The Hong Kong Police Force has completed identifications and forensic examinations of the remains recovered from the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire, confirming 168 fatalities, an increase on the previously reported 161. The blaze, which broke out on Nov 26 and took 43 hours to extinguish, was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948, and the third deadliest in the city’s recorded history.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Thursday that all the deceased have been identified, and all missing-person inquiries have been resolved, with no individuals unaccounted for. He said the police will not disclose the names of the victims out of respect for their families. A death investigation report is to be submitted to the coroner, pending an inquest.

The victims include 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, two interior decorators, five construction workers, and 10 foreign domestic helpers. Among the deceased were 58 males and 110 females, aged six months to 98 years.

Criminal and fire investigations are ongoing. Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have arrested at least 30 people in connection with construction and maintenance work at Wang Fuk Court, which was under renovation when the blaze erupted. Investigators suspect that flammable construction materials and substandard fire protection systems contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

At Thursday’s Legislative Council meeting, tightening building maintenance regulations remained a central topic for government officials and lawmakers.

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Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said her bureau plans to submit draft amendments to building maintenance legislation in the second half of this year, as part of a comprehensive reform to strengthen supervision and close regulatory loopholes.

Proposals include requiring third-party professionals to submit safety and supervision measures for renovation projects. These professionals must remain independent of the contractors, and will be appointed through an enhanced version of the Urban Renewal Authority’s Smart Tender service.

The upgraded Smart Tender platform will include a strictly revised pre-approved list of consultants and contractors, based on information that goes beyond the basic checks for criminal and disciplinary records to include comprehensive vetting, performance evaluations, and client reviews, Linn said.

Several legislators also called for homeowners to be given more power in the building maintenance process ensuring transparency in the city’s burgeoning building maintenance sector.

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In his motion, titled “Improving the Management of Building Maintenance Works”, legislator Mark Chong Ho-fung targeted the current system that allows flat owners to authorize others to represent them at owners’ corporation meetings related to maintenance projects.

He encouraged owners to participate directly in building management decisions, and proposed that all authorization notices be signed in the presence of management company employees and verified by government officials through phone calls.

Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu suggested that proxy authorization should only count as attendance, not as votes. “Voting rights should be reserved for owners who are physically present. If reforms are not implemented, no responsible individuals will remain willing to serve on owners’ corporations,” Tang said.

Lawmaker Lam Chun-sing said that revising the pre-approved list for Smart Tender would take time. He suggested extending the inspection and repair deadline for older buildings so that they can benefit from the enhanced system once implemented.

In a separate announcement, authorities addressed media reports regarding fire safety risks that have been flagged at several industrial buildings. From Dec 29 to 31, the Fire Services Department and the Buildings Department jointly inspected nine industrial buildings in Kowloon and the New Territories, uncovering 261 fire safety irregularities.

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The Fire Services Department initiated three prosecutions and issued 22 Fire Hazard Abatement Notices. The Buildings Department identified 13 subdivided flats that were suspected of being used for unauthorized domestic purposes, and has contacted relevant owners and occupants for follow-up inspections.