An independent committee investigating the cause of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades on Thursday heard that a series of failures contributed to the blaze's burning seven buildings and killing 168 people as it opened its first hearing on the evidence. At the time of the fire, many Hong Kong citizens described the incident as a man-made disaster. After listening to the opening remarks from lawyers, the committee will hear oral evidence from witnesses, including Wang Fuk Court residents. Hong Kong officials last month proposed to buy back the homeownership rights from the fire victims, citing results from a survey of residents' preferences. Hong Kong leader John Lee on Tuesday said the government is working on plans to allow the affected residents to visit their apartments and recover some of their belongings in April.

Source: The Telegraph March 19, 2026 06:50 UTC