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- Report by independent committee blames main renovation contractor, project consultant, inspector for their alleged roles in tragedy that killed 168 people, holds 4 government agencies accountable
By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Hong Kong Housing Chief Winnie Ho resigned Thursday after the government admitted that "decades of failure" contributed to a deadly 2025 fire, according to the South China Morning Post.
A scathing report by an independent committee investigating the city's deadliest blaze in decades blamed the main renovation contractor, the project consultant and an inspector for their alleged roles in the tragedy.
It also held four government agencies accountable.
The fire killed 168 people in November, making it the city's deadliest blaze in more than 70 years.
Non-fire-retardant scaffolding nets, foam boards and other flammable materials, along with openings created in escape staircases, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire and the high death toll, said the report.
The committee said the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit bore the greatest responsibility among the four agencies because it failed to adequately oversee renovation work at Wang Fuk Court.
The report criticized the other three agencies: the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department and the Labor Department.
The government will introduce legislation to criminalize bid-rigging and reform the supervision of engineering and renovation contractors.
A high-level steering committee, led by the chief secretary, will oversee the implementation of the reforms.
Authorities also pledged to investigate about 50 civil servants concerning their administrative responsibilities.
Saadet Gökce
