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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Latest news and updates on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that killed 168 people, including a firefighter. Scores of people were also hurt.

Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po

Bank of China account: 012 8752 190 1597

Hong Kong Red Cross

https://www.redcross.org.hk/en/index.html

Operation Santa Claus Emergency Appeal

https://oschk.org/

Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council

https://www.skhwc.org.hk/en/

Hong Kong Family Welfare Society

https://www.hkfws.org.hk/en/home

Po Leung Kuk

https://www.poleungkuk.org.hk/en

Feeding Hong Kong

https://feedinghk.org/

A picture from the published report showing where Ho was discovered. Photo: Handout

Fire Services Department ( Hong Kong)

Tai Po inquiry sheds more light on final moments of firefighter Ho Wai-ho

Government-appointed independent committee releases interim investigation report from separate task force, including images of Ho’s gear.

5 hours ago

Hong Kong economy

How a Hong Kong luxury estate saved HK$1b in renovation cost with tech solutions

6 Aug 2026 - 1:16PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong tests thermal drones to catch illegal smoking at construction sites

5 Aug 2026 - 4:54PM

Hong Kong

Exclusive | 2 fire service contractors linked to Tai Po tragedy still in business

Lawmakers concerned about public safety and potential project abandonment as SCMP investigation reveals China Status and Victory Fire’s active status.

3 Aug 2026 - 8:00AM

The catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court last November killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 others. Karma Lo

Hong Kong fires and safety

Contractor’s 2 directors deny all allegations in Tai Po fire witness statements

Independent committee investigating Wang Fuk Court fire also releases statement by district councillor previously criticised by residents.

30 Jul 2026 - 2:07AMvideocam

Accidents and personal safety

Hong Kong mandates fire escape hoods in hotels and guest houses to boost safety

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says implementation arrangements to be discussed with sector soon, as authorities give grace period.

25 Jul 2026 - 11:31PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong issues 21 smoking fines on construction sites in first 6 days of ban

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui says authorities inspected about 530 construction sites during the first six days of the ban.

25 Jul 2026 - 6:09PM

The smoking ban took effect on July 17. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong

Hop On issuing more Tai Po fire refunds after sorting ‘chaotic’ records: minister

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says administrator still managing process of settling contracts after organising 800,000 documents.

25 Jul 2026 - 8:14PM

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s competition watchdog tightens tender clauses to target bid-rigging

Under revised legal tools, bidders who sign tender documents will have to make statutory declaration they have not engaged in collusion.

24 Jul 2026 - 12:56AM

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy: Analysis

Editorial | Tai Po fire inquiry must discharge its duty without fear or favour

After months of hearings, a greater test lies ahead as the judge-led committee confronts uncomfortable evidence.

21 Jul 2026 - 7:15AM

Residents of Wang Fuk Court attend an extraordinary general meeting convened by government-appointed administrator Hop On Management Company at Tai Po Community Centre on July 19. The meeting was called after a joint petition requesting a full owners’ meeting to discuss future arrangements for the fire-ravaged Tai Po housing complex. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong society

9 tickets, 110 warnings issued after construction site smoking ban takes effect

Authorities have inspected over 200 construction sites since the ban began on Friday last week, labour commissioner says.

20 Jul 2026 - 8:05PM

Workers put their cigarettes and lighters inside designated lockers before entering a construction site in To Kwa Kwan. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong fires and safety

Hong Kong prepares for sweeping reforms following end of Tai Po blaze inquiry

Political observers also expect senior officials, including ministers, to take accountability for blaze once committee submits report.

20 Jul 2026 - 8:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Hong Kong to tighten contractor oversight after Tai Po blaze, minister vows

Development secretary also pledges to explore harsher penalties for offenders as government’s reliance on industry’s self-policing comes into question.

20 Jul 2026 - 12:24AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Owners of fire-hit Tai Po homes seek answers over state of flats, reject audit report

Residents also say that government-appointed administrator tells them more time needed to complete survey of Wang Fuk Court.

19 Jul 2026 - 10:31PMvideocam

Wang Fuk Court homeowners arrive for the extraordinary general at the Tai Po Community Centre. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong fires and safety

Tears of anger as Tai Po fire survivors slam negligent authorities after hearing

Following independent committee hearings, residents say government departments are passing the buck and call for courts to ensure accountability.

