Hong Kong leader orders investigation into deadly fire that killed 151

Hong Kong leader John Lee has ordered the formation of an independent committee to investigate the causes of the devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

Last Wednesday, seven of the eight tower blocks of the Wang Phuc Court housing complex – which were undergoing extensive renovation – went up in flames. Investigators found that protective mesh used around the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

At least 13 people have been arrested on suspected murder charges, including the director of a construction company.

The fire is the worst the city has seen in more than 70 years and the death toll could rise further as authorities continue to recover bodies.

Chief Executive Lee said the committee would be led by a judge and carry out “comprehensive reforms”, adding that it would work “to prevent similar tragedies in the future”.

Asked at a press conference why he should keep his job, Mr Lee acknowledged that improvements were needed, but failed to answer the question directly.

“Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reforms. Yes, we have identified failures at various stages. That is why we must act seriously to ensure that all these lapses are addressed,” he said.

The fire – which quickly spread upward and through blocks – was completely extinguished by Friday morning, about 40 hours after it began, and it took more than 2,000 firefighters to bring it under control.

The same day, police began entering buildings to collect evidence. Officials say the investigation may take three to four weeks.

Officials said the flames quickly spread to individual tower blocks over protective netting and other flammable materials outside the buildings.

Many residents have said that they did not hear the fire alarm when the fire broke out. The Hong Kong Fire Service found that the alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

Hong Kong’s Building Department has temporarily suspended work on 30 private projects.

Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of treason on Saturday. He was part of a group that petitioned for an independent investigation into the fire. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before the content was deleted.

According to local media reports, two other people, including a former district councilor, were also taken into custody by the police.

Asked about the issue on Tuesday, Lee did not answer the question directly but said “criminals who commit crimes should be brought to justice”.

“Let me emphasize that I will not tolerate any crimes, especially crimes that take advantage of the tragedy we are facing right now.”

Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the alleged arrests.

“It is time for Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fires… and not silence those asking legitimate questions,” Amnesty International said.

Wang Phuc Court was built in 1983 and as of the 2021 government census, it provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents.

It is estimated that about 40% of its residents are at least 65 years old. Some people have been living in the subsidized housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong’s second-deadliest fire in 1948 killed 176 people and was caused by an explosion on the ground floor of a five-story warehouse. The deadliest incident occurred at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 people died.