Probe finds non fire-retardant protective netting used in Wang Fuk Court
發佈日期: 2025-12-01 21:22
TVB News
The Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have formed a task force to probe the deadly Tai Po fire.
Preliminary findings indicate that some individuals were attempting to pass off non fire-retardant netting covering scaffolding around the buildings, as fire-retardant netting.
14 people have been arrested as of now, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company.
As questions mount over who is responsible for the Wang Fuk Court tragedy, the Police and the ICAC formed a task force to investigate.
They took 20 samples of the protective netting from four buildings that burned.
Initial examination showed seven samples failed to meet fire retardant standards.
The ICAC noted some of original netting were torn during typhoon Wipha in July.
The suspects replaced the damaged netting with cheaper, non fire-retardant materials from a local supplier, said ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming.
These netting was 75,000 square metres in size, at 54 dollars per roll, which was large enough for the use of all eight blocks.
In late October, a fire broke out at the scaffolding of Chinachem Tower in Central.
Fearing the authorities could check the site following that fire, Woo said the suspects bought 3,700 square metres of fire-retardant netting, at 100 dollars per roll, to "cover-up" some of the substandard ones, in a bid to pass subsequent test with a mix of nets.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang said when the fire was very serious, officers could only collect preliminary samples for testing from low level of Wang Chi House, which was not affected by the fire. Earlier netting test showed that it met the fire resistance standards.
Tang added when the fire was under control, officers collected samples from different locations in the eight blocks of Wang Fuk Court.
Tang vowed to use all means necessary to obtain evidence and bring criminals to justice.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan criticized the suspects for their shameful attempt to "save a bit of money," while jeopardizing the lives of thousands of residents.
The police had apprehended 12 men and a woman for manslaughter, aged between 40 and 77.
Meanwhile, the ICAC arrested 12 people on suspicion of corruption, 11 of them were also caught by the police concurrently.
