Wang Fuk Court residents to testify at probe hearings on deadly fire

2026-03-04 - 11:45

Wang Fuk Court residents will give evidence regarding the deadly fire that ravaged their housing estate, the committee investigating the disaster has said. Judge David Lok, chair of the independent committee investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire, on February 5, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The committee said in a statement on Tuesday that legal teams would give opening remarks on the first day of the evidential hearings on March 19. The process will take “a few days,” after which “the committee will hear oral evidence from witnesses (including oral evidence from Wang Fuk Court residents).” It will release on its website the list of witnesses who will give evidence at each hearing. “The Committee aims to clarify the relevant facts through oral evidence, written submissions, and other forms of evidence presented by witnesses. This will provide an important basis for the preparation of its report and recommendations,” the Tuesday statement read. A total of eight evidential hearings are slated in the coming weeks, with the last session to end on April 2. Chief Executive John Lee established the independent review committee and appointed High Court Judge David Lok as chairperson in December, days after the city’s deadliest fire in decades ripped through Wang Fuk Court, a government-subsidised housing estate in Tai Po. The blaze in late November killed 168 people and displaced more than 4,000. Critics have questioned whether the committee’s powers will be sufficient, saying its lack of statutory powers means it cannot summon witnesses to give evidence. Wang Fuk Court buildings on December 29, 2025, one month after the deadly fire. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The committee held its first public meeting in February, during which its leading counsel, Victor Dawes, said it had received evidence from the government, including “key information and clues” as to the cause of the fire. The Tuesday statement also laid out new observation arrangements, slashing the number of seats available for public observation to 360 – down from 400 provided at the first hearing last month. Half of the seats will be set aside for Wang Fuk Court residents on a priority basis. Banking sector support Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the banking sector announced further measures to support the long-term rehousing arrangements for Wang Fuk Court residents, including an extended loan repayment grace period. All 28 of Hong Kong’s retail banks will extend the repayment period for existing mortgages, personal loans and credit card loans by an additional six months to the end of November “to alleviate their short-term financial pressure,” the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) said in a joint statement. The banks will also help transfer homeowners’ mortgages to their new homes if they opt for the government’s flat swap programme. Loan terms, including their interest rate and remaining instalments, will be “no less favourable” than the original loan. Owners will also not be required to make any mortgage payments until they move into the new flat. The sector will also set up a communication platform to understand residents’ needs and provide assistance, with the help of the government’s “engagement team,” the statement said.