Wang Fuk Court independent committee report announced later this week

The Independent Committee in relation to the Wang Fuk Court Fire submitted its report to the Chief Executive last week, with sources saying that details in the document will be announced as soon as later this week.

Over the next few days, TVB News will look back into what was said during the Committee meetings.

The level-5 fire that engulfed seven buildings in Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court last year was only put out after more than 43 hours, resulting in the deaths of 168 people.

This as the independent committee in relation to the fire and the government counsel both agreed the fire began outside units 104 and 105 in Wang Cheong House, and likely originated from a cigarette butt that lit up a number of objects in the area.

The blaze then spread to the non-fire resistant netting and foam boards on the building's exterior.

The structure's lightwell also served as a vertical shaft that facilitated the rapid spread of the fire, while the building's fire alarms failed to work and fire safety water tanks were out of water.

Legal representatives from both parties believe the renovation contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering and the project's consultant Will Power bear the most responsibility for the incident.

Testimonies during the independent committee's hearing indicated that Prestige director Ho Kin-yip demanded that non-fire resistant netting be used to replace damaged netting after a typhoon last year.

But portions of the netting were then replaced with fire-resistant ones after it was known that a government check-up on the construction works was forthcoming.

Ho also insisted on using easily flammable foam boards to cover the windows of the building.

Ho, along two others, Prestige and Will Power were charged with five counts of manslaughter, while another board member of Prestige and three other individuals were charged with conspiracy to defraud.