Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades at Wang Fuk Court has claimed at least 156 lives and ignited public anger over construction corruption, safety lapses, and government oversight failures.

The high-rise blaze, which tore through seven of eight towers in the Tai Po residential complex, exposed substandard renovation practices, including the use of flammable foam panels and cheaper, non-compliant scaffolding netting. Strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Arrests and Investigation

So far, authorities have arrested 14 people, including scaffolding subcontractors, construction directors, and consultants, on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced the formation of an independent judicial committee to investigate the incident and pledged systemic reforms to prevent future disasters.

Seven of 20 additional netting samples from the site failed fire safety tests, with evidence suggesting contractors cut costs after a typhoon damaged the original materials. Some fire alarms also failed to sound, residents said.

Broader Safety Concerns

Experts warn that the Wang Fuk Court fire may be the “tip of the iceberg” in Hong Kong, where bid-rigging, collusion, and hazardous renovation practices are common across multiple high-rise projects. Authorities have suspended work at 28 other projects managed by the same company, and contractors are removing potentially dangerous materials.

Residents had previously raised safety concerns to authorities, but inspections reportedly failed to prevent the disaster. Analysts note that the public’s anger focuses less on materials and more on government oversight failures.

Political Implications

The fire comes amid tight political controls under Beijing, including a national security law that suppresses dissent. Authorities have already arrested organizers of petitions demanding accountability, warning against exploiting the tragedy for anti-government purposes. The disaster could affect voter turnout in Hong Kong’s December 7 Legislative Council elections, potentially signaling public dissatisfaction with the government.

John Lee vowed reforms, saying:

“Yes, we need a reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are plugged.”

Experts warn that unless public opinion is addressed, the incident could be a “huge mistake” for the Hong Kong government.