19 Jul 2026 - 10:16PMvideocam

Wang Fuk Court resident Peggy Liu talks to the media after the hearings on Friday. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong

Final report of Tai Po fire inquiry panel delayed to late October: source

‘We need more time to organise the evidence. There are many documents to review, much new material,’ source tells SCMP.

18 Jul 2026 - 11:24PM

Hong Kong

Call to merge housing checking unit with Buildings Department after Tai Po fire

Some Wang Fuk Court residents question why team tasked with inspecting construction projects should remain under Housing Bureau.

18 Jul 2026 - 10:33PM

Hong Kong

‘Litany of failures’ blamed as Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire inquiry concludes

Months of hearings uncover chain of errors and missed warnings behind city’s deadliest blaze since 1948.

18 Jul 2026 - 9:14PM

The Tai Po fire broke out on November 26. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong

90% sign up for Wang Fuk Court buy-back amid concerns over rushed decisions

Deadline set for August 31, with priority flat selection for early sellers, as officials say residents can seek help to retrieve belongings from damaged homes.

18 Jul 2026 - 4:44PMvideocam

Hong Kong

Tai Po fire: corrupt players exploited loopholes in regulations, inquiry hears

Committee’s lead counsel says on final day of hearings that Wang Fuk Court contractor and consultant deserve strongest condemnation.

17 Jul 2026 - 11:06PMvideocam

Hong Kong

Tai Po fire inquiry legal team calls for bamboo scaffolding to be phased out

Other recommendations outlined in 627 pages of closing submissions include legislative reform and measures to curb bid-rigging.

18 Jul 2026 - 10:22AMvideocam

Bamboo scaffolding on the exterior of the Wang Fuk Court towers in January. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong

SCMP multimedia series traces causes, failures and human toll of Tai Po blaze

South China Morning Post infographics on Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades examine chain of events, systemic lapses and inquiry evidence.

17 Jul 2026 - 5:51PM

The blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po claimed 168 lives. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong society

First day of smoking ban at construction sites in Hong Kong catches out offenders

Authorities hand out eight fixed penalty notices to workers and plan to prosecute contractor as industry tries to stamp out safety risk.

17 Jul 2026 - 10:21PM

Hong Kong

Committee pushes reforms, thanks fire survivors as hearing ends – as it happened

Legal counsel for independent panel investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades delivers closing remarks at final public inquiry session.

17 Jul 2026 - 4:29PM

Hong Kong

Deceitful firms mostly to blame for deadly Tai Po blaze, government counsel says

Jenkin Suen attributes Wang Fuk Court inferno to ‘deceit, inaction and deliberate omission’ of contractors who exploited regulatory regimes.

16 Jul 2026 - 11:31PMvideocam

Government counsel Jenkin Suen (centre) arrives for Thursday’s session of the inquiry. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong

Tai Po fire: 5 ‘key weaknesses’ flagged in government regulations – as it happened

Witness says the system itself does not have fundamental flaws, but it lacks a mechanism to target unscrupulous collusion.

16 Jul 2026 - 5:54PM

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong

Claim that fire alarms would not have saved lives in Tai Po blaze draws rebuke

Judge says comments by lawyer for director of China Status Development and Engineering are ‘hardly acceptable’.

15 Jul 2026 - 9:12PM

Hong Kong

Tai Po fire: inquiry slams ‘unacceptable’ claim by China Status - as it happened

Counsel representing independent committee, government and other parties to all deliver final submissions from Wednesday to Friday.

16 Jul 2026 - 2:32AM

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po inquiry sheds more light on final moments of firefighter Ho Wai-ho

Government-appointed independent committee releases interim investigation report from separate task force, including images of Ho’s gear.

How a Hong Kong luxury estate saved HK$1b in renovation cost with tech solutions

Hong Kong tests thermal drones to catch illegal smoking at construction sites

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | 2 fire service contractors linked to Tai Po tragedy still in business

Lawmakers concerned about public safety and potential project abandonment as SCMP investigation reveals China Status and Victory Fire’s active status.

Contractor’s 2 directors deny all allegations in Tai Po fire witness statements

Independent committee investigating Wang Fuk Court fire also releases statement by district councillor previously criticised by residents.

