Hong Kong minister vows tougher building safety laws in Tai Po fire aftermath

Following the deadly November 26 Tai Po fire that killed 161 and displaced 5,000 at Wang Fuk Court, Hong Kong's Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho pledged stricter building safety laws, vowing no leniency for construction sector loopholes and government takeover of risky renovations.

On Saturday, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, speaking on a radio programme, called for a 'thorough review of the existing system with a heavy hand' amid public scrutiny of construction practices after the 43-hour blaze.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had earlier committed to systemic reforms. Linn warned of unscrupulous property owners infiltrating owners’ corporations for illegal maintenance schemes. New post-fire inspection rules have delayed some renovations posing safety risks, prompting government intervention to prioritize public safety and prevent recurrences.

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Aftermath of Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court fire: charred high-rise, firefighters searching debris, displaced residents receiving aid amid relief tents and emergency vehicles.
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Hong Kong residential fire death toll rises to 146 as relief continues

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A devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po has claimed 146 lives and injured 79, displacing thousands. Authorities confirmed the safety of 159 previously missing residents, though about 40 remain unaccounted for. The government is providing temporary housing and financial aid while investigating the blaze's cause.

After a deadly fire in Tai Po that claimed 168 lives, Hong Kong's government has proposed measures to strengthen building maintenance. Experts, however, warn that these pledges only scratch the surface of long-standing systemic issues in the sector.

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Amid ongoing fallout from November's deadly Tai Po fire—which claimed over 160 lives and displaced thousands—Hong Kong residents are pushing for a class-action lawsuit mechanism, but long-delayed legal reforms are standing in the way, as covered in prior reports on government safety pledges.

Hong Kong's independent committee into the deadly Tai Po fire held its first hearing on Thursday at 10am, starting with a minute of silence for the victims. Residents have urged the panel to hold those responsible accountable, as the judge leading the inquiry promises a fair and thorough probe.

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Hong Kong’s Housing Department will tighten declaration-of-interest rules after a surveyor arrested on suspicion of manslaughter failed to disclose his role at the fire-ravaged estate where he worked as a service provider. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November killed 161 people. Industry leaders have warned that undeclared interests could create conflicts and undermine public confidence.

Hong Kong police have expanded their probe into allegedly fake scaffolding net safety certificates to six estates, following discoveries at two sites after the Tai Po inferno that prompted the removal of mesh netting at about 200 locations last week. The blaze on November 26 killed at least 159 people, including a firefighter, and left nearly 5,000 homeless.

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Hong Kong's Home Affairs Minister Alice Mak has urged Tai Po landlords against raising rents to capture government subsidies for residents displaced by the deadly November Wang Fuk Court fire. The HK$150,000 annual aid (for two years) aims to help victims secure local homes, amid concerns over market exploitation.

 

 

 

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