Fire alarm, pump systems switched off before tragedy, Tai Po blaze panel told
A maintenance worker found critical fire safety systems deactivated a week before a fire killed 168 people.
A public hearing into Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades has revealed a critical safety failure. Electrical worker Wong Kin-wa, from contractor Victory Fire Engineering, testified that during a routine maintenance visit on November 19, 2023, he discovered the main power switches for the fire alarm and firefighting pump systems for all eight residential blocks at Wang Fuk Court had been turned off. When he inquired at the estate's management office, staff could not produce the mandatory shutdown notice required by the Fire Services Department. The devastating fire broke out just one week later, on November 26, ravaging seven towers and claiming 168 lives.
The judge-led independent committee is investigating the tragedy and has identified the deactivation of the fire alarm system as one of six key "human factors" that led to the near-total failure of safety measures. The panel's lead counsel, Victor Dawes, presented this finding as part of a broader probe into systemic failures. The hearing also delved into irregularities surrounding the estate's HK$336 million (US$43 million) renovation contract, with earlier testimony suggesting at least two bid-rigging syndicates could be linked to the project. The committee has called on the public to provide information on potential collusion and bid-rigging in building maintenance works across Hong Kong, highlighting concerns that the problems at Wang Fuk Court may not be isolated.
- Fire safety systems for all 8 towers were found powered off a week before the November 26, 2023, blaze that killed 168 people.
- The estate management office failed to provide the legally required shutdown notice to the Fire Services Department when questioned.
- The investigative panel is examining potential bid-rigging in the HK$336 million renovation contract and broader systemic maintenance failures.
Why It Matters
The testimony points to catastrophic procedural and regulatory failures in building safety, with implications for accountability and oversight across Hong Kong.