Fire Services chief stays silent on resignation calls
HK01 · 3 SOURCES1 day ago6 MIN
Summary
Fire Services Department Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin (楊恩健) appeared publicly for the first time on 3 November after the government released the independent inquiry report into the Hung Fuk Court fire, but he did not answer reporters' questions on whether he had made mistakes, would resign, or had been contacted by the Civil Service Commission. The report criticized the department for regulatory failures, saying it treated building materials, site fire hazards and passive fire safety measures as matters for the Buildings Department or the Independent Checking Unit, creating a regulatory gap. It also said there were delays of several months in processing closure notices for fire service installations, weakening the effect of statutory requirements. Officials have said the Fire Services Department accepts an ultimate responsibility to act on fire-related complaints, while the Civil Service Commission plans to interview about 100 officers, including around 40 to 50 investigation targets, over possible breaches of rules and management requirements.
Key Points
- After attending a joint Legislative Council meeting of the security and economic development panels on 3 November, Yeung left without answering questions from reporters.
- Reporters asked whether Yeung had done anything wrong, would take responsibility by resigning, and whether the Civil Service Commission had summoned him.
- The independent report said the Fire Services Department failed to properly assess fire risks in the Hung Fuk Court works and monitor the shutdown of fire service installations.
- HK01 reported the inquiry found the department's rigid division of responsibilities created a regulatory vacuum over materials, site fire hazards and passive fire safety
- Civil Service Commission chair Cheng Mei-sze said the probe would start from the independent report, cover all ranks and grades involved in fire-risk supervision, and currently saw no criminal element
Why It Matters
The unanswered questions keep attention on whether accountability for the Hung Fuk Court fire will extend beyond one policy secretary to senior departmental management. For Hong Kong residents, the case also raises concern over whether overlapping responsibilities among departments can leave major building-safety risks unaddressed until after a disaster