US EditionHong Kong officials want to expand oversight of building maintenance after deadly fire
Proposals include stricter contractor vetting, mandatory third-party supervision, and fire department approvals to prevent future disasters after a fire killed 161 and displaced thousands.
- On Wednesday, Hong Kong officials proposed expanding oversight of building maintenance and strengthening fire-safety measures after a November blaze killed at least 161 people and displaced thousands.
- Investigators found substandard renovation netting and foam boards and some nonworking fire alarms at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, where the blaze spread across seven towers, raising questions about oversight.
- A preselected list of vetted consultants and contractors would be created alongside third-party supervision requirements, fire department signoff before shutting safety systems, and a smoking ban on construction sites.
- At the newly elected legislature's first meeting, John Lee pledged a thorough probe by law enforcement agencies and a judge-led independent committee, while officials said smoking-ban law-change proposals would be filed within weeks.
- Political analysts warned the blaze could be the `tip of an iceberg`, piling pressure on Hong Kong leader John Lee and Beijing's `patriots-only` governance system, with fears reforms may reshape contracting for homeowners and contractors.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Hong Kong to propose greater gov’t oversight of building maintenance work after fatal Tai Po fire
Hong Kong’s development chief has announced plans to overhaul building laws and the redevelopment body’s powers to give the government greater oversight of building maintenance work. Hong Kong Development Secretary Bernadette Linn addresses the Legislative Council on January 14, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Development Secretary Bernadette Linn spoke at the first meeting of the new Legislative Council (LegCo), during which the deadly Wang Fuk Cou…
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By KANIS LEUNG HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong authorities proposed Wednesday to extend the supervision of building maintenance works and reinforce fire safety measures after a fire that killed at least 161 people and caused thousands of displaced people in November. The fire that spread over seven towers in a department complex generated doubts about corruption, negligence and government oversight in city building maintenance projects, increasing pr…
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