Relief, prevention, investigation underway after search completed in fire-hit buildings in Hong Kong
On December 4, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced that all scaffolding used in building‑maintenance projects across the territory must be removed within three days as part of a fire‑safety review triggered by the tragic Wang Fuk Court blaze. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said the debris will be rehired only after the government issues fresh safety criteria next week.
Police reports revealed the inferno had already claimed 159 lives by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, with 31 people still missing. They identified 140 bodies, whose ages ranged from one year to 97. The search team has finished combing the seven affected towers and will now widen the sweep to nearby areas to recover any bodies trapped under the collapsed framework. Because the operation must proceed in a controlled environment, the clearance and removal of debris and ashes will take additional time.
That same Tuesday, the police detained six individuals linked to a contractor that fitted fire‑safety equipment at Wang Fuk Court and was accused of deceiving the Fire Services Department about the alarms’ operability during maintenance. The authorities are also probing alleged document forgeries connected to the use of renovation materials.
The government has announced extra financial aid, including tax relief and fee waivers for those impacted. By noon on Wednesday, the relief fund for Wang Fuk Court residents had already accumulated HK$2.4 billion (roughly US$308 million). In addition, the Hong Kong–Macao Work Office of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee continued to supply essential relief items such as protective goggles and waterproof gloves that the HKSAR needs.
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