Hong Kong is to set up an independent committee to investigate the causes of the territory’s deadliest fire in decades, after authorities found substandard building materials had accelerated the blaze, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee (李家超) said yesterday.
The fire last week engulfed seven residential towers under renovation in the New Territories’ Tai Po District, killing at least 156 people, displacing thousands more and fueling public demands for accountability.
Of the 156 people confirmed to have died, 29 had yet to be identified, police told reporters, adding that another 30 people remained unaccounted for.
Photo: AFP
Police said they had arrested 15 people on suspicion of manslaughter, after an initial probe found that the netting used on exterior scaffolding fell short of fire-resistance standards.
“I will establish an independent committee to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review to reform the building work system and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future,” Lee told a news conference.
The committee is to be led by a judge to ensure its independence and credibility, he said.
“The responsible culprits tried to mix up substandard nets with qualified nets so as to cheat inspection and law enforcement agencies,” he said, calling the suspects “evil.”
Authorities have already identified several failures, he said, pledging reforms to “the whole building renovation system to ensure that such things will not happen again.”.
While Hong Kong has seen an outpouring of grief, local media reported that several people who were calling for answers and accountability had been arrested.
Miles Kwan (關靖豐), a 24-year-old student, was reportedly arrested by police for “seditious intent” after handing out flyers demanding government accountability.
An online petition containing Kwan’s four demands, including an independent probe, gathered more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before it was wiped.
Kwan left a police station on Monday, an AFP reporter saw.
Former district councilor Kenneth Cheung (張錦雄) was also taken by police, local media reported. He later said he had been released on bail.
Human Rights Watch urged the Hong Kong government to “ensure a transparent investigation and accountability.”
“It’s crucially important not to treat those demanding answers for the tragic fire as criminals,” the group’s Asia director Elaine Pearson said, adding that the disaster “raises serious concerns” over Beijing’s influence in Hong Kong.
Asked about the arrests, Lee told AFP: “I will not tolerate any crimes, particularly crimes that exploit the tragedy that we have been facing now.”
Lee added that the upcoming Legislative Council elections set for Sunday would go ahead, after rumors of cancelation.
A press conference of civil society representatives scheduled for yesterday to discuss government relief efforts and construction regulations was abruptly canceled, according to an invitation seen by AFP and notifications sent to reporters.
Local media reported that the meeting’s initiator, Bruce Liu (廖成利), and others were “invited to a meeting” by national security police.
He was later seen leaving a police station.
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