The deadliest fire in Hong Kong in over 70 years, which engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential compound in Tai Po, has killed dozens and left hundreds missing. The blaze tore through seven of eight high-rise buildings home to 4,800 people. As firefighters continue efforts, anger is swelling among residents over the focus on bamboo scaffolding as a potential cause, with many seeing it as a deflection from the real cause, which remains unknown.
Hong Kong leader John Lee announced a HK$300m (£29.2m) fund for residents and said the development bureau had discussed replacing bamboo scaffolding with metal alternatives. Contractors have been given seven days to submit documents proving use of fire-retardant materials. However, critics argue that blaming bamboo—a treasured local heritage distinct from mainland China—distracts from underlying issues, including shoddy construction work and inadequate safety regulations.
Residents had complained for months about poor workmanship from the construction company, according to former district councillor Michael Mo, who now lives in the UK. An email from the Labour Department last year stated that maintenance works did not involve open flames, so the risk of fire from scaffolding was relatively low, and that regulations did not cover flame-retardant standards for scaffolding. The department has been contacted for comment.
Police have arrested three people connected to the building maintenance company, and Hong Kong's corruption watchdog has launched a criminal investigation into the renovation works. Traditionally, major tragedies lead to independent public inquiries, but legal experts say Hong Kong's judiciary is no longer independent on matters critical of the government. Mo expressed doubt that an independent committee would be formed, noting that one was not set up for Covid.
The fire has tapped into social anxiety around affordable housing, with sky-high property prices forcing many into tightly packed high-rises that can become death traps. Trust in authorities is low since Beijing's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. Mo said the absence of opposition means there is no effective way to make the government accountable. Beijing has responded swiftly, with President Xi Jinping calling for an all-out effort to extinguish the fire, and Chinese companies pledging aid. Lee hinted that upcoming Legislative Council elections, scheduled for 7 December, could be postponed.
