Seven charged after Hong Kong fire that killed 168 people

{"text":[[{"start":8.4,"text":"Hong Kong authorities have charged seven people and two companies with offences including manslaughter following an investigation into the Chinese city’s deadliest residential blaze."}],[{"start":18.6,"text":"The charges announced on Wednesday were the first brought over the Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 168 people in November last year."}],[{"start":26.5,"text":"The seven people charged included some current and former directors of companies involved in renovations that were under way at the housing development when the fire began, the government said. The wife and a friend of one of the directors were also charged, as was an employee of one of the companies. "}],[{"start":45.5,"text":"Two of the seven were released on bail while the rest were remanded in custody. The two companies charged were Will Power Architects, which consulted on the renovations, and Prestige Construction and Engineering, the main contractor. "}],[{"start":59,"text":"The 25 charges were brought by the police and Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court. The charges against the companies included manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, tax evasion, money laundering and attempting to pervert the course of public justice. The various individuals were charged with some or all of the same offences."}],[{"start":81.25,"text":"Will Power Architects and Prestige Construction did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment on Wednesday evening. The individuals charged could not immediately be reached for comment."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":92.65,"text":"Hong Kong authorities have previously said initial investigations into the cause of the Wang Fuk blaze found that substandard materials, including flammable polystyrene boards and safety netting, hastened the fire’s spread."}],[{"start":104.65,"text":"Witnesses to an independent inquiry into the causes of the blaze have suggested that several failures worsened the tragedy. "}],[{"start":111.4,"text":"The inquiry’s lead lawyer, Victor Dawes, in March said the existing evidence showed that “on the day of the fire, almost all life-protecting fire safety appliances failed because of human errors”."}],[{"start":123.45,"text":"The inquiry heard that windows at the residential complex had been boarded up with flammable foam and that most fire alarms failed to sound. It is due to submit its findings to the government later this year."}],[{"start":135.15,"text":"Basil Tang Yick-kay, the senior superintendent of police, said after Wednesday’s court hearing that investigators had found multiple failings."}],[{"start":143.25,"text":"“The companies and individuals responsible for the maintenance of Wang Fuk Court are suspected of having seriously breached their serious responsibility in the supervision of construction materials and procedures, resulting in gross negligence,” he said. "}],[{"start":157.4,"text":"The next court hearing would be in September, Tang said."}],[{"start":160.9,"text":"The Wang Fuk fire burned for two days, engulfing seven residential towers. In addition to the 168 deaths, some of which were confirmed weeks later, 79 people were injured and thousands left homeless."}],[{"start":183.60000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781144840_9910.mp3"}