Independent committee to be established to probe Hong Kong (China) fire
(VOVWORLD) - The administration of Hong Kong (China) has announced that it will establish an independent investigation committee, chaired by a judge, to determine the cause of the devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies.
At Tuesday’s weekly press briefing, Chief Executive John Lee vowed to hold those responsible to account and carry out a comprehensive overhaul of Hong Kong’s housing repair and maintenance system.
The fire resulted in at least 151 deaths, with around 30 people still missing. Authorities said the fire broke out on Thursday around the scaffolding area of an ongoing repair project and quickly spread to seven of the complex’s eight towers, home to more than 4,600 residents. 40 victims remain hospitalized, while thousands have been evacuated.
Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have arrested at least 14 individuals including scaffolding contractors, company executives, and a technical expert on suspicion of corruption and negligence related to the renovation project.