HONG KONG, December 1 — Authorities investigating the devastating five-alarm fire that consumed the Kwong Fuk Estate in Tai Po last week, killing at least 151 people and leaving scores missing, announced Friday that key scaffolding materials failed fire safety standards, suggesting negligence or deliberate misconduct contributed to the disaster. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung confirmed that seven samples of protective netting, collected from difficult-to-access areas across eight blocks, tested non-compliant with flammability regulations. The findings come as police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) have arrested 14 individuals, including contractors and consultants, on suspicion of manslaughter and corruption.
The extensive multi-agency investigation revealed a deliberate effort to use cheaper, non-compliant materials and conceal them from inspection. ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming detailed a timeline showing that following a typhoon in July, which damaged the existing nets, involved parties purchased approximately 75,000 square meters of substandard protective netting from a local supplier at a low cost of HK$54 per roll. This quantity was reportedly sufficient to wrap the entire estate.
Scheme to Conceal Substandard Materials Uncovered
The investigation further suggests that after a separate fire involving scaffolding nets occurred in Central in late October, the individuals responsible grew concerned about potential inspections at Kwong Fuk Estate. To evade detection, they purchased a second, smaller batch of compliant, fire-retardant netting—about 37,000 square meters at HK$100 per roll—from the same supplier.
This compliant netting was strategically installed in highly visible areas, such as the base of buildings, allowing earlier tests to pass undetected. Tang noted a clear pattern: samples taken from easily accessible areas were more likely to be compliant, while those retrieved from elevated or hidden spots, some requiring firefighters to manually climb, were consistently substandard.
The financial motive appears to be minimal relative to the catastrophic outcome. Calculations show the cost difference between the entire required quantity of non-compliant netting and fire-retardant netting amounted to only about HK$105,800 (approximately US$13,500).
Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki strongly condemned the defendants’ actions, describing the mixing of compliant and non-compliant nets as “treacherous.”
“This was a premeditated crime,” Chan stated. “It is utterly shameful that someone would risk so many lives for such meager profit.” He questioned the morality of compromising public safety for such a minor cost saving, warning that those convicted of manslaughter could face lengthy prison sentences. “Is this small profit worth a manslaughter charge? The gain is completely disproportionate to the potential penalty.”
Arrests Target Construction Industry Chain
The police and ICAC have been working collaboratively to prosecute the case. Police Chief Superintendent Chan Tung, Director of Crime and Security, confirmed that police have arrested 13 individuals—12 men and one woman, aged 40 to 77—on suspicion of manslaughter. Those arrested span the contracting hierarchy, including personnel from the main engineering company, consulting firms, scaffolding subcontractors, and exterior wall construction teams.
The dual investigations by the police and the anti-graft body underscore the severity of the alleged crimes, encompassing both the immediate safety failure and potential underlying corruption in the maintenance contracts. Authorities, including the Department of Justice, are now reviewing evidence to determine formal charges.
This disaster serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of cutting corners in construction safety, particularly concerning protective materials like scaffolding nets which, when non-compliant, can accelerate fire spread. Industry stakeholders are urged to enforce stringent adherence to safety standards, regardless of cost implications, to prevent similar human tragedies.
Leave a Reply