Hong Kong to launch judge-led inquiry into fire that killed 151, as police arrest 13 for manslaughter and warn against politicising the tragedy.
HONG KONG: Chief Executive John Lee has ordered a judge-led independent committee to investigate the city’s deadliest fire in decades.
The blaze at Wang Fuk Court last week has claimed 151 lives, with around 30 people still missing.
Police have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter in a criminal investigation into the disaster.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has also arrested 12 people in a separate graft probe.
Authorities blame substandard plastic mesh and insulation foam used during renovation works for fuelling the rapid spread of the fire.
The fire engulfed seven high-rise towers that were home to more than 4,000 residents.
Lee stated the inquiry would examine the cause and rapid spread of the fire to prevent future tragedies.
He also issued a stern warning against exploiting the disaster.
“I will not tolerate any crimes, particularly crimes that exploit the tragedy that we are facing now,” Lee told a news conference.
His comments followed reports of detentions linked to the disaster, including a student activist.
China’s national security office in Hong Kong warned against using the fire to “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” of the 2019 protests.
Investigators have found that fire-retardant mesh samples from the scaffolding failed safety standards.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan said contractors hid the substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas from inspectors.
Residents had raised concerns about fire hazards posed by the renovations as early as September 2024.
The Labour Department had told them they faced “relatively low fire risks” following those complaints.
Fire alarms at the residential complex were also not working properly when the blaze broke out.
Search teams in hazardous materials suits are still scouring the two most severely damaged towers for victims.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confirmed more than 60 pets perished in the fire.
Authorities are providing emergency funds of HK$10,000 to each affected household.
They are also assisting with reissuing identity cards, passports, and marriage certificates lost in the fire.
Legislative elections scheduled for Sunday will proceed as planned, Lee confirmed.
