Hong Kong leader apologises for deadly Tai Po fire, pledges reforms

Hong Kong leader John Lee expressed regret on Thursday for the deadly Tai Po fire that claimed 168 lives last November, vowing to implement comprehensive reforms within the city's building industry and regulatory system. Lee delivered his statement shortly before releasing a detailed 1,000-page report by a judge-led panel, which revealed significant governance and supervision failures within Hong Kong's building-renovation system.

He also announced the resignation of Housing Secretary Winnie Ho, attributing partial responsibility to four government bodies, as the report suggested the fire was likely ignited by a glowing source, possibly from a cigarette.

Lee, as the chief executive and head of the government, expressed deep sorrow, apologizing to the victims and the public on behalf of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government. Ho was the first official to resign in response to the inferno. Hong Kong's Chief Secretary Eric Chan will now lead a steering committee to oversee the reforms recommended in the report, which includes criminalizing bid-rigging within the construction industry, punishable by fines up to HK$10 million and ten years in prison.

The committee determined contractor Prestige Construction & Engineering Co Ltd and project consultant Will Power Architects Co Ltd as primary responsible parties. Over 25 criminal charges, including manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and tax evasion, have been filed against Prestige, Will Power, and seven individuals.

However, the report also exposed widespread unlawful and dubious construction practices, labeling it a "corrupt eco-system." The rigging of bids involved numerous parties, including those linked to triad organized crime gangs. The report highlighted that government departments failed to take effective ownership of fire safety issues, with complaints about hazards falling through the cracks.

The blaze consumed seven 31-storey tower blocks in the Wang Fuk Court residential complex, undergoing renovation in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district, the deadliest fire in the city since 1948. Thousands of residents were displaced, leaving their homes uninhabitable. The committee conducted 30 hearings this year, interviewing 80 witnesses, including residents, property management, renovation personnel, engineers, fire experts, government officials, and regulators, evaluating over one million files and submissions to investigate the fire's cause and examine building renovation oversight.