HONG KONG — Authorities have intensified the criminal investigation into the devastating Grade 5 fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court, arresting 21 individuals connected to the sprawling maintenance project as recovery teams continue the grim task of searching for the missing nearly two weeks after the blaze.
The inferno, which swept through seven of the estate’s eight towers, has officially claimed 159 lives, including one firefighter, making it one of Hong Kong’s deadliest residential disasters. As of late Thursday, December 4, 2025, 31 people remain unaccounted for, even after exhaustive searches of the heavily damaged blocks were completed.
Focus Shifts to Negligence and Fraud
The criminal inquiry has zeroed in on potential negligence and fraud related to the large-scale envelope maintenance work taking place when the fire erupted. Police reported that 15 individuals face charges related to manslaughter, encompassing personnel from the main contractor, engineering consultants, scaffolding subcontractors, and external wall contractors.
An additional six arrests involve staff from a fire services installation contractor, who are suspected of making false declarations to the Fire Services Department. Specifically, the contractor allegedly asserted that the fire alarm system would remain operational during construction, a crucial safety requirement that may have been violated. One leading engineering consultancy linked to the project, Hon Yee Architects Ltd., reportedly ceased operations this week, locking its offices amid the burgeoning scandal.
The tragic distribution of fatalities underscores the fire’s speed and intensity: 70 victims were found in Wang Cheong House, where the fire reportedly originated, and 82 in Wang Tai House. Victims range in age from one to 97.
Complex Recovery Efforts Persist
The Disaster Victim Identification Unit (DVIU) has completed interior searches of the seven affected buildings, though recovery efforts are far from over. On Thursday morning, heavy machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, began arriving at the site to safely clear large amounts of collapsed scaffolding and debris piled around the base of the structures. Forensic teams are now focused on exterior searches, particularly underneath the fallen scaffolding, where authorities fear more remains may be trapped.
The physical and psychological toll on the rescue workers is immense. Police Superintendent Cheng Ka-chun, head of the DVIU, described the conditions inside the burnt-out shell as toxic and unstable, noting teams were forced to manually excavate to preserve the integrity of the recovered remains. He also highlighted the resilience of the team, sharing that one DVIU officer, whose own relative perished in the fire, insisted on returning to duty.
Support and Financial Aid Ramped Up
Seventy-nine individuals were injured in the disaster, and 30 remain hospitalized, though all patients initially listed in critical condition have stabilized. The government has significantly increased support for the thousands displaced by the fire.
Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak announced that the immediate living allowance for affected households will be doubled from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000. Furthermore, the disaster relief fund, which received a HK$300 million government seed contribution, has grown to HK$2.8 billion through public donations. Chief Executive John Lee has also directed a review of long-term housing solutions for the former residents.
Amidst the outpouring of aid and grief, police have issued warnings regarding rampant fraud. Scammers, posing as victims or even mainland Chinese security officials, have attempted to solicit funds or extract personal information from the public, prompting multiple arrests and public safety alerts.
In a move addressing wider safety concerns, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn ordered the immediate removal of all debris nettings from scaffolding at large-scale building maintenance sites across the territory by Saturday, December 6, following reports of insufficient fire resistance and fraudulent safety certifications at other sites.
As the community begins to process the scale of the tragedy, local residents continue to gather at Kwong Fuk Garden to pay their respects, leaving flowers and folding paper cranes for the victims, ensuring the memory of those lost in the devastating blaze endures.
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