HONG KONG – One week after a devastating, five-alarm blaze tore through the mammoth Hong Fu Court housing complex in Tai Po, claiming at least 159 lives, government officials are intensifying efforts to account for 31 residents still missing while simultaneously launching a comprehensive inquiry into the disaster’s origins and implications. Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, stated on Sunday during a television appearance that while social workers have established contact with 1,971 of the complex’s 1,984 households, 13 families remain unreachable, prompting fears that entire families may have perished.
The tragic scale of the incident, which unfolded at one of the region’s largest public housing estates, has strained local social services. Mr. Sun indicated that the government’s “One Household, One Social Worker” initiative has successfully assigned dedicated case managers to the vast majority of Hong Fu Court’s residents.
“We understand that there is immense need following this catastrophe,” Mr. Sun explained, acknowledging the challenge of mobilizing sufficient resources. “While the Social Welfare Department has approximately 2,000 social workers handling existing caseloads, we are making operational adjustments to dedicate experienced personnel to the most vulnerable Hong Fu residents with high-risk factors.”
Accelerating Closure for Missing Families
The search for the 31 missing individuals remains paramount. Mr. Sun vowed to continue tracking down non-cohabitating family members to understand why these residents may have left or if they were victims of the fire.
Crucially, the government is exploring fast-tracking bureaucratic processes for the families of those missing whose fate is increasingly grim. This special handling aims to expedite procedures traditionally required before authorities can confirm fatalities and manage remains, offering quicker closure to grieving relatives.
Independent Inquiry Promised Full Cooperation
In parallel, the government is establishing an independent commission to thoroughly investigate the fire, examining everything from building codes to response protocols. Mr. Sun assured the public that all government departments, including the Labour Department under his purview, would offer “unreserved cooperation” and provide the commission with every piece of requested documentation.
“This incident must be fully investigated. Those individuals found responsible for negligence or breaches of duty must be held accountable,” the Secretary stated firmly, stressing the need for complete transparency to restore public trust.
Sweeping Reforms Proposed for Construction Sites
Beyond the immediate crisis response, the tragedy is forcing a reevaluation of broader safety regulations, specifically surrounding fire hazards in local workplaces. The government announced it is actively exploring an amendment to bylaws that would enforce a complete smoking ban at all construction sites.
The proposed regulatory change would be introduced via a “first establish, then scrutinize” procedure, allowing it to be presented to the Legislative Council shortly after the new session begins. It is estimated this process could take as little as 49 days.
Furthermore, officials are considering transitioning the enforcement mechanism for safety violations from the current prosecution-based system to one utilizing fixed-penalty fines. This shift aims to accelerate enforcement and serve as a stronger deterrent against illegal activity on sites.
The Labour Department is also tackling practical challenges, including how to balance fire prevention while providing designated smoking areas near construction sites—a difficult compromise for worker welfare. The outcome of these reviews will shape long-term industrial safety standards while the community of Tai Po continues its painful path toward healing and recovery.
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