Hong Kong Launches Probe into Deadly Tai Po Fire

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, announced on Tuesday the formation of a judge-led independent committee to investigate the causes of a massive fire that killed at least 151 people last week in the city's northern Tai Po district, marking the deadliest blaze in decades.

The fire broke out on Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, a public housing complex comprising eight high-rise towers that housed more than 4,000 residents. It originated in scaffolding erected for ongoing renovation work and rapidly spread to seven of the towers, fueled by substandard materials including highly flammable plastic mesh wrapped around the structures and insulation foam used in the upgrades. Officials said high winds exacerbated the spread, overwhelming firefighters who battled the flames for days. Fire alarms in the complex also malfunctioned, complicating evacuation efforts.

Investigators have determined that contractors deliberately used non-compliant green mesh in hard-to-reach areas to evade inspections, mixing it with approved materials. Chief Secretary Eric Chan stated that these practices effectively concealed the substandard items from authorities. The city's Labour Department revealed that...