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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Latest news and updates on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that killed 168 people, including a firefighter. Scores of people were also hurt.

Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po

Bank of China account: 012 8752 190 1597

Hong Kong Red Cross

https://www.redcross.org.hk/en/index.html

Operation Santa Claus Emergency Appeal

https://oschk.org/

Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council

https://www.skhwc.org.hk/en/

Hong Kong Family Welfare Society

https://www.hkfws.org.hk/en/home

Po Leung Kuk

https://www.poleungkuk.org.hk/en

Feeding Hong Kong

https://feedinghk.org/

Witnesses from property management company ISS EastPoint leave the hearing after Wednesday morning’s session. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong

Tai Po probe: workers turned off fire safety system, disregarding regulations

Electrician tells hearing he followed an order to turn off main switches because he was ‘worried about a penalty at work’.

3 hours ago

Hong Kong society

Tai Po fire: estate manager questioned over fire alarm shutdown – as it happened

2 hours ago

Hong Kong housing

Editorial | For Hong Kong fire survivors, returning to destroyed flats offers closure

1 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

Hong Kong

Tai Po blaze hearing: property management worker unaware fire alarms deactivated

Clerk tells hearing she knew hose reel system had been shut down for months but did not know alarms would also be deactivated.

1 Apr 2026 - 2:52AM

ISS EastPoint clerk Lok Sin-ying (right) testified on Tuesday. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong

Tai Po probe: firm did not check fire systems since March 2025 – as it happened

Contract between Victory Fire and property management company ISS EastPoint stipulated that the safety system had to be inspected quarterly.

31 Mar 2026 - 5:16PM

Hong Kong

Fire alarm, pump systems switched off before tragedy, Tai Po blaze panel told

Electrical worker Wong Kin-wa says Wang Fuk Court office staff told him the switches were shut off for water tank repair work.

31 Mar 2026 - 12:29AM

Hong Kong fires and safety

Tai Po fire survivors mourn heroine who alerted neighbours to flames

Pak Shui-lin’s husband, Sdanni Yip, and neighbour Lam Yin-ming say heroine, who died during fire, ‘did not deserve to suffer such a fate’.

30 Mar 2026 - 8:17PM

Residents evacuate Wang Fuk Court on November 26. Photo: Eugene Lee

Legislative Council of Hong Kong

Authorities rule out smoking areas at construction sites under proposed ban

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui tells lawmakers that proposed smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites.

30 Mar 2026 - 7:55PM

Hong Kong

Hong Kong eases rules for Wang Fuk Court residents retrieving belongings

Displaced residents of fire-hit blocks may be allowed repeated trips to flats after authorities soften stance on three-hour limit.

30 Mar 2026 - 6:14PM

Hong Kong

Tai Po fire hearing: flat owners ‘often blocked from voting’ – as it happened

Residents recall irregular voting procedures, long deactivation of fire alarm system and rubbish piled high in light well where fire started.

30 Mar 2026 - 10:39PM

A fire engine outside City Gallery in Central during the morning break of the Tai Po fire hearing on Monday. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | Time to confront the uncomfortable truths about the Tai Po fire

Only by facing the problems head on and reforming systems can we truly do justice to the victims and survivors and protect public safety.

30 Mar 2026 - 7:15AM

Legal representatives queue up to enter City Gallery for the afternoon session of the first day of the public inquiry hearing of the deadly fire of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on March 19. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong society

Prepare for conditions at fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, returning residents told

Elderly people, pregnant women and anyone with health issues among those advised against returned home after deadly fire last November.

29 Mar 2026 - 9:43PM

Hong Kong

Errors in Hong Kong Tai Po blaze hearing transcript raise transparency concerns

The South China Morning Post finds multiple factual errors in official transcript, leading to calls for future proceedings to be live-streamed.

29 Mar 2026 - 9:00AM

Hong Kong

Hong Kong defends 3-hour limit for Wang Fuk Court residents to collect belongings

Authorities say restricted hours for residents to return to fire-hit estate are necessary to avoid overcrowding, unfairness and delays.

28 Mar 2026 - 6:27PM

Hong Kong authorities say strict time rules balance safety, order and equal access for all residents. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong society

Residents of fire-hit Wang Fuk Court blocks can retrieve belongings from mid-April

Residents from seven of estate’s eight blocks will be able to return on select dates based on which housing tower they lived in.

