【Epoch Times News, November 29, 2025】The fire at the Hong Kong Tai Po Wang Fuk Court has resulted in 128 deaths to date, with over a hundred others still unaccounted for. Voices demanding a thorough investigation and accountability have emerged in Hong Kong society. Some citizens have initiated an online petition outlining four major demands, including holding accountable government officials for regulatory negligence. The petition has gathered over 5,000 signatures so far.
Regarding the Level 5 fire event in Hong Kong, a group called the “Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Fire Concern Group,” initiated by university students in Hong Kong with the participation of enthusiastic citizens, has launched a petition in response to the fire, listing four major demands. These include “continuing to support affected residents and ensuring proper resettlement,” “establishing an independent investigation committee to thoroughly examine potential benefits manipulation,” “reassessing engineering regulatory systems and rejecting scapegoating to resolve the issue,” and “vigorously pursuing accountability for regulatory negligence and government officials.”
The petition points out that the suspicious cause of the fire is related to significant benefits manipulation behind a major maintenance project. Additionally, the price difference between fire-resistant mesh nets (protective nets on bamboo scaffolding) and ordinary mesh nets creates room for corruption. They urge the government to establish an independent investigation committee, disclose relevant documents, and delve into the relationships behind the incident.
The petition mentions that complaints were made last year about fire safety hazards related to the mesh netting, but these complaints were shelved. The incident is not a natural disaster but rather a man-made disaster resulting from long-term regulatory failure and departmental negligence, which should lead to accountability for relevant officials.
According to the petition website, over 5,000 signatures have been collected to date.
On the 28th of Hong Kong, the “Independent Media” reported that Miles, one of the initiators of the petition and a university student, stated that the petition was launched because the fire originated from systemic issues. He expressed anger that the government used bamboo scaffolding as a scapegoat.
Miles mentioned that he is not a resident of Tai Po but has been assisting in distributing supplies on-site since the fire at Wang Fuk Court occurred. Last night, Miles and a group of six people distributed the petition near Wang Fuk Court.
At the time of the large fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court, all 8 buildings were undergoing major renovation projects, with bamboo scaffolding erected outside and mesh nets installed. There are opinions in society suggesting that non-compliant mesh nets facilitated the rapid spread of the fire. Last year, residents of Wang Fuk Court raised safety concerns about the mesh netting to the Labour Department, which had conducted inspections of the renovation projects 16 times in the past year and had issued written warnings to remind the contractor to take proper fire prevention measures.
It is noteworthy that online documents suggest that the mesh netting was manufactured and certified in mainland China, to which the Hong Kong government has not responded.
On the 28th, the Hong Kong government stated that they believe the initial fire started from the lower-level mesh nets but emphasized that the mesh nets used in the bamboo scaffolding of the building have fire-resistant properties. The government quickly distanced the mesh nets from having a close relationship with the fire, which raised doubts.
Currently, the government is considering promoting the use of metal scaffolding to replace bamboo scaffolding. Some netizens believe that the government is making bamboo scaffolding a scapegoat. Others commented that the main culprits must be the contractors involved in corruption, cutting corners, but it is undeniable that the government has a responsibility in supervision.
The Hong Kong government has been arresting several individuals in recent days, including the police detaining senior officials of the maintenance company on suspicion of manslaughter, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption arresting 8 individuals, including engineering consultants, sub-contractors for scaffolding, and intermediaries. However, no officials have been implicated.
Chief Executive Li Ka-chai led officials in a media meeting on the 27th, where a reporter asked why the Labour Department did not enforce the law after receiving complaints from Wang Fuk Court residents about fire safety issues last year. Residents want to know whether this incident was a “man-made disaster” and if any officials or civil servants should be held accountable and step down. Li Ka-chai did not provide a direct response.