who should be accountable.
Systemic Corruption Under Scrutiny
The committee also is examining whether systemic problems such as bid-rigging have occurred in Hong Kong's large-scale building maintenance and renovation works. A representative of the Competition Commission, an antitrust organization, said Wednesday that bid-rigging groups existed in the city and in some cases were associated with criminal groups known as triads.
The three-member committee is led by High Court Judge David Lok and includes Chan Kin-por, a member of the city's Executive Council, and Rex Auyeung, who serves on the Hospital Authority Board. The panel is expected to give suggestions after reviewing the fire's cause, potential systemic problems and whether existing regulations and penalties are sufficient.
Former residents, government officers and experts have given evidence in previous rounds of hearings. CCTV footage, documents and records of text messages also were used as evidence. Lawyers representing residents, the government and the committee are expected to lay out their arguments before the hearings conclude Friday.
Criminal Charges Filed
Hong Kong authorities charged seven people and two companies last month with offenses including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud over the fire. The companies include Will Power Architects Company, a consultancy, and Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., the main contractor involved in a major renovation project at Wang Fuk Court at the time of the blaze.
Authorities alleged the people in charge of the renovation project and the relevant companies were seriously negligent in monitoring the materials used in the project and the procedures involved. They also alleged the two companies and some defendants conspired to defraud Wang Fuk Court apartment owners by concealing previous Prestige litigation records and inflating the firm's score in a tender analysis report.
The scope of the panel does not include possible legal liabilities for those linked to the fire's outbreak, which will be handled by law enforcement authorities.
Why This Matters:
The Wang Fuk Court fire exposes how inadequate oversight of building safety and maintenance can have catastrophic human consequences. When fire alarms are disabled, contractors don't communicate, and bid-rigging corrupts the selection process, working families pay the ultimate price. The testimony reveals an industry culture where companies prioritize profits over safety protocols and deflect accountability when disaster strikes. For the 168 people who died and the thousands displaced, systemic failures in regulation and enforcement weren't abstract policy problems—they were fatal. The committee's findings will test whether Hong Kong's government is willing to strengthen protections for residents in aging housing complexes or whether corporate negligence will continue to go effectively unpunished. Survivors' skepticism about getting justice reflects a broader concern about whether institutions prioritize corporate interests over public safety.