Six labour unions from Hong Kong's Fire Services Department have jointly denounced banker-turned-film producer Checkley Sin Kwok-lam on Thursday for his social media comments accusing Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin of mismanaging the Tai Po fire. Sin claimed to have received internal messages from department friends alleging mishandling, but the unions described the accusations as misleading and damaging to the department's professional image. The blaze, Hong Kong's deadliest in decades, lasted about 43 hours, killing 161 people and displacing nearly 5,000 residents.
Six labour unions affiliated with Hong Kong's Fire Services Department issued a joint statement on Thursday, strongly denouncing comments by Ip Man film series producer Checkley Sin Kwok-lam regarding the handling of the Tai Po fire. Sin, a former banker who later became an award-winning kung fu film producer, posted on social media on Monday, claiming that several friends in the department had shared internal messages accusing Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin of mismanaging the blaze. He shared these messages without identifying their source.
In their statement, the unions described Sin's accusations as misleading and harmful to the department's professional image. They noted that the department had deployed drones to detect and monitor the fire on site, but could not use them to extinguish it due to limited water pressure. The blaze at Wang Fuk Court raged for about 43 hours, marking Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, with 161 fatalities and nearly 5,000 residents displaced.
Sin's remarks prompted a unified response from the unions, who stood together to defend the department's strategies in tackling emergencies. As a vital public service in Hong Kong, the Fire Services Department faces scrutiny in such incidents, highlighting the importance of internal communications and public discourse. While Sin did not disclose the messages' origins, the unions maintained that his claims were unfounded and urged adherence to factual accuracy.