Hong Kong mandates fire escape hoods in hotels and guest houses to boost safety

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says implementation arrangements to be discussed with sector soon, as authorities give grace period.

Hong Kong issues 21 smoking fines on construction sites in first 6 days of ban

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui says authorities inspected about 530 construction sites during the first six days of the ban.

Hop On issuing more Tai Po fire refunds after sorting ‘chaotic’ records: minister

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says administrator still managing process of settling contracts after organising 800,000 documents.

Hong Kong’s competition watchdog tightens tender clauses to target bid-rigging

Under revised legal tools, bidders who sign tender documents will have to make statutory declaration they have not engaged in collusion.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Tai Po fire inquiry must discharge its duty without fear or favour

After months of hearings, a greater test lies ahead as the judge-led committee confronts uncomfortable evidence.

9 tickets, 110 warnings issued after construction site smoking ban takes effect

Authorities have inspected over 200 construction sites since the ban began on Friday last week, labour commissioner says.

Hong Kong prepares for sweeping reforms following end of Tai Po blaze inquiry

Political observers also expect senior officials, including ministers, to take accountability for blaze once committee submits report.

Hong Kong to tighten contractor oversight after Tai Po blaze, minister vows

Development secretary also pledges to explore harsher penalties for offenders as government’s reliance on industry’s self-policing comes into question.

Owners of fire-hit Tai Po homes seek answers over state of flats, reject audit report

Residents also say that government-appointed administrator tells them more time needed to complete survey of Wang Fuk Court.

Tears of anger as Tai Po fire survivors slam negligent authorities after hearing

Following independent committee hearings, residents say government departments are passing the buck and call for courts to ensure accountability.

Final report of Tai Po fire inquiry panel delayed to late October: source

‘We need more time to organise the evidence. There are many documents to review, much new material,’ source tells SCMP.

Call to merge housing checking unit with Buildings Department after Tai Po fire

Some Wang Fuk Court residents question why team tasked with inspecting construction projects should remain under Housing Bureau.

‘Litany of failures’ blamed as Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire inquiry concludes

Months of hearings uncover chain of errors and missed warnings behind city’s deadliest blaze since 1948.

90% sign up for Wang Fuk Court buy-back amid concerns over rushed decisions

Deadline set for August 31, with priority flat selection for early sellers, as officials say residents can seek help to retrieve belongings from damaged homes.

Tai Po fire: corrupt players exploited loopholes in regulations, inquiry hears

Committee’s lead counsel says on final day of hearings that Wang Fuk Court contractor and consultant deserve strongest condemnation.

Tai Po fire inquiry legal team calls for bamboo scaffolding to be phased out

Other recommendations outlined in 627 pages of closing submissions include legislative reform and measures to curb bid-rigging.

SCMP multimedia series traces causes, failures and human toll of Tai Po blaze

South China Morning Post infographics on Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades examine chain of events, systemic lapses and inquiry evidence.

First day of smoking ban at construction sites in Hong Kong catches out offenders

Authorities hand out eight fixed penalty notices to workers and plan to prosecute contractor as industry tries to stamp out safety risk.

Committee pushes reforms, thanks fire survivors as hearing ends – as it happened

Legal counsel for independent panel investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades delivers closing remarks at final public inquiry session.

Deceitful firms mostly to blame for deadly Tai Po blaze, government counsel says

Jenkin Suen attributes Wang Fuk Court inferno to ‘deceit, inaction and deliberate omission’ of contractors who exploited regulatory regimes.

Tai Po fire: 5 ‘key weaknesses’ flagged in government regulations – as it happened

Witness says the system itself does not have fundamental flaws, but it lacks a mechanism to target unscrupulous collusion.

Claim that fire alarms would not have saved lives in Tai Po blaze draws rebuke

Judge says comments by lawyer for director of China Status Development and Engineering are ‘hardly acceptable’.

Tai Po fire: inquiry slams ‘unacceptable’ claim by China Status - as it happened

Counsel representing independent committee, government and other parties to all deliver final submissions from Wednesday to Friday.

Exclusive | 2 fire service contractors linked to Tai Po tragedy still in business

Editorial | Tai Po fire inquiry must discharge its duty without fear or favour