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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/

The fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last November destroyed all but one of its eight buildings, killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 residents. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong

In situ redevelopment proposal by over 400 Tai Po fire victims turned down

Housing Bureau says on-site redevelopment will take too long and over 80 per cent of residents want quicker solution, according to earlier survey.

5 minutes ago

Hong Kong fires and safety

Tai Po blaze: no fire safety system checks before firm sent 85 shutdown notices

8 Apr 2026 - 10:36PM

Hong Kong society

Some Wang Fuk Court residents float ‘profit-making’ in-situ rebuilding plan

8 Apr 2026 - 10:50PM

Hong Kong

Tai Po probe: no on-site checks by firm due to ‘busy’ schedule – as it happened

Director of contractor responsible for estate’s fire services equipment suspects workers drew water from tanks, calling it a serious problem.

8 Apr 2026 - 6:31PM

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse

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

Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng says people more willing to discuss death in wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and deadly Tai Po fire.

5 Apr 2026 - 11:25PM

Hong Kong society

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

Day dedicated to sweeping graves and honouring dead marked across Hong Kong, but tradition proves painful for survivors of deadly blaze in Tai Po.

5 Apr 2026 - 11:31PM

Mr Yau and Mrs Yau, residents of Wang Chi House at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, returned to the estate to mourn their lost neighbours. Photo: Denise Tsang

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

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

Seeking answers to a tragedy Hong Kong could have avoided

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

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

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

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

In situ redevelopment proposal by over 400 Tai Po fire victims turned down

Housing Bureau says on-site redevelopment will take too long and over 80 per cent of residents want quicker solution, according to earlier survey.

Tai Po blaze: no fire safety system checks before firm sent 85 shutdown notices

Some Wang Fuk Court residents float ‘profit-making’ in-situ rebuilding plan

Tai Po probe: no on-site checks by firm due to ‘busy’ schedule – as it happened

Director of contractor responsible for estate’s fire services equipment suspects workers drew water from tanks, calling it a serious problem.

‘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

Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng says people more willing to discuss death in wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and deadly Tai Po fire.

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

Day dedicated to sweeping graves and honouring dead marked across Hong Kong, but tradition proves painful for survivors of deadly blaze in Tai Po.

.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.

Opinion | Tai Po fire hearings reveal broken promises to Hongkongers