Source: OT-Team(G), 北京日报; 南方都市报
Hong Kong authorities have identified serious safety lapses connected to the devastating fire at Hong Fuk Court in Tai Po, and believe that the use of non-fire-retardant renovation nets contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.
The scandal first came to light after residents questioned whether the scaffolding nets installed during ongoing exterior maintenance met fire-resistance standards. Mrs. Wong, a long-time resident, told reporters that the estate's protective nets had been replaced after being torn down in a typhoon earlier this year. Her account was later corroborated by a repair notice issued by the contractor in September.
Alleged Scheme to Evade Inspection
On 1 December, ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh revealed that during post-typhoon repairs in July, individuals involved in the project purchased 2,300 rolls of protective netting that did not meet fire-retardant requirements—an amount sufficient to cover eight residential blocks.
Fearing detection after a separate major fire in Central's Hysan Place in late October, the same parties then allegedly acquired 115 rolls of compliant materials and installed them only at structural corners and locations easily visible to inspectors, while leaving most non-compliant nets in place. ICAC suspects the operation was an intentional attempt to "pass fake as real" and mislead government checks.
Death Toll Rises as Search Continues
According to the Hong Kong SAR Government, as of 4 p.m. on 1 December, the blaze had resulted in 151 confirmed deaths, making it one of the deadliest residential fires in Hong Kong's recent history. Search and rescue operations continue, with around 30 people still unaccounted for.
Chief Executive John Lee announced on 2 December the establishment of a judge-led independent commission of inquiry to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and systemic issues behind it.
14 Arrested; Manslaughter Charges Expected
Police and the ICAC have jointly arrested 14 individuals, including engineering consultants and contractor representatives. Thirteen of them are under investigation for manslaughter.
Police Criminal and Security Deputy Commissioner Chan Tung said the investigation is proceeding along three main lines:
1. The cause of the fire;
2. Why the blaze spread so rapidly and caused such high casualties, including the role of non-retardant nets and combustible foam panels that caused windows to explode and allowed flames to enter apartments;
3. The responsibilities and potential criminal liability of all companies and individuals involved.
ICAC has also launched a corruption probe into whether bribery or bid-rigging influenced the selection of materials and contractors.
Background: Long-Standing Structural Issues and Escalating Costs
Completed in 1983, Hong Fuk Court comprises eight blocks and 1,984 units. The estate was found to have multiple structural and exterior defects in a mandatory building inspection in 2016. After tendering in 2023, Hong Yip Construction won the repair contract at HK$152 million—though project costs later surged to HK$330 million, sparking significant resident dissatisfaction.
Citywide Safety Crackdown
In the aftermath of the fire, the Hong Kong government has launched territory-wide inspections of buildings undergoing exterior renovation and scaffolding installations.
By 1 December, the Buildings Department had inspected 359 buildings, taking samples from 300 scaffolding sites for fire-retardant testing.
The Housing Bureau also reported discovering improper sealing of windows with plastic boards at a Shek Kip Mei estate during special inspections, leading to immediate removal orders and possible prosecution. Meanwhile, the Labour Department has carried out targeted enforcement actions, issuing 45 written warnings, 12 improvement notices, and proceeding with two prosecutions at 51 major construction sites.
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