TOPIC

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/

The inferno broke out at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court on November 26 last year, claiming 168 lives and displacing nearly 5,000 residents. Photo: Dickson Lee

Mainland China

‘Wang Fuk Court briefing to give residents answers before decisions are made’

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says issues can be more easily addressed at briefing, allowing residents to understand the details better.

7 Apr 2026 - 7:24PM

Hong Kong society

Talk about death comes alive in ageing Hong Kong

5 Apr 2026 - 11:25PM

Hong Kong society

‘From big renovation to big burial’: Wang Fuk Court residents mourn on Ching Ming

5 Apr 2026 - 11:31PM

Hong Kong fires and safety

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers

The hearings have exposed gaps in the enforcement of safety rules and an attitude of avoiding blame among government departments.

5 Apr 2026 - 2:30PMvideocam

Witnesses from ISS EastPoint Properties leave the City Gallery in Central following the morning session of the Wang Fuk Court fire hearing on April 1. Photo: Karma Lo

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

4 Apr 2026 - 2:20PM

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

4 Apr 2026 - 10:44AM

Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | Moves to clean up Hong Kong building renovation sector can’t come too soon

Crackdowns by the ICAC and Competition Commission are a timely reminder of Hong Kong’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

4 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

The damaged buildings of Wang Fuk Court (right) in Tai Po are seen on March 27. The Competition Commission has launched proceedings targeting alleged corruption and anti-competitive practices in the bids for several projects, including one linked to the Wang Fuk Court inferno. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong society

Operation Santa Claus: Maxim’s ramps up fundraising for Tai Po fire victims

Restaurant conglomerate also encourages employees and their families to volunteer at elderly care homes to foster a stronger sense of community.

3 Apr 2026 - 6:25PM

Hong Kong

Tai Po blaze probe: property firm failed to identify, follow up on fire hazards

Senior staff of property management firm ISS EastPoint declined to testify, hearing also told.

3 Apr 2026 - 1:05AMvideocam

Hong Kong

Committee concludes first phase of Tai Po fire hearing - as it happened

Next phase of hearing, consisting of six sessions, will start on April 8.

2 Apr 2026 - 5:40PM

The deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Eugene Lee

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’.

2 Apr 2026 - 3:37AM

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

Hong Kong society

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

ISS EastPoint clerk also says authorised votes used in ballots deciding major issues at housing estate were never verified.

2 Apr 2026 - 1:17AM

Hong Kong housing

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

It is good that the authorities are being more accomodating with regard to the scheduled visits for former residents to retrieve their belongings and say goodbye.

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

The catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po killed 168 and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Eugene Lee

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

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

The government is clamping down on smoking at construction sites following the Tai Po fire. Photo: Jelly Tse

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

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

The fire at Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people last November. Jonathan Wong

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 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

The fire at Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people. Photo: Jelly Tse

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

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

‘Wang Fuk Court briefing to give residents answers before decisions are made’

Home affairs chief Alice Mak says issues can be more easily addressed at briefing, allowing residents to understand the details better.

Talk about death comes alive in ageing Hong Kong

‘From big renovation to big burial’: Wang Fuk Court residents mourn on Ching Ming

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers

The hearings have exposed gaps in the enforcement of safety rules and an attitude of avoiding blame among government departments.

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

A multimedia guide to the Tai Po fire

Editorial | Moves to clean up Hong Kong building renovation sector can’t come too soon

Crackdowns by the ICAC and Competition Commission are a timely reminder of Hong Kong’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

Operation Santa Claus: Maxim’s ramps up fundraising for Tai Po fire victims

Restaurant conglomerate also encourages employees and their families to volunteer at elderly care homes to foster a stronger sense of community.

Tai Po blaze probe: property firm failed to identify, follow up on fire hazards

Senior staff of property management firm ISS EastPoint declined to testify, hearing also told.

Committee concludes first phase of Tai Po fire hearing - as it happened

Next phase of hearing, consisting of six sessions, will start on April 8.

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

ISS EastPoint clerk also says authorised votes used in ballots deciding major issues at housing estate were never verified.

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

It is good that the authorities are being more accomodating with regard to the scheduled visits for former residents to retrieve their belongings and say goodbye.

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.

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers