A Hong Kong fire official defended declining mainland Chinese firefighters' help during a public hearing into the city's deadliest blaze in decades. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Sunny Wong Sze-lut cited incompatibility and sufficient local manpower. Chief Executive John Lee vowed reforms to improve public safety.
On the 12th day of a public evidential hearing on Wednesday, April 15, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Sunny Wong Sze-lut defended the decision to decline help from mainland Chinese firefighters. He said they might not have immediately adapted to the local environment or communicated effectively with Hong Kong teams.
Wong, who oversees operational support and professional development at the Fire Services Department, revealed that about 100 mainland firefighters and 20 fire engines were on standby at the Shenzhen border on November 26, when the blaze began. Hong Kong's 1,700-strong local force deployed more than 980 firefighters, which he said was sufficient. He told the independent committee the teams were "incompatible" due to differences in equipment, language, and practices, stating: "In Wang Fuk Court’s case, we were not yet ready to seek help from our mainland counterparts."
The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po raged for around 43 hours, destroying all but one of its eight blocks and killing 168 people while displacing nearly 5,000 residents.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, speaking at the National Security Education Day opening, vowed to pursue accountability and systemic reforms upon the committee's report. He promised to follow all recommendations to improve public security governance. Beijing official Xia Baolong warned against exploiting the tragedy for unrest, urging vigilance on national security risks. Authorities have begun reviewing operations and preliminary reforms.