HONG KONG, Dec 2 — Hong Kong's leader has said a judge-led committee will investigate the cause of the city's deadliest fire in decades and review government oversight of building renovations blamed for fanning a blaze that killed at least 151 people.
The police have arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter in a criminal inquiry into last week's tragedy, and 12 people have also been arrested in a corruption probe. It is unclear if any of those people were arrested on both counts.
The authorities have pointed to substandard plastic mesh and insulation foam used during renovation works at Wang Fuk Court as the cause of a blaze that quickly spread to seven high-rise towers, home to over 4,000 people.
"In order to avoid similar tragedies again, I will set up a judge-led independent committee to examine the reason behind the cause and rapid spreading (of the fire) and related issues," said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu during a press conference today.
Investigators have combed all but two of the seven burnt-out towers, finding bodies of residents in stairwells and on rooftops, trapped as they tried to flee the flames. Around 30 people are still missing.
Some groups in the Chinese-ruled city have called for more transparency and accountability, amid warnings from authorities that any attempts to politicise the disaster would be severely punished.
A student from one of the groups was detained and later released on bail, and the local media reported that two others are being investigated for possible sedition. The police have not commented on the cases.
"I will not tolerate any crimes, particularly crimes that exploit the tragedy that we are facing now," Lee said when asked about the cases. He did not comment on the specifics.
International rights groups have said the incidents demonstrate the government's attempts to suppress criticism.
"It is crucially important not to treat those demanding answers for the tragic fire as criminals," said Human Rights Watch Asia director Elaine Pearson.
China's National Security Office has warned individuals against using the disaster to "plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos" of 2019, when massive pro-democracy protests challenged Beijing and triggered a political crisis.
Lee added that the legislative elections scheduled for Sunday (December 7) will go ahead as planned.
Turnout for the election, in which only candidates screened by the government as "patriots" can run, could serve as a barometer for public frustration over the handling of the fire.
Residents warned of fire risks
The city's Labour Department said that Wang Fuk Court residents were told by the authorities last year that they faced "relatively low fire risks" after complaining about fire hazards posed by the renovations.
A department spokesman noted that they raised concerns in September 2024, including about the potential flammability of the mesh used by contractors to cover the bamboo scaffolding.
Officials overseeing the investigations told a press conference yesterday that tests on several samples of mesh on the buildings at the time of the blaze did not match fire-retardant standards.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan said that contractors working on the renovations used these substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas, effectively hiding them from inspectors.
Foam insulation used by contractors also fanned the flames, and the fire alarms at the complex were not functioning properly.
Thousands of the city's residents have paid tribute to the victims, who include at least nine domestic helpers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines.
Vigils are also due to take place this week in Tokyo, Taipei, and London.
Search moves to worst affected buildings
The authorities stated that the remaining buildings being searched for remains are the most severely damaged and that the search may take weeks.
Images shared by police showed officers clad in hazmat suits, face masks, and helmets, inspecting rooms with blackened walls and furniture reduced to ashes, and wading through water used to douse fires that raged for days.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has reported that over 60 pets, including 34 cats, 12 dogs, and seven turtles, perished in the fire, while more than 200 were rescued.
Residents who escaped the blaze must now try to get their lives back on track.
Nearly 1,500 people have been moved out of evacuation centres into temporary housing, with a further 945 put up in youth hostels and hotels.
With many residents leaving behind belongings as they fled, authorities have offered emergency funds of HK$10,000 (RM5,305) to each household and provided special assistance for issuing new identity cards, passports, and marriage certificates.
