Tai Po blaze hearing resumes after fire alarm goes off during morning break
Hearing into blaze that killed 168 reveals deactivated alarms, rigged bids, and a 'road to death'.
The independent committee investigating the catastrophic Tai Po blaze that killed 168 people in Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court estate has resumed hearings, with proceedings starkly interrupted by a fire alarm during a morning break. The incident underscored the very subject of the inquiry, as testimony from residents painted a picture of systemic failure. Witnesses described irregular voting procedures where suspicious ballots "came from nowhere," a fire alarm system that had been deactivated for a long period, and dangerous accumulations of rubbish—including cardboard and lunchboxes—in the light well where the fire is believed to have originated. One resident testified that negligence from multiple parties, including the owners' corporation, contractors, and the government, had paved a "road to death."
Beyond immediate safety lapses, the hearing exposed potential corruption at the heart of the estate's management. The lawyer for the city's competition watchdog revealed that at least two bid-rigging syndicates were "potentially linked" to the HK$336 million (US$43 million) renovation contract for the residential complex. The company responsible for the estate's fire safety systems, Victory Fire Engineering, is set to testify alongside its director and electrical workers. Committee chairman Justice David Lok Kai-hong emphasized that the accidental alarm during the hearing highlighted the critical importance of functional fire safety systems, a point tragically demonstrated by the scale of the Wang Fuk Court disaster.
- Residents testified to a long-deactivated fire alarm system and blocked voting procedures on major safety issues.
- The committee's lead counsel revealed at least two bid-rigging syndicates were linked to the estate's HK$336 million renovation bid.
- The hearing was ironically interrupted by a fire alarm, underscoring the inquiry's focus on systemic safety failures.
Why It Matters
The hearing exposes deep systemic and potentially corrupt failures in building safety, with implications for regulations and accountability in Hong Kong and beyond.