Fire Safety Division of Labor Questioned as Hong Kong Probe Into Tai Po Tragedy Continues

Investigation into deadly November blaze reveals gaps in emergency protocols and departmental responsibilities

An independent committee investigating Hong Kong's deadliest fire in nearly eight decades heard testimony on Thursday suggesting that established protocols may have prevented emergency alerts from being issued to residents at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The ongoing inquiry, now in its 18th day of evidentiary proceedings, continues to examine systemic failures that preceded the catastrophic blaze.

The fire, which ignited on November 26, 2025, destroyed seven of the estate's eight buildings that were undergoing renovation at the time. The disaster claimed 168 lives, including one firefighter, and left approximately 5,000 residents displaced, marking Hong Kong's most devastating fire since 1948.

Division of Responsibilities Under Scrutiny

During Wednesday's proceedings, Michael Yung Kam-hung, an assistant director of the Fire Services Department specializing in fire safety, testified that resident complaints concerning combustible construction materials and workers' smoking practices fell outside his department's authority. According to Yung's account, such matters should have been directed to the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit and the Labour Department instead.

Yung explained that an established division of labor exists between the fire service and building authorities, with construction-related fire risks typically managed by the latter. He contended that the fire department lacked the specialized engineering expertise required to advise on such projects.

However, Yung acknowledged a critical weakness in this arrangement: no written documentation formally defines this division of responsibilities. He further conceded that some frontline personnel across multiple government departments remained unclear about the precise scope of duties assigned to each agency, a situation he characterized as "unacceptable."

Initial Inspections Lacked Verification

The committee also learned that following receipt of fire equipment shutdown notices from contractors, the Fire Services Department's preliminary inspections did not involve verifying the reported equipment defects. Instead, inspectors simply classified complaints based on descriptions provided by the contractors themselves.

Judge's Perspective

Presiding over the inquiry, Judge David Lok emphasized the importance of distinguishing between firefighting operations and fire prevention efforts, noting that officers at the scene faced numerous difficult operational decisions throughout the emergency response.

Three Fire Services Department officers provided testimony on Thursday, while four additional colleagues had testified the previous day regarding the department's response to residents' fire safety complaints prior to the disaster.