Hong Kong’s Hung Fuk Court fire hearing convened its fifth round of hearings today, with Mrs. Wu, a survivor who tragically lost her husband and recently graduated daughter in the fire at Hung Tai House, present to listen for the first time.
Upon learning that the Independent Committee’s Chairman, Judge Luk Kai-hong, decided not to elevate the committee to a statutory independent investigative body, Mrs. Wu became emotional and cried outside the venue. She questioned the lack of legal force and expressed doubt that the hearing could provide them with a conclusive outcome. She urged government departments to acknowledge their inadequate supervision and human negligence, calling for justice for the deceased.
Reminiscing about her daughter who had just completed university, Mrs. Wu emphasized that her daughter’s life had just begun. She raised her daughter with hardships only for her to innocently lose her life in what was supposed to be the “safest home.” She expressed sorrow and anger, stating that the tragedy claiming 168 lives was not a natural disaster, but a result of inadequate supervision, and she directly accused vested interests of leading to those lost lives.
Regarding the government departments’ characterization of the events as “less than ideal,” Mrs. Wu criticized these statements as attempts to shift responsibility. She stressed that survivors did not want to “cause chaos,” but simply needed answers. She continued, saying, “There’s no death penalty in Hong Kong. You recognize mistakes that aren’t fatal. It’s just to give the deceased a rest, to give the living peace of mind. If you keep going like this, how can others live on?”
Concerning the decision not to elevate the committee, Mrs. Wu doubted its legal effectiveness, noting that the alleged lawbreakers were absent, and she felt that the current procedures were more akin to “buying time,” torturing the survivors.
She revealed that in the six months since the fire, her mental state has been on the brink of collapse, enduring immense psychological trauma daily, requiring monthly psychiatric follow-ups and psychological therapy to release emotional distress.
Mrs. Wu lamented that while houses can be rebuilt or public housing applied for, life cannot be reclaimed. She questioned, “What did the deceased do wrong?” Looking at the survivors, she expressed with emotion, “I envy you for having life and being able to live in this world.”
Another Hung Fuk Court resident, Mr. Ho, expressed disappointment after the hearing, feeling that the details of the events were still unclear. He noted the absence of several crucial figures related to the incident, including councillors, management officials, and members of the owners’ committee. The most important construction company was also absent, making it impossible for the public to understand the true cause of the accident.
Regarding the claim that the investigative committee had sufficient information and therefore did not need to upgrade the investigation level or require specific individuals to attend, Mr. Ho disagreed.
He questioned that if the government chose not to disclose the information it held, ordinary citizens would be unable to know how the event would be handled, ultimately depending on the government’s actions. He speculated that even if the committee had information, it might be constrained by legal procedures and other reasons, preventing them from publicly revealing it during the hearings.
Regarding the current judicial progress, Mr. Ho mentioned that a detained construction businessman had been granted bail, and the government needed time to deal with it. He admitted disappointment with the current situation, believing there are no more actions to be taken at this point.
Despite not holding high hopes for future developments, Mr. Ho stated that he would continue to attend the hearings in the coming days. He hoped to see how the government explains its role in the event and pointed out that the government may have various reasons for not elevating the investigation to an independent inquiry committee. He disclosed that he only lost a unit in the fire, lamenting that there were no casualties.