Hong Kong Launches Judge-Led Inquiry into Deadly Apartment Fire That Claimed 151 Lives Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced Tuesday that an independent committee chaired by a judge will investigate the city’s worst fire in decades, which killed at least 151 people and injured nearly 80 others last week. The blaze tore through seven high-rise towers at the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate in Tai Po, home to more than 4,600 residents. Authorities believe it started at renovation scaffolding and spread rapidly due to strong winds, substandard plastic mesh netting, and flammable insulation foam. Lee promised full accountability, saying the panel will examine why the fire spread so quickly and how safety inspections failed. “We must uncover the truth so the deceased can rest in peace and the living can find comfort,” he told reporters. He also pledged sweeping reforms to the city’s building-renovation oversight system. Investigators have found that contractors mixed non-fire-retardant green mesh with approved materials to evade checks, while many fire alarms in the complex were not functioning properly. Residents had previously raised concerns about the renovation work, only to be told the fire risk was “relatively low.” Search teams have now completed examinations of five of the seven damaged buildings, recovering bodies from stairwells and rooftops where residents became trapped while trying to escape. Around 30 people remain unaccounted for. A criminal probe has led to 13 arrests on suspicion of manslaughter, with a separate anti-corruption investigation resulting in 12 additional detentions. Amid widespread public grief and calls for answers, police arrested several individuals—including a student and a former district councillor—for distributing flyers and petitions demanding transparency. All have since been released. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch criticised the detentions, urging authorities to focus on the investigation rather than restricting free expression. Lee said any attempt to exploit the tragedy would not be tolerated, while Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong warned against using the disaster to stir unrest. The independent inquiry is expected to deliver recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.