Additional Coverage:
- Hong Kong authorities say netting on buildings that caught fire, killing 151, didn’t meet code (nbcnews.com)
Hong Kong Officials Allege “Greed” Led to Deadly Blaze; Public Outcry Meets Government Crackdown
HONG KONG – A devastating fire that claimed at least 151 lives in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court complex has been linked to substandard fire-safety netting used in renovations, according to officials. This revelation comes as a wave of public sympathy and support for victims is met with aggressive government measures to suppress criticism.
The inferno, which ignited last Wednesday and took until Friday to fully extinguish, began on the lower-level netting of one building before quickly spreading. Foam panels caught fire, blowing out windows, and strong winds carried flames from tower to tower. Ultimately, seven of the eight apartment buildings in the complex were engulfed.
Initial tests of the netting had suggested it met safety codes. However, subsequent investigations involving 20 samples from various areas, including higher floors, revealed seven samples failed to meet standards. This suggests that contractors may have cut corners to maximize profits, stated Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s chief secretary.
“They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives,” Chan told reporters, expressing severe condemnation.
Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s secretary for security, clarified that investigators were initially unable to access certain areas, which led to the delayed discovery of the faulty materials. “Because the fire is now out, we have been able to get to places that were not easily accessible before to take samples,” he explained.
As of Monday, donations for the fire survivors had reached a staggering 900 million Hong Kong dollars ($115 million). A continuous stream of residents has been placing flowers, cards, and other tributes at a makeshift memorial near the charred buildings, showcasing strong community solidarity.
“When something happens, we come out to help each other,” said Loretta Loh, her voice heavy with emotion after paying her respects. “I have a heavy heart.”
The Wang Fuk Court complex in the suburb of Tai Po was home to approximately 4,600 people.
The Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit has processed five of the burned buildings, with partial progress made in two others. Tsang Shuk-yin, head of the Hong Kong Police Force’s casualty inquiry unit, noted that teams are assessing the structural integrity of the remaining buildings, particularly the one where the fire originated and suffered the most extensive damage.
On Monday, eight more bodies were recovered, including three that firefighters had located earlier but couldn’t retrieve. Dozens of individuals remain unaccounted for, though some are likely among the 39 bodies yet to be identified, Tsang added.
“We will have to wait until we get through all seven blocks before we can make a final report,” she emphasized.
The substantial donations, combined with 300 million Hong Kong dollars ($38.5 million) in government start-up capital, will be allocated to help victims rebuild their homes and provide long-term support. The government has also provided cash subsidies for immediate expenses, including funerals, and is actively working to secure housing for those displaced.
By Monday, 683 residents had been placed in local hotels and hostels, while another 1,144 moved into transitional housing units. Two emergency shelters remain operational for others in need.
All buildings in the complex were undergoing external renovations, featuring bamboo scaffolding draped with nylon netting and windows covered with polystyrene panels. Residents had reportedly voiced concerns about the netting for nearly a year, according to Hong Kong’s Labor Department. The department confirmed 16 inspections of the renovation project since July 2024, issuing multiple written warnings to contractors regarding fire safety compliance, with the most recent inspection occurring just one week before the tragic blaze.
In response, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has arrested 11 individuals, including the directors and an engineering consultant of the construction company involved. Public questioning is now mounting, with many asking whether government officials should also be held accountable.
“People are angry and think that the HK (Hong Kong) government should be accountable,” observed Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a locally based political scientist and senior research fellow at the Paris-based Asia Centre think tank.
However, the space for dissent in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese control in 1997, is increasingly restricted, with the government often citing national security grounds to quiet public criticism.
Security Secretary Chris Tang dismissed “rumors being spread by bad people giving fake news about the firefighters not employing the correct tactics to fight the fire, or victims being charged 8,000 Hong Kong dollars a night to stay in hotels – these are all false.” He added a stern warning: “We will arrest these rumor mongers.”
On Saturday, the Office for Safeguarding National Security denounced what it termed “evil schemes” with “the ulterior motives of using the disaster to create trouble and disrupt Hong Kong,” without providing specific details. Local media reported that a man who helped organize an online petition for government accountability was arrested on suspicion of sedition that same day. Two more arrests followed on Sunday, including a volunteer who had offered assistance in Tai Po after the fire.
Cabestan suggested that Hong Kong officials are adopting tactics similar to those in mainland China, aiming to preempt protests before they can fully materialize. Police have declined to comment specifically on the arrests, stating only that “police will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the law.”
Dissent in the city has been significantly curtailed since hundreds of thousands protested in 2019 against proposed extradition laws to mainland China. Hong Kong now effectively bans mass protests and prevents opposition political figures from participating in legislative elections.