Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu during a press conference on Tuesday before attending the Executive Council meeting. Photo: downloaded from RTHK website

To prevent similar tragedy, the Hong Kong SAR government will establish an independent commission chaired by a judge to conduct a detailed investigation into the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The commission will submit its recommendations and report to the HKSAR Chief Executive (CE), Hong Kong CE John Lee Ka-chiu said during a press conference on Tuesday. 

Lee met the media before attending the Executive Council meeting. The backdrop in the press room at the HKSAR Headquarters was changed to black, and Lee wore a black tie when speaking to reporters.

Lee pledged that the independent commission's investigation report would be made fully public.

The CE stressed that he "demands a thorough investigation and serious reforms, turning grief and anger into the driving force for change. No matter who is involved, accountability will be pursued to the very end," local media reports said.  

At the opening of the press conference, Lee said that the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court was a painful tragedy; what burned was not only buildings but something that still pains the hearts of Hong Kong people. Many lost family members, friends, and Hong Kong also lost a courageous firefighter. He noted that firefighters successfully rescued many residents, and that the miracles of survival were the result of their protection of life. 

The CE first expressed respect and endless gratitude to the Fire Services Department, and also thanked all personnel for performing their duties, including medical staff who saved the injured, police officers who maintained order and swiftly carried out evidence-gathering investigations, as well as community workers and civil servants. He said people from different sectors demonstrated that Hong Kong is one family. The fire has so far claimed 151 lives and injured 79 people, including 40 who remain in hospital.

Seven Wang Fuk Court's residential buildings engulfed by the fire were undergoing renovation before the incident, which has raised public concern over whether the external scaffolding used in the repair work posed safety risks.

Hong Kong police have arrested a total of 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter following the fire incident, and there is a possibility of further arrests as the investigation is ongoing, according to an update made by the HKSAR government on Monday. 

According to police, on-site forensic work has found that scaffolding net samples taken from seven locations at the affected building did not meet flammability-resistant standards.

Regarding this fire incident, the HKSAR government previously established three task forces, stressing that the investigation will get to the bottom of the matter and that accountability will be fully pursued, Lee noted. He said that multiple failures occurred across different stages and that systemic reforms are needed, including safety of building repair and maintenance works, as well as routine upkeep, whether there were linked interests or collusion, and whether the materials list was comprehensive and whether testing was effective. 

Lee said that police are following up on the remaining 30 missing-personnel cases, and that the government is facing the situation with deep sorrow. Flags at government buildings are lowered to half-mast, many people have signed condolence books and laid flowers in Tai Po.

The HKSAR government is fully supporting those affected in handling the aftermath of the incident. This includes activating shelter centers and gradually arranging for 2,500 people to move into transitional housing and hotels, with around 20 people still staying in the shelters. Lee noted that a social worker has been assigned to each household, with additional support from civil servants. He and several principal officials have visited residents in transitional housing. He added that some people have received scam messages regarding the incident, and he condemned such despicable acts.

According to the government of the HKSAR's press releases, the government on Monday had begun to provide tokens of solidarity of HK$200,000 and funeral grants of HK$50,000 to the families of the deceased from the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The first batch involves 18 cases of the deceased. At the same time, the government is gradually providing a living allowance of HK$50,000 to each of the 20 cases in the first batch. A special subsidy of HK$20,000 will also be provided to foreign domestic helpers employed at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

Lee noted that while the fire was merciless, compassion abounds in society, with different organizations in Hong Kong extending help. The government has established the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po with an initial injection of HK$300 million, and donations, including those from compatriots in the mainland, have already reached HK$1.6 billion. He said the government will ensure that every dollar is used to help residents emerge from the crisis.

Global Times