HONG KONG LEADER APOLOGISES FOR WANG FUK COURT FIRE

Hong Kong’s chief executive, John Lee, apologised on Thursday for government shortcomings linked to a fire that killed 168 people at Wang Fuk Court last November. Lee and seven other officials bowed at a news conference marking the release of an independent investigation’s findings. Lee said housing secretary Winnie Ho had resigned on Wednesday and “should bear political responsibility”. He said the investigation found no personal wrongdoing by Ho. The fire engulfed seven of the complex’s eight towers and displaced thousands of residents.

The towers were undergoing renovation and had bamboo scaffolding and netting around them when the fire broke out. The investigation found that four government departments should bear part of the responsibility for the high number of deaths. It identified private contractors as the main culprits and criticised officials for lax enforcement. It also found that the Housing Bureau’s independent checking unit had failed to supervise the maintenance work adequately. Former residents and victims’ families have sought answers about ignored warnings, substandard materials and disabled fire alarms.

Lee said a three-month investigation into the government’s role would now begin. Separately, authorities have charged seven people and two companies with offences including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud, and have arrested at least 35 people. Authorities allege that defendants concealed earlier litigation involving the company awarded a renovation contract worth more than HK$300 million. Yip Ka-kui, who lost his wife and home in the fire, said the government’s acceptance of responsibility was inadequate. “All the secretaries for the departments named should step down,” he said.