Tai Po fire: Gov’t investigative committee urges witnesses to submit info, photos of deadly Hong Kong blaze

2026-01-27 - 23:43

A government committee investigating the Tai Po fire that killed 168 people last November is inviting witnesses and other members of the public to provide information about the tragedy. People line up in Tai Po on November 30, 2024, to lay flowers for those who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The government said in a statement on Monday that the committee set up to review the cause of the Wang Fuk Court fire was calling on “members of the public and organisations” to offer information, including about the circumstances leading to its rapid spread and related issues. The committee is collecting information, photos and videos via an online form, which asks users if they were physically present at the scene of the fire and what topic they wish to provide views on – such as their personal experience of being evacuated, and knowledge about renovation work at the housing estate when the fire broke out. See also: Explainer: How deadly Tai Po fire brings to light bid-rigging epidemic in Hong Kong renovation industry Members of the public can also email, fax or mail completed forms to the committee. Submissions will be accepted from Tuesday until February 10. Chief Executive John Lee set up the independent committee in December, a week after the fire ravaged seven out of eight housing blocks at Wang Fuk Court and became the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. The death toll was finalised at 168 earlier this month after forensic analysis was complete. The committee is not an investigative body established under the Commission of Inquiry Ordinance, meaning it lacks the legal power to summon witnesses. Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, pictured on November 28, 2025, in the aftermath of the fatal blaze. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Some, including ex-lawmaker Doreen Kong, have said that inquiry commissions are more suitable for large-scale tragedies. The government, however, has defended its decision, saying that the independent committee “possesses independence and credibility, and will carry out its work with a rigorous and impartial attitude.” The committee, chaired by High Court Judge David Lok, will hold a public session early next month. He will give directions on a range of matters, including “identifying individuals or organisations... who intend to attend the hearings,” the language to be used, the methods for submitting witness statements and documents, as well as other hearing-related matters, the government said. Survey on rehousing plans On Tuesday, Lee said in his regular press conference that a government survey asking Wang Fuk Court homeowners on their views about rehousing plans had seen an approximately 90 per cent response rate. The survey, which was distributed to homeowners earlier this month, asked for their opinions on nine potential long-term rehousing plans in relation to where they would like to see Wang Fuk Court reestablished. The options included in-situ redevelopment, as well as other locations in – and outside of – Tai Po. Chief Executive John Lee at a press conference on January 27, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Lee said on Tuesday that the taskforce researching rehousing plans was “working intensively to process the content, summarise the different views and conduct an analysis.” The government is currently providing rent-free temporary accommodation for displaced residents in units under the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Society. Starting from February, homeowners will need to begin paying rent. The government said “arrangements for emergency accommodation have been adjusted accordingly.” For owners of Wang Fuk Court properties who choose to reside in transitional housing, they will be required to pay rent starting next month “as they are already receiving an annual rental grant of HK$150,000,” according to a government website. Meanwhile, tenants of the housing estate who do not own their flats will have until June before they must begin paying rent. See also: ‘Place of heartbreak’: One month since fatal fire, Wang Fuk Court residents reel from trauma, pondering their future At the time of the fire, the Tai Po housing estate was undergoing a major renovation project. Authorities said substandard construction netting and flammable foam boards were believed to have accelerated the spread of the fire.