Hong Kong Leader Orders Independent Inquiry After Devastating High-Rise Fire Kills Over 150

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to thoroughly investigate the causes behind a catastrophic high-rise fire that has claimed the lives of at least 151 people. The death toll from the blaze, which is the deadliest the city has experienced in over 70 years, is feared to rise as recovery efforts continue.

The inferno erupted last Wednesday, engulfing seven of eight tower blocks within the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, which was undergoing extensive renovations. Investigators have since determined that the protective netting used around the structures did not meet flame-retardant standards. To date, 13 individuals, including directors of a construction company, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Chief Executive Lee announced that the new committee would be led by a judge and tasked with implementing “comprehensive reform” to “prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.” When questioned at a news conference about his leadership during this crisis, Mr. Lee acknowledged the necessity for reform but did not directly address the query. “Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked,” he stated.

The fire spread rapidly, both vertically and across separate blocks, fueled by the protective mesh netting and other flammable materials on the exterior of the buildings. It took more than 2,000 firefighters approximately 40 hours to bring the blaze under control, finally extinguishing it by Friday morning. Police commenced entering the buildings for evidence collection the same day, with authorities indicating the investigation could span three to four weeks.

Concerns have also been raised regarding safety protocols, as several residents reported not hearing a fire alarm when the blaze ignited. Millenium TV has learned that the Hong Kong fire service discovered alarms in all eight blocks were not functioning effectively. In response, Hong Kong’s buildings department has temporarily halted work on 30 private construction projects.

In a separate development, Millenium TV can confirm the detention of a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was reportedly part of a group advocating for an independent inquiry into the fire, having been involved in an online petition that garnered over 10,000 signatures before its content was removed. Two other individuals, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by police.

Addressing these arrests on Tuesday, Mr. Lee reiterated his stance that “criminals that commit offences must be taken to justice,” emphasizing, “I will not tolerate any crimes, particularly crimes that exploit the tragedy that we are facing now.” The arrests have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, with Amnesty International stating, “Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire… rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions.”

Wang Fuk Court, constructed in 1983, provided 1,984 apartments for an estimated 4,600 residents, with nearly 40% of its inhabitants being 65 years or older. This tragedy surpasses the city’s second-deadliest fire on record, which killed 176 people in 1948, and is only exceeded by the 1918 Happy Valley Racecourse fire that claimed over 600 lives.