Independent Committee to Conduct Comprehensive and In-Depth Review Following Major Fire
Hong Kong, SAR–(Newsfile Corp. – December 2, 2025) – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is going all out to support victims and investigate the cause of a massive fire that engulfed seven out of eight high-rise residential blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on November 26.
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of support from the public and urgent actions from the HKSAR Government to provide all-round assistance to the victims while launching a thorough investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Government support across multiple areas
John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, emphasised that the Government attaches high importance to the well-being of affected residents, focusing not only on immediate relief aid but also their various long-term living needs.
As a top priority, the Government immediately started providing support across multiple areas, including financial aid, accommodation, medical assistance, and counselling.
Regarding financial support, the Government has been offering an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000 (US$1,282) per affected household, with more than 1,900 households registering for the subsidy.
Moreover, the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has been set up with an initial HK$300 million (US$38 million) injection from the Government. The fund has so far raised a total of HK$2.3 billion (US$294 million), including HK$2 billion (US$256 million) from donations. The fund will be used to assist the residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support, including families of each deceased victim receiving HK$200,000 (US$25,641) as a token of solidarity as well as HK$50,000 (US$6,410) to cover funeral costs.
As for foreign domestic helpers who lost their life in the incident, the next of kin of each deceased helper will receive roughly HK$800,000 (US$102,564) from the Government, including a one-off financial assistance of HK$250,000 (US$32,051) and the statutory compensation of over HK$500,000 (US$64,102).
The Government will also provide four special subsidies, namely the injury grant (HK$50,000 to HK$100,000, i.e. US$6,410 to US$12,820), the student grant (HK$20,000, i.e. US$2,564), the subsidy for workers (HK$20,000, i.e. US$2,564) and the subsidy for foreign domestic helpers (HK$20,000, i.e. US$2,564).
So far, more than 1,000 residents have been accommodated in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms and another 1,600 residents have moved into transitional housing units. Furthermore, two shelters remain in operation for residents in need.
HKSAR’s Chief Executive John Lee (third left) visits affected residents being accommodated in transitional housing
Initial investigations have raised serious concerns in a number of areas with more than a dozen individuals from various construction and engineering consultancy companies arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the tragedy.
Various building materials, including scaffolding netting, foam boards and canvas, have been seized from the scene for further testing and investigation. The Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have established a joint task force to conduct a comprehensive criminal investigation.
Independent committee to conduct review
Mr Lee has also announced the establishment of an independent committee, headed by a judge, to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review.
“I call for a thorough investigation and serious reform. We’ll overcome the obstacles of vested interests, pursue accountability, regardless of who he or she is. We must uncover the truth, ensure that justice is served, let the deceased rest in peace and provide comfort to the living.
“While criminal and fire investigations are proceeding continuously, I will establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review to reform the building works system and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. To ensure the committee’s independence and credibility, I will invite a judge to lead its work. I shall liaise with him to define its detailed terms of reference, and at the same time, I will explore ways to assist in supporting the committee’s operational efficiency such that the Government can provide more detailed information or carry out some work on its direction so as to enable it to complete its task efficiently and submit a report early to the Chief Executive with recommendations to assist the Government to make the reform,” Mr Lee said on December 2.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive announced that the upcoming Legislative Council General Election would go ahead as planned on December 7.
“Only by enabling the new Legislative Council members to assume their duties promptly can we advance post-disaster reconstruction, follow-up support, recovery efforts, and the necessary legislative reviews and reforms more swiftly and effectively,” Mr Lee said. “Many initiatives require Legislative Council deliberation, funding approval, and law-making before implementation. This represents the most responsible approach towards Hong Kong’s future.”