28 Mar 2026 - 11:09AMvideocam

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Accidents and personal safety

2 bid-rigging syndicates ‘potentially linked’ to estate destroyed in Tai Po fire

Competition watchdog has not ruled out prospect that at least two syndicates linked to renovations at Wang Fuk Court, representative says.

26 Mar 2026 - 10:38PM

Hong Kong

Residents slam ‘shady’ tendering process in Tai Po fire hearing – as it happened

Wang Fuk Court residents criticise contractor’s poor supervision of workers and questionable authorisation process in project tender.

29 Mar 2026 - 8:30PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Watchdog takes legal action against syndicate seeking ‘quarter of renovation market’

Competition Commission targets six undertakings involving eight companies and 12 individuals tied to building maintenance projects worth nearly HK$700 million.

25 Mar 2026 - 9:30PM

Hoi Tao Building in Kennedy Town was among three renovation projects in which bribes were allegedly offered to flat owners. Photo: Google Maps

Hong Kong

Tai Po fire hearing: government rejects assertions surveyors, contractor conspired

Authorities pledge full transparency in inquiry, pledging swift reviews and fair process without pre-empting conclusions.

25 Mar 2026 - 11:26AM

Mainland China

Construction firms agree smoking ban needed, but baulk at HK$400,000 fine

Industry groups back government’s proposed ban on smoking at construction sites, but say contractors that follow guidelines on complying should be exempt.

24 Mar 2026 - 7:59PM

Hong Kong

Residents say there was no alarm as Tai Po blaze broke out - as it happened

One witness breaks into tears as she recounts the chaos of smoke entering her flat, mistaking it for renovation dust before escaping.

24 Mar 2026 - 6:05PM

Legal representatives return for the afternoon session on day three of the hearing. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong

Residents of Tai Po blaze building misled over renovation project, inquiry told

Ties among companies bidding for work at Wang Fuk Court also suggest possible under-the-table relationships, independent committee hears.

20 Mar 2026 - 11:46PM

The fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court on November 26 last year killed 168 people. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong

Day 2 of Tai Po fire hearing sheds light on potential corruption – as it happened

Lead barrister for independent committee discusses potential corruption during tendering process, among other issues.

20 Mar 2026 - 5:49PM

Hong Kong

Deadly Tai Po fire revealed ‘unacceptable systemic failings’, inquiry hears

Six ‘human factors’ led to almost complete failure of fire safety measures at Wang Fuk Court, independent committee told at first session.

20 Mar 2026 - 9:02AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze may have entered wrong building, inquiry told

Ho Wai-ho, 37, was among the first firefighters to arrive at the scene of the inferno.

19 Mar 2026 - 10:56PM

The fire at Wang Fuk Court quickly spread to seven buildings. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong fires and safety

Public hearing outlines 6 key failures behind Tai Po fire – as it happened

Lead barrister Victor Dawes says messages show substandard scaffolding mesh was used by contractors, while a cigarette ‘most likely’ caused the blaze.

20 Mar 2026 - 9:52AM

Video evidence at the public hearing show that one of the buildings at Wang Fuk Court became engulfed in less than two minutes. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong fires and safety

21 Wang Fuk Court homeowners, residents to give evidence in fire probe

Independent committee set up to investigate deadly fire publishes list of 37 ‘involved parties’ ahead of hearings to collect evidence.

17 Mar 2026 - 6:23PM

Executive Council of Hong Kong

Hong Kong to unveil plans this month for Tai Po fire victims to retrieve items

Chief Executive John Lee pledges support for residents, while vowing full cooperation with committee probe into the deadly blaze.

17 Mar 2026 - 10:03PM

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po probe: workers turned off fire safety system, disregarding regulations

Electrician tells hearing he followed an order to turn off main switches because he was ‘worried about a penalty at work’.

Tai Po fire: estate manager questioned over fire alarm shutdown – as it happened

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | For Hong Kong fire survivors, returning to destroyed flats offers closure

Tai Po blaze hearing: property management worker unaware fire alarms deactivated

Clerk tells hearing she knew hose reel system had been shut down for months but did not know alarms would also be deactivated.

Tai Po probe: firm did not check fire systems since March 2025 – as it happened

Contract between Victory Fire and property management company ISS EastPoint stipulated that the safety system had to be inspected quarterly.

