**Deadly Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Sparks Corruption and Safety Concerns**
More than a year before a devastating fire consumed a complex of high-rise towers in Hong Kong, residents had sounded the alarm about potential fire safety violations related to a major renovation project. This week, their fears were realized in what has become one of the city’s deadliest infernos.
**The Tragedy at Wang Fuk Court**
The blaze broke out on Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex consisting of about 2,000 apartments. At least 128 people have been confirmed dead, with 78 others injured and around 200 still unaccounted for.
The cause of the ferocious fire remains unclear. As investigators sift through the blackened remains of the buildings, attention has turned to whether negligence contributed to the scale of the disaster. Key concerns include the construction materials used for the renovation project, specifically the netting over bamboo scaffolding and the polystyrene foam panels installed to protect window glass.
**Residents’ Early Warnings Ignored**
Concerns about the flammability of these materials were raised as early as September 2024. Residents contacted the city’s Labor Department, warning that the netting might be dangerously flammable. They also flagged the foam panels as a hazard, bolstered by the efforts of Jason Poon Chuk-hung, a civil engineer-turned-activist.
City officials admitted this week that the foam boards were highly flammable and helped the fire spread rapidly. Initially, the Labor Department dismissed concerns, telling residents there were no regulations regarding flammable scaffolding materials. Later, the department claimed the materials met fire safety requirements, relying on paperwork from the contractor, Prestige Construction and Engineering.
**Questionable Inspections and Standards**
In a statement, the Labor Department acknowledged receiving complaints from residents and detailed 16 inspections at Wang Fuk Court since July 2024, finding multiple violations and issuing warnings. However, the department has not shared specifics about those violations. Officials have since conceded the netting may have failed to meet fire safety standards, even as preliminary tests now claim compliance with city codes—though details are lacking.
The fire reportedly pushed building temperatures to as high as 930 degrees Fahrenheit, igniting bamboo scaffolding that ultimately collapsed and blocked fire exits.
**Arrests and Investigations Underway**
Authorities have arrested two directors and a consultant from the contractor, charging them with manslaughter and gross negligence. Evidence has been seized, including documents and electronic devices. Today, an anti-corruption agency arrested eight additional people, including consultants, subcontractors, and an intermediary linked to the scaffolding works.
**Longstanding Fears and Facebook Warnings**
An earlier fire at Chinachem Tower, another Hong Kong building, had raised red flags among Wang Fuk Court residents, some of whom discussed their worries in community Facebook groups. A resident warned: “Everyone must be extra careful with fire during the winter. There are so many flammable items outside.”
**Costly Renovations and Suspected Corner-Cutting**
Renovations on Wang Fuk Court’s eight towers began last summer, required by government regulations for buildings over 30 years old. The project, initially set to cost nearly $40 million, was contracted to Prestige Construction and Engineering.
Some residents believed the contractor was overcharging while jeopardizing safety. They filed complaints with the Labor Department in September 2024, specifically about the foam panels covering windows. Photos and resident interviews suggest many windows were completely sealed, preventing occupants from seeing the fire or escaping. In at least one building, foam panels covered elevator lobby windows on every floor, compounding the danger.
**Scaffolding Safety Lapses**
Another major concern was the netting draped over the construction scaffolding. At first, officials erroneously claimed there were no flame retardant requirements for this netting. Frustrated residents sought help from Jason Poon, who leads the nonprofit Chinat Monitor to expose corruption and advocate for construction safety.
Poon has campaigned for better oversight, even personally testing netting’s flammability by burning samples. He tried for over a year to get city officials to address these risks. “But they refused,” Poon said.
When Wang Fuk Court residents reached out, Poon pressed the Labor Department to correct their mistakes, citing relevant safety ordinances. The department eventually admitted its earlier guidance had been “unclear and caused misunderstanding,” but still relied on certificates supplied by contractors to verify netting quality—without confirming through independent tests.
**Widespread Systemic Issues?**
Construction experts warn that certificate fraud is a well-known issue in Hong Kong, though there is no evidence yet of fraud in Wang Fuk Court’s case. “Whether the contractor purchased the same material to be used on the site is another issue that needs to be investigated,” said Tony Za, former chair of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers’ building division.
As the investigation continues, families await answers—and justice—for what may be one of the worst building safety failures in Hong Kong’s history.
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