Residents of the only tower left untouched by the deadly blaze that destroyed seven others at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood will be given 90 minutes on Wednesday and Thursday to collect their belongings. Civil servants will be on hand to help move their possessions, authorities have said. Amy Lam Man-han,
A deadly Hong Kong blaze that claimed the lives of several domestic helpers will not deter Filipinos from working in the city, the Philippines’ migrant workers minister has said, adding that the city has always been a “safe haven”. Speaking to the Post during a visit to Hong Kong on Tuesday, Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has ordered the setting up of a judge-led independent review committee on the blaze that engulfed a Tai Po residential estate while formally announcing that the Legislative Council election will go ahead on Sunday as scheduled. The death toll from the inferno that swept through seven of the
Hong Kong — Hong Kong will set up an independent committee headed by a judge to determine the cause of a deadly apartment block fire that shocked the city, and to make recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again, its leader said Tuesday. John Lee, the chief executive of the Chinese region, pledged to overcome
Hong Kong badminton player Yoyo Ng Tsz-yau has criticised the condition of her Youth Olympic Games gold medal after it was returned by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), posting a photo of the medal on social media. “This is so outrageous. I lent this medal to the Hong Kong Sports Institute for display 10
England’s rising star Jonah Bryant said he was ready to take over the baton for a new generation of players after knocking out compatriot and former world champion Mohamed El Shorbagy at the Hong Kong Squash Open on Tuesday. Bryant, 20, recorded a 3-1 victory over the 34-year-old El Shorbagy in 50 minutes at Hong
Skyscrapers along the Victoria Habour are illuminated by the afternoon sun in Hong Kong on Sept 15, 2025. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY) Deeper industrial collaboration between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong is creating a powerful two-way growth engine for startups, participants at the Global Innovation Summit said on Tuesday. The mainland’s lower costs
According to ratings agency AM Best, a material portion of the gross incurred loss, which may exceed $200 million from the deadly Hong Kong apartment (Wang Fuk Court) fire, is expected to be transferred to reinsurers. This is because primary insurers typically rely on a mix of reinsurance arrangements, including facultative, proportional, and non-proportional treaties,
Hong Kong’s property deals slipped slightly in November after two months of gains, government data showed, with analysts warning of a deeper pullback this month as the Christmas holidays along with deferred launches of new homes following the deadly fire in Tai Po weigh on sentiment. Sales of new and lived-in homes, office units, shops,
Residents and mourners have demanded that the Hong Kong government ramp up its investigations to hold responsible parties accountable, as they gathered to mark the seventh day after the start of the city’s worst fire in seven decades. Hundreds of people assembled at the Kwong Fuk sit-out area on Tuesday, laying flowers, writing messages of
Hong Kong Investment Corp (HKIC), the government’s investment arm, on Tuesday appointed 10 asset managers spanning venture capital, private equity, private credit and hedge funds to oversee at least HK$3 billion (US$385 million) under its enhanced cash-for-residency scheme. HKIC said in a statement that the new batch of managers for the investment portfolio under the
Hong Kong’s property deals slipped slightly in November after two months of gains, government data showed, with analysts warning of a deeper pullback this month as the Christmas holidays along with deferred launches of new homes following the deadly fire in Tai Po weigh on sentiment. Sales of new and lived-in homes, office units, shops,
The Coroner’s Court has postponed a long-awaited verdict for an inquest into one of Hong Kong’s deadliest maritime disasters, in which 39 residents died after a collision between two ferries in 2012. The court was slated to make a ruling on Thursday on the underlying causes of the crash, which took place off Lamma Island,
The Hong Kong government has exercised its power under the city’s domestic national security law for the first time to ban two organisations deemed subversive. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Tuesday prohibited the operation of the Canada-based “Hong Kong Parliament” and the Taiwan-based “Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union” in the city. The ordinance
The devastating fire in Tai Po is likely to hurt profitability at Hong Kong’s property insurers and could prompt them to review pricing strategies that have led to lower premiums amid fierce competition, according to S&P Global Ratings. “Claim losses from last week’s fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po will further erode the
HONG KONG — Uncomfortable questions are being raised over who is to blame for Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades. As the territory mourns over the high-rise apartment fire that killed at least 151 people, anger and frustration are mounting over building safety lapses, suspected construction corruption and lax government oversight. But bigger issues are
Schools in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that were not severely affected by the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court should resume in-person classes and follow their original timetables, a head teachers’ representative has said, adding that this would help students regain normality and heal from grief. Chu Wai-lam, chairman of the New Territories School
Hong Kong Investment Corp (HKIC), the government’s investment arm, on Tuesday appointed 10 asset managers spanning venture capital, private equity, private credit and hedge funds to oversee at least HK$3 billion (US$385 million) under its enhanced cash-for-residency scheme. HKIC said in a statement that the new batch of managers for the investment portfolio under the
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Hong Kong’s stablecoin hub dreams have reportedly taken a hit after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) singled out the sector for the first time while reaffirming its long-standing position on the crypto industry. Beijing’s Latest Warning Targets Stablecoins Legal experts and
