As a long-time resident of Tai Po, I was traumatized by the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, a familiar landmark I pass by regularly. But I was also profoundly moved by the community spirit of Tai Po residents, who swiftly organized themselves to provide immediate aid to the victims. I witnessed the impressive mountain of supplies at various shelter centers and the large number of volunteers, including many young students, working tirelessly to support those affected. Their meticulous care was evident when they parked their own vehicles outside the center to facilitate charging the victims’ mobile phones.
As of Wednesday, the outpouring of support from all walks of life in Hong Kong was phenomenal, with donations now exceeding HK$2.1 billion ($270 million). It was particularly touching to see thousands of mourners waiting silently in a line stretching over 2 kilometers, willing to wait for two hours to pay floral tributes at the park near the fire-ravaged remnants of Wang Fuk Court. Hong Kong has once again demonstrated, during its most trying hours, its indomitable spirit of unity and resilience, often referred to as the Lion Rock spirit.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government also displayed commendable efforts in responding to the tragedy, showcasing the bravery and professionalism of the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force during the rescue operations. Most impressively, within just a few days, the government’s post-disaster relief efforts successfully facilitated the transition of the majority of victims from temporary shelters to safe, stable housing.
It is entirely appropriate for the public to demand answers regarding the cause of the disaster, how such a massive conflagration could erupt so suddenly and take so many lives with it. The immediate concern, of course, is accountability and the hard lessons that must be learned to prevent its reoccurrence.
Reassuringly, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has swiftly ordered the formation of an interdepartmental fire investigation task force, led by the Fire Services Department. It has two primary objectives: to investigate the cause and spread of the fire and to identify the factors that led to the heavy casualties. The inaugural meeting of the task force took place on Nov 28, just two days after the fire, during which its members pledged to “proceed at full steam”.
Additionally, to ensure a thorough examination of the disaster’s causes and to devise comprehensive measures for preventing future occurrences, the chief executive has announced the creation of an independent commission to be chaired by a judge.
It is entirely appropriate for the public to demand answers regarding the cause of the disaster, how such a massive conflagration could erupt so suddenly and take so many lives with it. The immediate concern, of course, is accountability and the hard lessons that must be learned to prevent its reoccurrence
Furthermore, the police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have swiftly arrested several individuals linked to the contractor involved, on suspicion of manslaughter, bribery, and fraud. The ICAC has uncovered crucial evidence indicating that the contractor made a bulk purchase of substandard, non-flame-retardant mesh netting, alongside a much smaller amount of compliant netting. The contractor allegedly concealed the noncompliant materials at higher elevations and placed the compliant netting nearer the floor for inspection. The presence of non-flame-retardant netting, combined with foam boards used to protect windows, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. It is most deplorable that anyone would jeopardize the lives of thousands of residents to earn a small extra sum on a multi-million-dollar contract.
The central government immediately expressed its deep concern. On the evening of the incident, President Xi Jinping extended his condolences to the families of the victims and expressed sympathy for all affected, urging the SAR government to undertake every remedial effort and provide post-disaster support. The Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee promptly dispatched a team to assist. The public can count on the government’s commitment to investigate the matter thoroughly.
While we await the findings, the SAR government should implement additional measures to minimize future hazards. In the meantime, alongside expediting inspections of vulnerable construction sites across the city, the government should establish a 24-hour hotline for residents to report concerns or irregularities related to fire safety. A rapid response team, comprising personnel from the Fire Services Department, the Labor Department, the Housing Department, and the Buildings Department should be established to respond immediately.
The Fire Services Department should also expedite the implementation of its drone firefighting project in collaboration with Shenzhen authorities, alleviating residents’ concerns about living on the upper floors of high-rise buildings.
Another area of public concern involves suspicions of collusive bid rigging in renovation projects for aging buildings. Astonishingly, the renovation of Wang Fuk Court cost over HK$330 million, requiring each household — many of which are low-income families — to contribute between HK$160,000 and HK$200,000. Equally surprising is that the contractor overseeing this project is managing 28 others simultaneously. Given the ICAC’s track record of investigating bid-rigging cases, this malpractice appears to be widespread. Many residents felt compelled to accept allegedly inflated bids because of looming deadlines for mandatory renovations on buildings over 30 years old. The Buildings Department and the Housing Department should promptly review renovation orders, expand the list of qualified contractors, and offer deadline extensions when exorbitant bids are evident. New guidelines should also be introduced immediately to discourage the simultaneous renovation of all housing blocks within an estate and to promote a staggered approach that minimizes the risk of fire spreading among adjacent blocks, as happened at Wang Fuk Court.
Meanwhile, the public should remain vigilant about the anti-China forces trying to exploit this tragedy to reignite chaos reminiscent of the social unrest in 2019-20. We have already seen professionally produced videos on social media disseminating false information and maliciously attacking the SAR government’s response efforts, aiming to sow division and incite resentment against the government. They are exploiting the emotion and grief of people for their political agendas; their malicious intentions must be fully exposed and their plots must be nipped in the bud.
The author is an honorary fellow of HKU Space and Hong Kong Metropolitan University, an adviser with Our Hong Kong Foundation and a retired deputy commissioner of the ICAC.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
