Hong Kong housing chief resigns after deadly fire review

Hong Kong leader John Lee apologized for the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire on October 29, 2026, and announced that Housing Secretary Winnie Ho had resigned, saying she should bear political responsibility. Lee said no personal wrongdoing by Ho had been found. The fire broke out in November 2025 during renovation work at the residential complex in the Tai Po district. It engulfed seven apartment buildings, killed 168 people and displaced thousands of residents. The disaster was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades. Lee and seven other senior officials bowed in apology at the start of his news conference. He said four government bodies bore partial responsibility for the blaze. An independent committee found that the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit failed in its duties supervising the maintenance work, according to a report on the committee’s findings. Ho resigned on Wednesday, October 28, a day before Lee’s announcement. She was the first government official reported to resign over the fire. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong was reported as the incoming acting housing minister while Ho steps down. The committee’s investigation is separate from criminal...