Tai Po Fire Inquiry Reveals Safety Issues

The inquiry into the Tai Po fire has uncovered many issues

Reading reports related to the inquiry into the horrific Tai Po fire in Hong Kong last November are absolutely tragic.

One hundred and sixty-eight people died and 79 were injured when a fire started on November 26 in one of the apartment buildings at Wang Fuk Court, and the wind carried the fire onto the other buildings that were covered in combustible mesh. 

The fire burned over 43 hours, leaving some victims unidentifiable because the temperature was so hot.

The fire left 168 people dead, 79 injured

Some residents testified they did not hear the fire alarms because they had been purposely shut off for workers to easily go in and out of the buildings. 

Others felt guilty for not checking on their neighbours, many of them elderly people, and instead fled from the inferno on their own. It is shocking and sad how they had complete disregard for others, but also they had no idea their home was on fire until loved ones called to tell them.

Then there is the shady aspect of companies that specifically bid for these exterior renovation jobs, and it seems that there is a cartel, charging excessive amounts of money -- in this case HK$336 million (US$43 million), and allegations of rigging, though the government denies collusion.

There is also the issue of these renovation companies flouting safety regulations.

Several residents at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had complained several times to the authorities about the renovation workers smoking and littering cigarette butts, but not much was done to punish them or their employer. 

There was also lax inspection of the scaffolding mesh -- the company was tipped off before inspectors came, and they replaced ones near the bottom with non-combustible mesh, while the rest were the cheaper, combustible ones. 

Combustible mesh caused the fire to spread

The Fire Services Department, Labour Department, and the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit have insisted they were not responsible for checking the fireproof quality of the mesh that covered the exterior of the buildings to minimise dust and objects falling on people. 

Why are these departments not taking the responsibility to inspect renovations in progress and take the residents' concerns seriously before the fire? 

Too many things went wrong that day, and it didn't help that it was quite windy. But it is not just Wang Fuk Court -- there are many other older buildings in Hong Kong being renovated with similar lax procedures. 

Hopefully the inquiry will put forward some good recommendations so this tragedy will not be repeated, with an emphasis on safety for all. This fire could have been prevented, or minimised had regulations been followed and inspections been more stringent.