Hong Kong leader bows in apology for the Wang Fuk Court fire that killed 168 as his housing secretary resigns

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee appeared before cameras on Thursday and bowed alongside seven senior officials in a formal apology for the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, which became the city's deadliest blaze in decades. An independent committee's report cited "decades of failure" across government bodies as well as private-sector wrongdoing, including contractors who used sub-standard materials, non-fire-retardant scaffolding nets, and forged documents to mislead regulators. Lee unveiled sweeping reforms, among them AI and drone surveillance to identify smokers on construction sites.

Housing Secretary Winnie Ho stepped down on Wednesday to take "political responsibility," although the inquiry made no findings of personal wrongdoing against her.

The fire, which investigators believe was started by a cigarette dropped near paper materials in November 2025, left thousands of residents displaced — close to a year passed before any accountability was delivered.