Hong Kong leader apologises for deadly Tai Po fire, pledges reforms
John Lee apologized and promised reforms after a judge-led report found four government bodies partly responsible for the deadly fire.
- On Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the resignation of Housing Secretary Winnie following a government investigation into the fire in Tai Po that killed 168 people last November.
- The blaze engulfed seven 31-storey tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex, with a judge-led panel report detailing significant regulatory and supervisory failings in the building-renovation system.
- Authorities charged seven people and two companies with manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud, alleging they concealed litigation records to secure a renovation contract worth over $38 million.
- Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu apologized for the disaster, stating Winnie "should bear political responsibility" despite finding no personal wrongdoing, and announced reforms introducing criminal penalties for bid-rigging.
- Senior officials will host separate briefings on Friday to explain the proposed measures in greater detail as the government pursues "administrative accountability" to address the systemic failings.
66 Articles
66 Articles
Hong Kong leader apologizes for deadly fire that tested Beijing’s grip on city
HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s leader made a rare apology Thursday for a residential fire that killed 168 people last year, announcing that a top housing official would resign after an investigation blamed corruption and regulatory failures for the Chinese territory’s worst human-caused disaster in decades.
Hong Kong leader apologises for deadly fire
HONG KONG — Hong Kong leader John Lee apologised on Thursday for a deadly fire that killed 168 people, and the city's housing minister resigned after a report found the government partially responsible for the disaster. The November 26 fire at Wang Fuk Court was the world's deadliest residential building blaze since 1980 and engulfed several residential tower blocks. Public pressure for government accountability has grown since then, with calls …
Reformatorisch Dagblad
John Lee, the leader of Hong Kong, has apologized for the major fire that killed 168 people last year, The New York Times and news site Hong Kong Free Press report. The findings of a report on the disaster were released on Thursday. The Minister of Housing had to resign following the investigation.
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