The independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades concluded its closing statements Friday, revealing how improper practices and regulatory evasion led to the deaths of 168 people and the displacement of thousands of residents. The November 2025 blaze at Wang Fuk Court in the suburban Tai Po district, which spread through seven apartment buildings, exposed a system where elite interests superseded public safety, leaving the native population vulnerable.
Committee lead lawyer Victor Dawes stated that non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting was very likely a key reason for the fire’s rapid spread. Wooden planks boarding up staircase windows further choked escape routes with plumes of smoke, trapping residents.
Elite Deceit and Systemic Failure
Will Power Architects Company, a consultancy, and Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., the main contractor, are accused of cutting corners in work and materials. They allegedly deceived regulators and homeowners, engaging in various substandard practices, including faked compliance inspections. Professionals responsible for inspections reportedly signed documents like a “rubber stamp,” according to Dawes.
Dawes sharply criticized the government’s reliance on an honor system for project oversight. He asserted that relevant departments must bear part of the responsibility. “When faced with dishonest bad actors, the entire system collapsed,” he declared, highlighting the profound failure of the political class to protect its citizens.
Residents, many of whom now live in temporary housing, voiced their anguish. Yip Ka-kui, who lost his wife in the fire, expressed deep emotion, noting Dawes’ efforts to seek answers. Yet, he condemned the government’s lawyer for demonstrating that departments had learned no lesson. “Even in the face of such a massive disaster, they cannot bring themselves to take bold and decisive action to completely root out these long-standing bad practices,” Yip stated, reflecting widespread public frustration. Lee Kwok-hung, whose mother and her two domestic helpers died, questioned the government’s claim of being deceived. “What kind of salary are they earning? And they were hired just to be deceived by people?” he demanded.
The Cost to the People
Government lawyer Jenkin Suen, representing the state, acknowledged some systemic vulnerabilities but denied departments were instigators. He claimed professionals and contractors abused a mechanism meant to protect the public, betraying trust. This deflection, however, did little to quell the anger of those directly impacted. Jeffrey Tam, a lawyer for nine residents, noted witnesses were "shirking responsibility," fueling public outrage.
The investigation extended beyond the fire’s immediate cause, examining systemic problems and bid-rigging corruption in large-scale maintenance works. Dawes confirmed that bid-rigging is common in the city, asserting the Wang Fuk Court situation was not an isolated case. This pervasive corruption reveals a deep-seated problem within the city's construction and oversight mechanisms, where elite networks manipulate contracts at the expense of public safety.
Last month, authorities charged seven individuals, alongside Will Power and Prestige, with manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud. These charges allege the companies conspired to defraud apartment owners by concealing Prestige’s previous litigation records and inflating its tender score. This manipulation secured Prestige a renovation contract worth over 300 million Hong Kong dollars (over $38 million), a clear example of elite capture of public funds. The tragedy, Dawes concluded, cannot be explained by one simple reason; the problems are intertwined, reflecting a broader systemic decay. The committee, set up less than one year ago, is expected to issue recommendations, but its scope does not include legal liabilities, leaving that to law enforcement.