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Hong Kong fires and safety

Hong Kong fires and safety
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Hong Kong fires and safety. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The catastrophic fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court claimed 168 lives and destroyed all but one of the estate’s eight buildings. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Wang Fuk Court residents prepare for emotional return to site of deadly fire

Grief counsellor and psychologist help residents prepare physically and mentally for the expected ‘sensory shock’ of returning to ravaged homes.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po fire: owners’ group repeatedly complained about use of flammable materials

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong to scrap fax messaging between police and fire services for emergencies

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po probe: owners urged contractor to use fire-resistant materials ‘in vain’

Spotlight on oversight failures as attention turns to management committee and contractor conduct, with former chair set to testify.

Wang Fuk court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

We failed to check if workers smoked at Wang Fuk Court, firms tell fire hearing

Engineering firms also say replacing fireproof windows with movable boards was unnecessary.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po fire probe: resident recalls deaths of family members – as it happened

Resident says he kept calling his mother every 15 minutes and made a video call at around 9pm during which he saw the flat in complete darkness.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po blaze: official defends refusing mainland Chinese firefighters’ help

Mainland counterparts may not have adapted to local environment nor communicated effectively, Hong Kong fire services officer says at hearing.

Teams of firefighters battling the blaze in Tai Po on the night of November 26. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

100‑metre ladders ‘unsuitable’ for narrow Hong Kong roads, Tai Po fire probe told

Fire Services Department explains its choice of equipment to fight blaze, while police stress buildings were thoroughly searched for survivors.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Firefighters prioritised tackling blaze over rescues, Tai Po probe hears

‘If you cannot put out the fire, how can you save those trapped inside?’ commander tells committee investigating Wang Fuk Court disaster.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po fire probe: no commander to track firefighters’ entry records – as it happened

Committee chair says firefighters’ efforts during blaze will always be appreciated regardless of inquiry outcome, adding most faced unprecedented situation.

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Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

380 Wang Fuk Court households seek second visit to collect belongings

Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk says authorities will assess requests after first round of visits from April 20 to May 4.

Wang Fuk Court was engulfed in flames last Novembe. Under the current arrangement, displaced residents can send at most four people to retrieve their belongings for up to three hours. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po blaze: no fire risk checks done for HK$336 million estate renovation

Authorities did not pay special attention to fire hazards at residential estates undergoing large-scale maintenance before deadly fire, official says.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong authorities spend HK$34 million on Tai Po fire recovery works

Expenditure mainly covers removal of dangerous scaffolding and nets, and support to police and other departments in clearing debris.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Day 10 of probe: fire department admits delays, ‘inadequate’ safety checks

Assistant director of Fire Services Department says shutting down fire systems not necessary for draining rooftop tanks.

The fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po blaze: no fire safety system checks before firm sent 85 shutdown notices

Fire services company also concedes it acted as ‘rubber stamp’ for renovation contractor, during hearing into deadly inferno.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court left 168 people dead. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Some Wang Fuk Court residents float ‘profit-making’ in-situ rebuilding plan

Proposal calls for rebuilding half of estate’s eight blocks with higher plot ratio, suggesting government can earn HK$6.4 billion.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po probe: no on-site checks by firm due to ‘busy’ schedule – as it happened

Director of contractor responsible for estate’s fire services equipment suspects workers drew water from tanks, calling it a serious problem.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers

The hearings have exposed gaps in the enforcement of safety rules and an attitude of avoiding blame among government departments.

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Witnesses from ISS EastPoint Properties leave the City Gallery in Central following the morning session of the Wang Fuk Court fire hearing on April 1. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po blaze probe: property firm failed to identify, follow up on fire hazards

Senior staff of property management firm ISS EastPoint declined to testify, hearing also told.

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Committee concludes first phase of Tai Po fire hearing - as it happened

Next phase of hearing, consisting of six sessions, will start on April 8.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po probe: workers turned off fire safety system, disregarding regulations

Electrician tells hearing he followed an order to turn off main switches because he was ‘worried about a penalty at work’.

Witnesses from property management company ISS EastPoint leave the hearing after Wednesday morning’s session. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po fire: estate manager questioned over fire alarm shutdown – as it happened

ISS EastPoint clerk also says authorised votes used in ballots deciding major issues at housing estate were never verified.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 more. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong housing

Editorial | For Hong Kong fire survivors, returning to destroyed flats offers closure

It is good that the authorities are being more accomodating with regard to the scheduled visits for former residents to retrieve their belongings and say goodbye.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po blaze hearing: property management worker unaware fire alarms deactivated

Clerk tells hearing she knew hose reel system had been shut down for months but did not know alarms would also be deactivated.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po probe: firm did not check fire systems since March 2025 – as it happened

Contract between Victory Fire and property management company ISS EastPoint stipulated that the safety system had to be inspected quarterly.

The catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po killed 168 and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Fire alarm, pump systems switched off before tragedy, Tai Po blaze panel told

Electrical worker Wong Kin-wa says Wang Fuk Court office staff told him the switches were shut off for water tank repair work.

Wong Kin-wa (right), an electrical worker for Victory Fire Engineering, testified on Monday. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po fire survivors mourn heroine who alerted neighbours to flames

Pak Shui-lin’s husband, Sdanni Yip, and neighbour Lam Yin-ming say heroine, who died during fire, ‘did not deserve to suffer such a fate’.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Authorities rule out smoking areas at construction sites under proposed ban

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui tells lawmakers that proposed smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites.

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