Fire alarm, pump systems switched off before tragedy, Tai Po blaze panel told

Electrical worker Wong Kin-wa says Wang Fuk Court office staff told him the switches were shut off for water tank repair work.

Tai Po fire survivors mourn heroine who alerted neighbours to flames

Pak Shui-lin’s husband, Sdanni Yip, and neighbour Lam Yin-ming say heroine, who died during fire, ‘did not deserve to suffer such a fate’.

Authorities rule out smoking areas at construction sites under proposed ban

Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui tells lawmakers that proposed smoking ban will apply to all areas of construction sites.

Hong Kong eases rules for Wang Fuk Court residents retrieving belongings

Displaced residents of fire-hit blocks may be allowed repeated trips to flats after authorities soften stance on three-hour limit.

Tai Po fire hearing: flat owners ‘often blocked from voting’ – as it happened

Residents recall irregular voting procedures, long deactivation of fire alarm system and rubbish piled high in light well where fire started.

Editorial | Time to confront the uncomfortable truths about the Tai Po fire

Only by facing the problems head on and reforming systems can we truly do justice to the victims and survivors and protect public safety.

Prepare for conditions at fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, returning residents told

Elderly people, pregnant women and anyone with health issues among those advised against returned home after deadly fire last November.

Errors in Hong Kong Tai Po blaze hearing transcript raise transparency concerns

The South China Morning Post finds multiple factual errors in official transcript, leading to calls for future proceedings to be live-streamed.

Hong Kong defends 3-hour limit for Wang Fuk Court residents to collect belongings

Authorities say restricted hours for residents to return to fire-hit estate are necessary to avoid overcrowding, unfairness and delays.

Residents of fire-hit Wang Fuk Court blocks can retrieve belongings from mid-April

Residents from seven of estate’s eight blocks will be able to return on select dates based on which housing tower they lived in.

2 bid-rigging syndicates ‘potentially linked’ to estate destroyed in Tai Po fire

Competition watchdog has not ruled out prospect that at least two syndicates linked to renovations at Wang Fuk Court, representative says.

Residents slam ‘shady’ tendering process in Tai Po fire hearing – as it happened

Wang Fuk Court residents criticise contractor’s poor supervision of workers and questionable authorisation process in project tender.

Watchdog takes legal action against syndicate seeking ‘quarter of renovation market’

Competition Commission targets six undertakings involving eight companies and 12 individuals tied to building maintenance projects worth nearly HK$700 million.

Tai Po fire hearing: government rejects assertions surveyors, contractor conspired

Authorities pledge full transparency in inquiry, pledging swift reviews and fair process without pre-empting conclusions.

Construction firms agree smoking ban needed, but baulk at HK$400,000 fine

Industry groups back government’s proposed ban on smoking at construction sites, but say contractors that follow guidelines on complying should be exempt.

Residents say there was no alarm as Tai Po blaze broke out - as it happened

One witness breaks into tears as she recounts the chaos of smoke entering her flat, mistaking it for renovation dust before escaping.

Residents of Tai Po blaze building misled over renovation project, inquiry told

Ties among companies bidding for work at Wang Fuk Court also suggest possible under-the-table relationships, independent committee hears.

Day 2 of Tai Po fire hearing sheds light on potential corruption – as it happened

Lead barrister for independent committee discusses potential corruption during tendering process, among other issues.

Deadly Tai Po fire revealed ‘unacceptable systemic failings’, inquiry hears

Six ‘human factors’ led to almost complete failure of fire safety measures at Wang Fuk Court, independent committee told at first session.

Firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze may have entered wrong building, inquiry told

Ho Wai-ho, 37, was among the first firefighters to arrive at the scene of the inferno.

Public hearing outlines 6 key failures behind Tai Po fire – as it happened

Lead barrister Victor Dawes says messages show substandard scaffolding mesh was used by contractors, while a cigarette ‘most likely’ caused the blaze.

21 Wang Fuk Court homeowners, residents to give evidence in fire probe

Independent committee set up to investigate deadly fire publishes list of 37 ‘involved parties’ ahead of hearings to collect evidence.

Hong Kong to unveil plans this month for Tai Po fire victims to retrieve items

Chief Executive John Lee pledges support for residents, while vowing full cooperation with committee probe into the deadly blaze.

Editorial | For Hong Kong fire survivors, returning to destroyed flats offers closure