HONG KONG — A former security chief at the Hong Kong residential complex involved in a recent deadly five-alarm fire claims the building’s entire fire safety system, including alarms and water pumps, was intentionally disabled weeks before the catastrophe, raising grave questions about building management oversight.
The level five blaze, which erupted on Tuesday at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court, resulted in multiple casualties. Residents later reported that they had heard no fire alarms during the initial spread of the conflagration. Taking to a local radio program on Thursday, Mr. Wong, who briefly served as the estate’s chief security officer, alleged that within days of starting his post in early May, he discovered the crucial fire suppression infrastructure had been fully deactivated—a practice known locally as “hanging a placard” over the alarm sensors to bypass the warning system.
System Shutdown Linked to Maintenance Work
Mr. Wong, a seasoned security professional with over a decade of experience, expressed dismay over the systemic neglect of resident safety he witnessed during his short tenure. He recounted finding the entire complex’s fire control system rendered completely inoperable.
“This tragedy absolutely should not have happened. It could have been avoided,” Mr. Wong stated, suggesting the system shutdown was ostensibly connected to ongoing large-scale maintenance work at the property.
He stated that management informed him the safety systems were disabled—and smoke doors propped open—to facilitate construction workers’ movement via emergency escape routes without setting off alarms during repairs. Crucially, the disabled system meant no immediate warnings were issued when the fire broke out.
In addition to the systemic failures, Mr. Wong detailed other safety breaches, including workmen smoking on the external scaffolding, directly above the building structure, significantly increasing fire risk.
Warnings Ignored, Disappointment Led to Resignation
Mr. Wong claims he repeatedly reported these extreme safety violations, including the deactivated fire systems and the propped-open fire doors, to upper management. However, his concerns were reportedly met with indifference and a complete lack of follow-up action.
Feeling his professional concerns were completely disregarded, Mr. Wong resigned after only two weeks on the job.
He now speculates that had the fire alarm systems been operational, the timely alert would have afforded residents, particularly the elderly population in the complex, crucial minutes to evacuate and significantly reduce the injury and death toll.
“If the building’s fire alarm system had been operating normally, timely alarms would have allowed residents to evacuate earlier,” he said, reflecting on the potential impact of his remaining in the post and implementing immediate corrective actions.
Growing Safety and Corruption Concerns
The fire and the subsequent testimony have intensified public scrutiny of building safety standards and management practices during large-scale residential renovation projects in Hong Kong.
Beyond the immediate fire safety failures, the Wang Fuk Court building is already the subject of an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The anti-graft agency has established a dedicated task force to investigate suspicions of corruption surrounding the complex’s massive renovation project.
The broader safety review prompted by the disaster has drawn high-level attention. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive has since ordered immediate safety inspections across all major residential complexes undergoing large-scale maintenance, specifically targeting the safety and fire-retardant capabilities of scaffolding and construction materials. Concerns have also been raised that polystyrene foam—reportedly used by the contractor to seal windows and prevent damage from falling debris—may have acted as an accelerant, contributing to the rapid spread of the fire.
The allegations of deliberate systemic sabotage underscore the critical need for rigorous enforcement and oversight of fire safety protocols, particularly in complexes undergoing long-term maintenance, ensuring that convenience for contractors never supersedes the immediate safety of residents. Authorities are expected to focus heavily on whether management actions or inactions constituted criminal negligence.
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