Hong Kong's leader has set up an independent committee to probe the deadly blaze that killed 151 people last week. The investigation will be led by a judge and aims to reform the building work system to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The cause of the fire was attributed to netting used on exterior scaffolding, which failed to meet fire-resistance standards and allowed flames to spread quickly. This is the city's worst fire in decades, and it has raised concerns about safety and supervision.
John Lee, Hong Kong's leader, announced that several failures were identified during the investigation, including a lack of enforcement and inadequate maintenance standards. He emphasized that reforms are necessary to ensure accountability for those responsible and to address loopholes in the system.
The city's anti-corruption watchdog and police have arrested 14 people, 13 of whom are suspected of manslaughter over the blaze. The suspects allegedly used substandard netting to cheat inspectors and law enforcement agencies.
A massive outpouring of grief has accompanied calls for accountability, with some protesters handing out flyers demanding answers from the government. However, authorities have taken action against those who were calling for transparency, including a 24-year-old student who was arrested for "seditious intent" after distributing flyers.
The investigation is ongoing, and Lee has vowed to take measures to address the shortcomings in the building renovation system. The committee's findings are expected to be published soon, and reforms will likely follow to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The cause of the fire was attributed to netting used on exterior scaffolding, which failed to meet fire-resistance standards and allowed flames to spread quickly. This is the city's worst fire in decades, and it has raised concerns about safety and supervision.
John Lee, Hong Kong's leader, announced that several failures were identified during the investigation, including a lack of enforcement and inadequate maintenance standards. He emphasized that reforms are necessary to ensure accountability for those responsible and to address loopholes in the system.
The city's anti-corruption watchdog and police have arrested 14 people, 13 of whom are suspected of manslaughter over the blaze. The suspects allegedly used substandard netting to cheat inspectors and law enforcement agencies.
A massive outpouring of grief has accompanied calls for accountability, with some protesters handing out flyers demanding answers from the government. However, authorities have taken action against those who were calling for transparency, including a 24-year-old student who was arrested for "seditious intent" after distributing flyers.
The investigation is ongoing, and Lee has vowed to take measures to address the shortcomings in the building renovation system. The committee's findings are expected to be published soon, and reforms will likely follow to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
. It’s just not right that people were able to get away with using substandard netting on scaffolding 
. It's like, how could they even do that? And now there are all these arrests and investigations going on, but I'm worried it's gonna be a bit of a whitewash 
. I mean, the fact that some people got arrested for "seditious intent" just because they were trying to speak out about safety concerns kinda sucks 
. But at the same time, I hope the committee's findings are gonna bring some real change and accountability to the system 
. We need to make sure that these kinds of tragedies don't happen again in the future 
.
... it's like a bad dream that we can't wake up from. I'm all for accountability, but let's not forget the thousands of people who are working hard every day to keep us safe, right? Those building inspectors and maintenance staff are just doing their job, trying to follow rules & regulations.
let's keep the dialogue civil and constructive, no need for protesters to be silenced or arrested 
this whole situation is a perfect storm of incompetence & negligence 
. I mean, come on, who allows substandard netting on exterior scaffolding? 
it's mind-boggling that so many people lost their lives because of such basic safety protocols being ignored.
. I'm not buying the idea that this is just an isolated incident, but rather a symptom of a larger problem with the city's building work culture.
. The fact that a student was arrested for "seditious intent" after distributing flyers demanding transparency is just another example of how this government is trying to silence dissenting voices 
.
. We need to see concrete action taken to address the root causes of such tragedies, not just a PR stunt to calm the public 
. 151 people lost their lives, and now we're hearing that a lack of enforcement was a major factor? It's just not right. And what's with the "seditious intent" charge on that poor student who just wanted to ask questions? Like, come on, can't we have a little bit of transparency around here without getting arrested? 
