Hong Kong authorities and professional bodies have stepped up investigations into the city’s deadliest fire in decades and started taking disciplinary action against any parties found to have breached regulations, the Post has learned.
The probes follow last month’s blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court housing estate, which killed at least 160 people, including a firefighter, and left nearly 5,000 homeless. Six people remain uncontactable.
So far, 21 people have been arrested by police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
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Searches by the Post have revealed the specific professional licences held by the companies and directors now under scrutiny or under arrest. The investigation focuses on a complex web of liability involving the project’s key stakeholders.
Project consultant Will Power Architects Company was a key player, alongside main contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering, property manager ISS EastPoint Properties and the estate’s owners’ corporation. Subcontractors such as Victory Fire Engineering were responsible for maintaining the estate’s fire safety systems.
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The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) on Friday removed Prestige and Will Power from its building rehabilitation company registration scheme, a database that assesses whether consultants and contractors have the related mechanisms or systems in quality management, professional services and customer services for performing building rehabilitation work.
Citing its handbook, the URA said that when registered companies became the subject of complaints or “negative mass media reports” involving arrests or hearings by law enforcement agencies, the ICAC, or the Competition Commission over declared violations, convictions, or disciplinary records, the authority “will revoke their registrations”.