The independent inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court fire tragedy has concluded that the main contractor, Prestige Construction & Engineering, the project consultant Will Power Architects, and a registered inspector employed by Will Power deserved the most severe criticisms. This fire, which took 168 lives nearly a year ago, was primarily attributed to the woeful oversight and blatant disregard for safety by these firms during the housing estate's renovation works. The committee’s 16-chapter report, spanning nearly 1,200 pages, detailed how the two firms used substandard materials and unsafe procedures, such as non-fire-retardant scaffolding and flammable foam boards, while ignoring multiple safety complaints from residents. The report further revealed that the fire service installations in the estate were undermaintained and did not function properly on the day of the disaster. The committee noted that companies such as Gain Profit Shed Industry, which was involved in temporarily replacing unsafe scaffolding to pass inspections, and Victory Fire Engineering, which was responsible for fire safety checks, also played contributory roles. Additionally, the property management company, ISS EastPoint Properties, was criticized for turning off the power to the fire alarm systems despite lacking the necessary qualifications. Each of these firms were found to be either directly culpable or complicit in the disaster to varying degrees.
The management of Prestige Construction & Engineering, including Hau Wa-kin and Gordon Ho, and Jason Wong of Will Power Architects, were named as particularly responsible. The committee described the conduct of these firms as going beyond mere negligence and into the territory of prioritizing financial gains over the safety of residents. This detailed report underscores the systemic issues that led to such a tragic incident and sets the stage for potential legal actions and reforms in building safety and management practices.