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Edith Lin

An independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will postpone submitting its report by a month, to the end of October, attributing the delay to the complexity of issues and the large volume of documents it must review.
The committee announced on Tuesday that it had sought approval from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to extend the deadline for submitting the report.
The judge-led panel was originally tasked with concluding its work over nine months and deliver its findings in September.
The announcement confirmed an earlier report by the South China Morning Post, which cited a source as saying the committee was likely to delay its submission as it needed more time to organise the evidence and review documents.
The panel said it was processing written evidence that included more than one million files, along with other materials it was still receiving as it drafted its report.
But the issues arising in its work were “numerous and complex in nature”, with many parties involved.
“As the committee has to reach its findings and conclusions, and formulate recommendations on the matters within its terms of reference that are grounded in a factual framework, more time is required for it to analyse and study the large amount of information submitted by various parties,” it said.
“In view of this, the committee has sought the agreement from the chief executive to extend the time for submitting its report, and the chief executive has given his agreement.
“Based on the latest progress, the committee expects to complete its work and submit its report to the chief executive by the end of October.”
The independent committee was set up in December last year, weeks after a deadly blaze erupted at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court while the housing estate was undergoing a major HK$336 million (US$42.9 million) renovation, killing 168 people and displacing nearly 5,000 residents.
It was tasked with investigating the fire’s causes, existing regulations, whether there were systemic problems connected to large-scale renovation works, and making recommendations.

The committee began its inquiry on March 19, going through one million files and testimonies from 80 witnesses, including government officials, Wang Fuk Court residents, workers and fire safety and legal experts.
During the inquiry, the committee’s lead counsel Victor Dawes SC attributed the disaster’s cause to “human factors”, before pointing to a series of systemic and regulatory failures and suspected fraudulent acts by contractors.
The “human factors” listed included the use of non-fire-retardant scaffolding mesh, widespread installation of combustible polyfoam boards over windows, deactivation of the fire alarm system and suspension of the fire hose reel system.
The use of temporary openings in emergency staircases where fire-rated windows had been replaced with movable boards and workers’ smoking habits were also cited.


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Committee probing Tai Po fire delays submission of report till end of October

The independent committee investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire, led by Victor Dawes SC (front), held a total of 30 sessions across six rounds of evidential hearings from March 19 to July 17. Photo: Jelly Tse

The committee previously said the fire was caused by “human factors”, as well as systemic and regulatory failures and alleged fraudulent acts by contractors. Photo: Jelly Tse

The catastrophic fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last November killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 others. Photo: Jelly Tse

Supplier says subcontractor ordered non-fire-retardant nets before Tai Po blaze

Newly released documents show non-fire-retardant nets were ordered by a Wang Fuk Court subcontractor. Photo: Karma Lo

The committee’s counsel and expert witnesses previously identified the use of non-compliant scaffolding mesh as a key factor behind the fire’s rapid spread. Photo: Sam Tsang

8% of owners at fire-hit Hong Kong estate yet to accept buy-back as deadline nears

Wang Fuk Court home owners leave after attending an extraordinary general meeting at Kai Tak Community Hall on July 19. Photo: Edmond So

Chief Executive John Lee meets the media after the town hall at Kowloon Tong Government Primary School. Photo: Edmond So

News

Hong Kong

Society

Panel says it has asked Chief Executive John Lee for deadline extension, citing complexity of issues and large volume of documents it must review


Panel says it has asked Chief Executive John Lee for deadline extension, citing complexity of issues and large volume of documents it must review.


Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

China

Committee probing Tai Po fire delays submission of report till end of October

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Panel says it has asked Chief Executive John Lee for deadline extension, citing complexity of issues and large volume of documents it must review

Panel says it has asked Chief Executive John Lee for deadline extension, citing complexity of issues and large volume of documents it must review