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Investigators in Hong Kong say contractors used unsafe scaffolding netting at the housing estate destroyed by last week’s deadly fire, and then tried to cover it up during inspections.
The death toll at Wang Fuk Court has now reached 151, with more than 40 people still unaccounted for. Police warn some remains may never be recovered because of the intensity of the blaze.
Cheaper netting was installed after typhoon damage
The Independent Commission Against Corruption says workers bought 2,300 rolls of low-grade netting that failed fire-safety standards after a summer typhoon damaged the scaffolding. To avoid detection, compliant mesh was later fitted only at the building bases, where inspectors usually check.
Seven of the 20 samples taken from higher, harder-to-reach areas failed fire-safety tests.
Officials admitted earlier assessments were wrong. Security secretary Chris Tang said previous samples were taken from sections untouched by the fire. Residents had warned the government about unsafe netting for more than a year.
Investigators also found flammable polystyrene foam boards on the towers, which helped flames spread across seven of the estate’s eight blocks.
Arrests as oversight comes under scrutiny
Police and anti-corruption officers have arrested 14 people, including engineering consultants, contractors and scaffolding subcontractors.
The Buildings Department has ordered all contractors working on external façades to carry out immediate checks on their netting and provide safety certificates within seven days. Officials say they have already inspected 359 sites across the city.
Campaigner and engineer Jason Poon says some contractors have started removing netting to avoid being caught. “You can see the netting being removed in Hong Kong because they are avoiding punishment,” he said.
Political tension grows
Authorities have warned the public not to use the tragedy to “fuel discontent”, invoking Hong Kong’s new national security law. Local reports say a man was arrested after calling for an independent inquiry.
Analysts say the government now faces serious pressure to show whether similar safety risks exist across other high-rise buildings.
