Hong Kong's leader John Lee has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.
Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex - which had been undergoing extensive renovations - went up in flames. Investigators have since found that a protective netting used around the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.
At least 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a construction company. The fire is the deadliest the city has seen in more than 70 years and the death toll could rise further as officials continue to recover bodies.
Chief Executive Lee stated that the committee would be led by a judge and would conduct comprehensive reform, adding that he would work to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. Asked at a news conference why he should keep his job, Mr. Lee acknowledged the need 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 said.
The fire spread rapidly upwards and between the blocks, only being fully doused by Friday morning, approximately 40 hours after it ignited, with over 2,000 firefighters deployed to combat it. Meanwhile, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence, with authorities estimating the investigation could last three to four weeks.
Authorities have noted that flames quickly traversed the building's outer structures, exacerbated by flammable materials on the site. Several residents reported the absence of fire alarms during the incident, which have since been revealed to have been ineffective across all eight towers.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended work on 30 private projects following the incident. Separately, police have detained a 24-year-old man suspected of sedition for participating in a petition demanding an independent inquiry into the fire, alongside two others for allegedly committing offenses linked to public disorder.
Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned these arrests, with Amnesty emphasizing the need for a transparent investigation rather than silencing legitimate inquiries. Lee insisted on holding accountable anyone taking advantage of the tragedy, affirming, I will not tolerate any crimes, particularly crimes that exploit the tragedy that we are facing now. The Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, housed nearly 4,600 residents, many of whom are elderly.
The fire is reminiscent of past tragedies in Hong Kong, including the second-deadliest fire in 1948, which killed 176 people.
