Hong Kong Suspends Housing Secretary Winnie Ho After Tai Po Fire Report

Hong Kong suspended Housing Secretary Winnie Ho's duties on October 29 as Chief Executive John Lee announced her resignation and released the government's response to the Tai Po fire inquiry. Lee recommended her removal to the Central People's Government, rather than announcing that formal removal had already been completed. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong became acting housing secretary. Ho had offered her resignation on October 28. The government published the independent committee's report on the Wang Fuk Court fire, which Lee said killed 168 people, including a firefighter, and affected 1,984 families. Lee said, “I apologise on behalf of the government to victims and the wider public.” He distinguished Ho's political responsibility from personal wrongdoing, saying the problems fell within the remit of the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit. The committee submitted its report on October 22. The government's summary cited suspected substitution of non-fire-retardant scaffolding nets, combustible foam boards and other materials, and openings in escape staircases among factors in the fire's rapid spread and heavy casualties. It identified deficiencies in the Independent Checking Unit, Buildings Department, Fire Services Department and Labour Department. An investigation into individual civil servants' responsibilities must conclude within three months. The reform programme includes replacing the Independent Checking Unit with a Public Housing Building Control Section and establishing a joint task force against renovation bid-rigging. The government aims to have a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council operating by year-end and submit amendments to six ordinances this year. Two further press conferences on maintenance-system reform and bid-rigging are scheduled for October 30. The published report is redacted to protect criminal proceedings; the government says it will release the full version after the relevant proceedings end.