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The independent committee investigating the fatal Tai Po fire has invited the public to submit information on suspected corruption in Hong Kong‘s large-scale building maintenance projects.
Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, pictured on November 28, 2025, in the aftermath of the fatal blaze. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.Members from the general public and organisations can submit information from Tuesday to April 14, the Independent Committee in Relation to the Fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po said on Monday.
The committee welcomes information and views on whether there are “systemic problems” in the city’s building maintenance projects, such as “undue connected interests,” “conflicts of roles,” or “improper collusion.”
It also hopes to understand whether there is “bid-rigging corruption” in the tendering of those projects.
Submissions can relate to any building renovation projects in Hong Kong, not limited to the Wang Fuk Court renovation project.
Information can be submitted either through online forms or hard copies.
Since March 19, the committee has been holding hearings to investigate the fatal fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in late November. The housing estate in Tai Po was undergoing a large-scale maintenance project at the time.
The blaze – Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948 – claimed 168 lives and displaced around 4,600 residents.
Judge David Lok, the chair of an independent committee tasked with investigating the deadly Tai Po fire in Hong Kong, leaves a public hearing on March 26, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.As reported by HKFP, the tragedy brought to light the bid-rigging epidemic in the renovation industry, which can lead to corner-cutting and safety risks.
Wang Fuk Court fire survivors told HKFP that, before the fire, they had reported suspected corruption and safety risks to authorities, but their efforts went nowhere.
Hong Kong leader John Lee established an independent committee to probe the fire in December and appointed Judge David Lok as chairperson.
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