The Garley Building blaze that claimed 40 lives was started by welders who took no fire precautions whatsoever during lift maintenance, the commission of inquiry has concluded.
The welders, who were working on the upper floors, did not take any safety measures - even after they had started a small fire in a lift shaft a few hours before last November's tragedy, inquiry chairman Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing said in his report summary.
It confirmed that sparks and molten metal from the welding started the blaze on the second-floor lobby where combustible materials, such as newspaper and wood, were stacked.
The interim report also looked into the circumstances leading to the high number of casualties.
It pointed out that lift repair work and notices urging people not to panic in case of smoke and burning had greatly reduced residents' awareness of the fire.
'Their prior experience with smoke and smell from the welding work and their knowledge of the notice lulled them into a false sense of security,' it said.