Housing Secretary Winnie Ho Resigns Following Deadly Tai Po Fire Inquiry

Hong Kong leader John Lee apologized and announced the resignation of Housing Secretary Winnie Ho following an investigation into the deadly November fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which killed 168 people.

Chief Executive John Lee expressed regret on Oct 29 regarding last November’s fatal blaze that claimed 168 lives in the territory, while committing to major overhauls of the construction sector and its oversight framework. Speaking ahead of a lengthy report detailing supervisory failings in the city’s building-renovation network, Lee announced the resignation of Housing Secretary Winnie Ho, marking the first official to resign over the inferno.

The inferno ripped through seven 31-storey tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the northern Tai Po district while the property underwent renovation work. It stands as Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, displacing thousands of residents who have spent nearly a year waiting for accountability after their homes became uninhabitable.

Independent Committee Investigation Blames Contractors and Four Government Bodies

An independent committee chaired by David Lok submitted its report to Chief Executive John Lee. The panel held 30 public sessions and heard from 80 witnesses, including residents, firefighters, government officials, and experts, concluding that four government bodies bore partial responsibility for the tragedy.

Breaking News: Winnie Ho, Secretary of Housing, has resigned https://t.co/626qXzh5JK

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The inquiry singled out the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) as bearing the greatest responsibility for a lack of oversight regarding renovation work at the estate. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong announced that the ICU will be axed and replaced by a new public housing control unit covering all public rental housing and subsidised sale housing.

A probe by an independent panel has determined that the primary responsibility for the catastrophic blaze that claimed 168 lives nearly a year ago lies with the registered inspector alongside the main contractor and project consultant for the Wang Fuk Court renovation initiative.

The inquiry placed severe blame on main contractor Prestige Construction & Engineering and consultancy firm Will Power Architects, stating they ignored repeated complaints from residents about fire risks during maintenance. The panel’s findings indicated that the companies deployed hazardous working techniques and inferior construction materials, such as flammable foam sheeting over windows and scaffolding nets lacking fire-retardant properties, apparently with a view to maximising their financial gains.

Alongside the administrative shake-up, the Hong Kong government moved to criminalize bid-rigging in building maintenance and amend legislation to raise penalties for safety violations. The Competition Commission told the inquiry that the Wang Fuk Court contract was a textbook example of collusion, noting that the consultant secured its role for a low fee before awarding the works contract to a connected firm.

Criminal Bid-Rigging Charges and Legislative Overhauls Proposed

During the proceedings, evidence emerged showing that the consultancy awarded Prestige Construction maximum marks for its legal history when evaluating bids, even though the builder had accrued convicted 24 times of occupational safety offences between 2017 and 2023. That scoring helped Prestige win the HK$336 million contract.

Housing Secretary Winnie Ho Resigns Following Deadly Tai Po Fire Inquiry — Photo: SCMP

Separate from the inquiry, criminal investigations led to charges against seven individuals and two companies for offenses including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud. Authorities alleged that defendants conspired to conceal the contractor’s previous litigation records from apartment owners.

New Fire Prevention Regions and Administrative Accountability Measures

Secretary for Security Chris Tang announced the establishment of a large-scale fire prevention region under the Fire Services Department focused on contingency planning for high-risk scenarios. Authorities are also exploring a mobile application to alert residents during a fire.

A steering committee led by the Chief Secretary for Administration will review recommendations one by one, pushing for implementation and monitoring progress on legislative amendments to the Buildings Ordinance, Building Management Ordinance, and Fire Safety Ordinance. An investigation set to be completed within three months will gather evidence on individual responsibility, with the Public Service Commission recommending whether disciplinary action should be taken against responsible officers.