The Chain of Events: From Typhoon Damage to Fatal Fire

The sequence of events leading to the fire began with concerns raised by Wang Fuk Court residents regarding potential damage to construction netting following Super Typhoon Ragasa in September. On October 27th, ICU maintenance surveyor Amanda Lau texted a Will Powers employee, informing them of a planned inspection the following day to assess the netting’s condition. Remarkably, a message was simultaneously circulated within a WhatsApp group chat of Prestige Construction executives, warning them of the impending ICU visit and suggesting they “check which parts are OK,” particularly regarding fire safety.

This pattern of advance notification wasn’t isolated. Evidence presented to the inquiry revealed that Lau had consistently informed Will Powers Architects about upcoming inspections dating back to 2024, effectively giving the contractors ample opportunity to prepare and potentially conceal non-compliant materials.

Further compounding the issue, Prestige Construction executives instructed a sub-contractor, Gain Profit Shed Industry Ltd, in July to procure non-fire-retardant netting following the widespread damage caused by Typhoon Wipha. However, receipts show a subsequent purchase of fire-retardant netting on October 27th – a move that appears strategically timed with the impending ICU inspection. While the ICU inspections themselves did not identify problematic netting, Dawes argued that the contractors “certainly had the chance” to remove any non-compliant materials given the advance warning.

Questionable Certification and Labor Department Oversight

The inquiry also cast a harsh light on the rigor of the ICU’s inspections and the authenticity of safety certifications. A video from a 2024 inspection showed an ICU surveyor conducting a fire test on a netting sample. The sample burned for a significantly longer duration than the four-second limit stipulated in the fire-retardancy certificate provided by Prestige Construction. Despite this clear failure, the ICU appeared to have disregarded the test results, lacking any “objective measurement” for fire retardancy.

Investigations revealed that the fire-retardancy certificate itself was likely fraudulent. HK01 reported in December that the Beijing testing agency purportedly issuing the certificate had changed its name in 2019, rendering any certificates issued after that date with the old name “100 per cent” fake. Police subsequently discovered a blank certificate template on a computer at Prestige Construction’s office, further fueling suspicions.

Adding to the concerns, the Labour Department failed to detect that Prestige Construction had reused an old certificate from 2024 for netting installed after the typhoons in 2025. A Labour Department officer admitted they focused solely on the purported fire-retardant quality, overlooking the certificate’s expiration date.

The situation took a particularly damning turn with the revelation of WhatsApp voice messages sent by the wife of a Gain Profit Shed Industry executive immediately after the fire. In Cantonese, she urged her husband to “fix a story” because “the netting we sent was non-fire-retardant.”

What systemic changes are needed to prevent similar tragedies in Hong Kong’s public housing estates? And how can we ensure greater transparency and accountability in the building inspection process?

Frequently Asked Questions About the Wang Fuk Court Fire

1. What is the role of the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) in Hong Kong’s public housing system? The ICU is responsible for overseeing the quality and safety of government-subsidized housing, including conducting inspections and ensuring compliance with building regulations.
2. How did advance notice of inspections potentially compromise safety at Wang Fuk Court? By informing contractors of upcoming inspections, the ICU inadvertently provided them with an opportunity to conceal non-compliant materials and manipulate test results.
3. What evidence suggests the fire-retardancy certificate provided by Prestige Construction was fraudulent? Investigations revealed the certificate was issued by a testing agency that had changed its name, and police found a blank certificate template at Prestige Construction’s office.
4. What role did Typhoon Wipha play in the events leading up to the fire? Typhoon Wipha caused widespread damage, prompting Prestige Construction to initially order non-fire-retardant netting, later replaced with a potentially falsified fire-retardant version.
5. What are the potential legal consequences for those found responsible for the fire? Executives from Will Powers Architects and Prestige Construction have been arrested on suspicion of corruption and manslaughter, facing potentially severe penalties if convicted.
6. How can residents report safety concerns in public housing estates? Residents should immediately report any safety concerns to the Housing Department and local authorities, documenting their complaints and seeking confirmation of action taken.