{
  "id": 6413871,
  "title": "Buildings Dep’t launches 259 prosecutions over works at fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, 9 months after fatal blaze",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/buildings-dept-launches-259-prosecutions-over-works-at-fire-hit-wang",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T11:24:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hong Kong Free Press",
    "slug": "hong-kong-free-press-hongkongfp",
    "url": "https://hongkongfp.com/2026/09/09/buildings-dept-launches-259-prosecutions-over-works-at-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-9-months-after-fatal-blaze/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Hong Kong Buildings Department has initiated over 200 prosecutions against four individuals and two companies responsible for renovation works at the fire-affected Wang Fuk Court. The 259 charges focus on the use of substandard materials and inadequate supervision of the renovation works, launched nine months after the fatal blaze. The inquiry, conducted jointly by the Buildings Department and the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit, revealed that a Registered Inspector failed to ensure the building's safety, while main contractor and project consultant allegedly permitted the use of non-fire-retardant materials during construction. These actions contributed to the deaths of 168 people and 79 injuries in the November 2024 fire. The two prosecuted companies are Will Power Architects and Prestige Construction & Engineering, while the individuals include Will Power's director Wong Hap-yin, Wilson Ng, and Prestige's directors Hau Wa-kin and Ho Kin-yip. The same four individuals were also charged with manslaughter in June. The findings align with those presented in hearings by an independent committee, which highlighted systemic issues such as potential collusive tendering, rubber-stamp inspections, and unauthorized proxy votes. The BD and Housing Bureau's ICU have since intensified regulation, inspections, and enforcement actions, including requiring fire-retardancy test reports and conducting random spot checks on 400 renovation projects.",
  "summary": "Hong Kong’s Buildings Department (BD) has launched more than 200 prosecutions against four individuals and two companies that were responsible for overseeing renovation works at fire-hit Wang Fuk Court when a deadly blaze tore through the estate last year. The 259 charges, covering the use of defective or substandard materials and failure to adequately supervise […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Buildings Dept. files 259 prosecutions over Wang Fuk Court renovation",
    "Charges focus on substandard materials, inadequate supervision",
    "168 deaths, 79 injuries in November 2024 fire"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "Buildings Dep’t launches 259 prosecutions over works at fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, 9 months after fatal blaze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/buildings-dept-launches-259-prosecutions-over-works-at-fire-hit-wang-6419675",
        "published": "2026-09-09T11:24:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}