TOPIC

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/

Tony Tsui, former chairman of the estate’s management committee for the owners’ group, arrives at City Gallery. Photo: Edmond So

Accidents and personal safety

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

Former management committee chair says residents felt ‘helpless’ and ‘couldn’t find anything in Hong Kong law to justify our demands’.

17 Apr 2026 - 9:58PM

Crime in Hong Kong

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

17 Apr 2026 - 11:00PM

Hong Kong

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

17 Apr 2026 - 4:19PM

Accidents and personal safety

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.

16 Apr 2026 - 8:12PMvideocam

The blaze devastated several high-rise blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong

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.

16 Apr 2026 - 3:22PM

Accidents and personal safety

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.

15 Apr 2026 - 10:40PM

Mainland China

Hong Kong leader vows reforms to boost safety, national security after Tai Po fire

Chief Executive John Lee says city will act on lessons learned from deadly blaze, as Beijing warns against exploiting tragedies to sow unrest.

15 Apr 2026 - 7:39PM

Chief Executive John Lee has pledged reforms to strengthen governance and public safety following the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong

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.

15 Apr 2026 - 5:52PM

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong retiree gets 1 year in jail for seditious social media comments

Raymond Chong, 61, pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court to knowingly publishing 53 seditious Facebook posts that denigrated central and local authorities.

14 Apr 2026 - 8:45PM

Accidents and personal safety

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.

13 Apr 2026 - 7:54PM

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong

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.

13 Apr 2026 - 4:51PM

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong

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.

12 Apr 2026 - 8:17PM

Hong Kong

Hong Kong proposes mandatory renovation briefings to combat bid-rigging

Amendment to Building Management Ordinance aimed at enhancing homeowners’ participation and closing existing legal gaps after fatal Tai Po fire.

11 Apr 2026 - 7:09PM

Accidents and personal safety

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.

10 Apr 2026 - 10:02PM

The 43-hour blaze at Wang Fuk Court claimed 168 lives. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong

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.

10 Apr 2026 - 6:31PM

Hong Kong

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.

10 Apr 2026 - 6:05PM

Hong Kong courts

Cook jailed for 11 months over selling account used to dupe Tai Po fire donors

Cham Shu-shing also fined HK$4,500 for selling Alipay digital wallet to scammers, knowing it would be used for illegal purposes.

9 Apr 2026 - 6:56PM

Hong Kong

Alleged petition forgery investigated as Wang Fuk Court rebuild plan rejected

Property owners had organised petition and emailed Hop On Management Company to raise concerns and request owners’ meeting.

9 Apr 2026 - 10:42PM

The fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last November destroyed all but one of its eight buildings, killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong fires and safety

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.

8 Apr 2026 - 10:36PM

Hong Kong society

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.

8 Apr 2026 - 10:50PM

Hong Kong

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.

8 Apr 2026 - 6:31PM

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse

Mainland China

‘Wang Fuk Court briefing to give residents answers before decisions are made’

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says issues can be more easily addressed at briefing, allowing residents to understand the details better.

7 Apr 2026 - 7:24PM

The inferno broke out at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court on November 26 last year, claiming 168 lives and displacing nearly 5,000 residents. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong society

Talk about death comes alive in ageing Hong Kong

Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng says people more willing to discuss death in wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and deadly Tai Po fire.

5 Apr 2026 - 11:25PM

Hong Kong society

‘From big renovation to big burial’: Wang Fuk Court residents mourn on Ching Ming

Day dedicated to sweeping graves and honouring dead marked across Hong Kong, but tradition proves painful for survivors of deadly blaze in Tai Po.

5 Apr 2026 - 11:31PM

Hong Kong fires and safety

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.

5 Apr 2026 - 2:30PMvideocam

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

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

4 Apr 2026 - 2:20PM

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

10 Apr 2026 - 12:42PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | Moves to clean up Hong Kong building renovation sector can’t come too soon

Crackdowns by the ICAC and Competition Commission are a timely reminder of Hong Kong’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

4 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

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

Former management committee chair says residents felt ‘helpless’ and ‘couldn’t find anything in Hong Kong law to justify our demands’.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Hong Kong leader vows reforms to boost safety, national security after Tai Po fire

Chief Executive John Lee says city will act on lessons learned from deadly blaze, as Beijing warns against exploiting tragedies to sow unrest.

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 retiree gets 1 year in jail for seditious social media comments

Raymond Chong, 61, pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court to knowingly publishing 53 seditious Facebook posts that denigrated central and local authorities.

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.

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.

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.

Hong Kong proposes mandatory renovation briefings to combat bid-rigging

Amendment to Building Management Ordinance aimed at enhancing homeowners’ participation and closing existing legal gaps after fatal Tai Po fire.

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 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.

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.

Cook jailed for 11 months over selling account used to dupe Tai Po fire donors

Cham Shu-shing also fined HK$4,500 for selling Alipay digital wallet to scammers, knowing it would be used for illegal purposes.

Alleged petition forgery investigated as Wang Fuk Court rebuild plan rejected

Property owners had organised petition and emailed Hop On Management Company to raise concerns and request owners’ meeting.

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.

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.

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.

‘Wang Fuk Court briefing to give residents answers before decisions are made’

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says issues can be more easily addressed at briefing, allowing residents to understand the details better.

Talk about death comes alive in ageing Hong Kong

Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng says people more willing to discuss death in wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and deadly Tai Po fire.

‘From big renovation to big burial’: Wang Fuk Court residents mourn on Ching Ming

Day dedicated to sweeping graves and honouring dead marked across Hong Kong, but tradition proves painful for survivors of deadly blaze in Tai Po.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}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.

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

Editorial | Moves to clean up Hong Kong building renovation sector can’t come too soon

Crackdowns by the ICAC and Competition Commission are a timely reminder of Hong Kong’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers