John Lee orders judge-led committee to uncover truth behind Hong Kong fire

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Hong Kong’s leader has ordered the establishment of an independent committee, chaired by a judge, to investigate the cause of the deadly fire in Tai Po, which has so far claimed 151 lives.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday ahead of his weekly meeting with the city’s key decision-making Executive Council that authorities would set up the committee to find out the truth behind the blaze and enable a “systematic change”.

“As criminal investigations are ongoing, I will set up an independent commission chaired by a judge to review why the fire broke out and spread so fast,” he said.

Lee added that he would be in touch with the judiciary to have a judge chair the committee, which will conduct its work in “high efficiency”.

The fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last Wednesday killed at least 151 people, with 39 people still unaccounted for.