Final report on Wang Fuk delayed until end of October

The committee probing the fatal fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November has obtained authorization from Chief Executive John Lee to postpone the release of its report, extending the deadline to the end of October. Committee officials explained on Tuesday that the delay is necessary due to numerous and intricate issues within the committee's terms of reference.

More time is needed for the committee to thoroughly analyze and study the substantial volume of information submitted by various parties involved. The committee was established by the chief executive on December 12 last year to investigate the cause of the fire and propose measures to prevent similar incidents. It officially commenced its operations on December 19.

Since then, the committee has conducted site visits to the affected buildings, heard 30 days of oral testimony from 80 witnesses, and reviewed expert reports and legal submissions. The committee disclosed that it is still processing over one million files of written evidence and other materials currently being received, while the drafting of the report has already commenced.

While the original timeline anticipated the completion of the report within nine months, the committee requested - and subsequently received - the chief executive's approval for an extension. The committee now anticipates submitting its final report by the end of October. It emphasized its commitment to adhering to the principles of fairness, openness, and impartiality, and pledged to meticulously consider every piece of information received before finalizing its findings.