By Islam El-Sakka
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee apologized Thursday for government failures that contributed to a residential fire that killed 168 people last November, a rare public contrition that nonetheless left victims' families demanding further accountability.
Report blames decades of government failure
An independent report released Thursday found "decades of failure" by four government departments that should bear responsibility for the high death toll. The fire, which started from a cigarette on Nov. 26, 2025, engulfed seven of eight towers at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po district, a complex shrouded in bamboo scaffolding and netting for renovations. The report identified private contractors as the main culprits but also accused officials of lax enforcement that allowed fire hazards to persist.
One official resigns, charges filed
Housing Secretary Winnie Ho has resigned, and authorities have filed charges including manslaughter against seven individuals and two companies. At least 35 people have been arrested. Lee announced a three-month investigation into the government's role and promised systematic reforms, including criminalizing bid-rigging and overhauling the complaints system.
Victims' families demand more accountability
Relatives of the dead said the apology fell short. Yip Ka-kui, who lost his wife and home, called for all secretaries of the named departments to step down. Phyllis Lo, whose mother died, said justice had yet to be served. Critics have accused the government of prioritizing suppression of criticism over addressing the disaster's causes, citing arrests for sedition and pressure on international media since the fire.
Reforms promised as 'reform has only just begun'
The report concluded: "The fire has been put out, but the reform has only just begun." Lee vowed that similar incidents would never be allowed to happen again, though some observers had urged a more legally powerful inquiry commission rather than the judge-led review committee that produced Thursday's findings.
