Supplier Reveals Non-Fire-Retardant Nets Ordered Before Deadly Tai Po Blaze
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Documents released by an independent investigation committee have revealed that a scaffolding subcontractor at Hong Kong's fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court estate ordered batches of non-fire-retardant protective nets before November's deadly blaze. The supplier's statement, released on Wednesday, showed that Gain Profit Shed Industry had explicitly requested cheaper, non-compliant materials for some orders despite the availability of fire-retardant alternatives. The November fire killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents, making it the city's deadliest blaze in decades.
Key Points
- The independent committee investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire released documents including a statement from supplier Lam Kee Construction Materials
- Gain Profit Shed Industry, the scaffolding subcontractor, ordered non-fire-retardant nets after the client explicitly stated it did not need fire-retardant materials
- Fire-retardant mesh cost nearly twice as much as non-fire-resistant mesh, according to the supplier's submission to the committee
- Expert witnesses identified non-compliant scaffolding mesh as a key factor in the fire's rapid spread, producing burning droplets that ignited secondary fires
- Chan Yiu-fai, operator of Gain Profit, stated that Prestige Construction and Engineering, the main contractor, instructed him to purchase the non-fire-retardant scaffolding nets
Why It Matters
The revelations about cost-driven material choices highlight systemic accountability gaps in Hong Kong's construction industry. As legal proceedings unfold, the case is expected to prompt regulatory reforms and stricter enforcement of fire safety standards for scaffolding materials across the territory .
The revelations about cost-driven material choices highlight systemic accountability gaps in Hong Kong's construction industry. As legal proceedings unfold, the case is expected to prompt regulatory reforms and stricter enforcement of fire safety standards for scaffolding materials across the territory .