Hong Kong Leader Vows Reform After Deadly Fire Exposes Safety Flaws

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee pledged a sweeping overhaul of the city’s building maintenance regulations and vowed to hold responsible parties accountable after a deadly fire at a residential complex exposed systemic safety failures and alleged corruption.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lee announced the formation of an independent committee chaired by a judge to investigate the blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The fire, which affected seven buildings, has sparked public outrage following revelations that contractors allegedly used substandard materials to pass safety inspections. Lee said the government would pursue a “systemic reform” to address negligence that spanned from construction to regulatory oversight.