Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said there should be no limits to accountability over the Wang Fuk Court fire that killed 168 people last November. He confirmed prosecutions against two witnesses who refused to testify.
In an interview, Tang said law enforcement agencies were already prosecuting two people who refused to testify before the independent committee. “Whether they attend the committee or not, it doesn’t really matter. If we have evidence, we will arrest and we will prosecute,” he said.
The committee, which ruled out seeking statutory powers on Monday, continues to examine how failures by multiple government departments allowed the blaze to spread rapidly during renovations at the estate. Materials such as polyfoam boards and non-fire-retardant scaffolding mesh were identified as key factors.
Expert Richard Yuen Kwok-kit told the inquiry on Wednesday that eliminating all fire risks at renovation sites was unrealistic and would drive up costs enormously. He described the issue as one of risk management rather than zero tolerance.
