Hong Kong Files First Charges in Deadliest Residential Fire in City’s History
Hong Kong authorities have filed their first charges following a months-long investigation into the deadliest residential fire in the city’s history. Seven individuals and two companies face a combined 25 charges, including manslaughter and conspiracy, in connection with the devastating blaze that tore through the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in November 2025, killing 168 people.
The Charges and Defendants
The seven people charged were all involved in a $42.9 million renovation project at the time of the fire. The companies Will Power Architects, which consulted on the renovations, and the main contractor, Presidge Construction and Engineering, were both charged with manslaughter. Among the defendants were three current and former directors of the companies, including Will Power director Wong Hap-yin, who faces 16 charges, and the company’s registered inspector Wilson Ng. Wong’s wife and a friend were also charged.
The 25 charges brought against the defendants include manslaughter, conspiracy to commit fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and attempted obstruction of justice. The charges were brought by the Hong Kong police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The case will be heard at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court in September. Two of the seven people have reportedly been released on bail, while the rest remain in custody.
Safety Violations That Accelerated the Fire
An independent investigation found serious safety violations that accelerated the fire, which destroyed seven high-rise buildings and burned for more than two days. Fire alarms were disabled in seven of the complex’s eight buildings, and flammable foam panels covered the windows. The Fire Investigation Task Force said a lit cigarette likely caused flammable material to catch fire, starting the blaze.
“It is suspected that these construction measures seriously compromised the fire safety of the building, causing the fire to spread quickly and blocking escape routes, resulting in a large number of casualties,” said Supt. Basil Tang Yick-kay, according to a translation by the South China Morning Post. Victor Dawes, the inquiry’s lead barrister, said earlier this year that the deactivated fire alarm had “significantly shortened the time it took to evacuate residents.”
Residents Raised Concerns for Over a Year
According to the Associated Press, residents had been raising concerns for more than a year about the use of non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting during renovations. Lee Chun Ho, who lost his mother, brother, 15-month-old niece, and the family’s maid in the fire, recalled a public inquiry in April during which he desperately tried to keep them awake while they were trapped in their 19th-floor home.
He heard rescuers say they had been hampered by the flames. “We can’t break through the 14th floor. The fire is too big,” he recalled. Lee watched desperately as his brother lost consciousness while his sister-in-law screamed into the phone, The Hong Kong Free Press reported. “I vow to stand up for (my family) for the rest of my life. This anger and despair… comes from my mother, my brother Yan-yan (his niece) and our worker,” he said.
Lee said his mother had complained to ICAC about the high cost of renovations and to Prestige about workers smoking during their shifts. The anti-corruption agency found that some of the defendants had submitted false reports about the renovation project.
ICAC Condemns Disregard for Safety
“We suspect that this unfortunate incident was caused by individuals acting in their own interest… with complete disregard for the safety of lives and property of residents,” ICAC principal investigator Hazel Law told reporters, according to AFP. Thousands of Wang Fuk residents were displaced by the fire and relocated to makeshift shelters.
The results of the investigation are expected to be submitted later this year.
