‘Litany of failures’ behind Hong Kong’s worst tragedy in decades

{"text":[[{"start":9.15,"text":"After months of public hearings into the worst tragedy in Hong Kong for decades, a sprawling 627-page closing argument has pointed to a “litany of failures” linked to the Tai Po blaze that killed 168 people last year."}],[{"start":24.6,"text":"“Unscrupulous” contractors responsible for renovations bore the brunt of the blame, but “systemic” issues with regulation and co-ordination between government agencies could not be ignored, said Victor Dawes, the lead counsel for the independent committee tasked with investigating the fire by the government. "}],[{"start":44.3,"text":"“The Wang Fuk Court fire was preventable but not prevented. It was foreseeable but not foreseen,” Dawes said of the blaze, which made thousands more homeless last November. “We must delineate responsibilities, remedy the situation and implement remedial measures immediately.”"}],[{"start":62.3,"text":"Dawes’s remarks concluded hearings in Hong Kong in which 80 victims, experts and officials testified, seeking to answer how the blaze could have happened and whether regulations were sufficient to prevent it. Mr Justice David Lok, a judge who chairs the committee, will now assess the findings and make a final report and recommendations this year. "}],[{"start":84.1,"text":"But while his remarks also seek to apportion responsibility for the blaze, the allegations of government failure have led to pressing questions over whether and how to hold officials accountable in the city following a years-long political crackdown. "}],[{"start":97.25,"text":"“The public needs to see that those responsible for 168 people dying and all the thousands made homeless . . . are held to account,” said John Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong. “Whether or not this will happen at all we don’t know.”"}],[{"start":112.45,"text":"Dawes on Friday told the inquiry that the main blame lay at the door of firms involved in renovations under way when seven of the eight towers in the complex were engulfed in flames. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":124.65,"text":"The police and the ICAC, the city’s anti-corruption body, last month charged seven people and two companies with a range of offences. Some were charged with manslaughter. Authorities have pointed to netting surrounding the buildings, which they say was not up to fire safety standards, and flammable polystyrene boards used during renovations as hastening the blaze."}],[{"start":146.3,"text":"Dawes said that wooden boards over windows created plumes of smoke on escape routes and that the fire was probably caused by a lit cigarette butt on a roof in a lightwell in one of the towers. "}],[{"start":157.05,"text":"He also alleged that “numerous failings on the part of government departments” created “opportunities for those who have fraudulent intention” and “structural reforms” would be needed."}],[{"start":167.20000000000002,"text":"Specifically, Dawes said that an “honour system” whereby regulatory bodies allowed renovation contractors to self-regulate, did not verify certifications and sometimes pre-announced inspections allowed companies to “deploy deception”. Government departments also did not properly investigate the complaints from residents about the renovations, he said. "}],[{"start":189.05,"text":"While the committee questioned some officials, major political figures did not give testimony. And although it will submit a full report of recommendations to the government later this year, it does not have the powers to determine legal or criminal liability."}],[{"start":204.25,"text":"Burns at the University of Hong Kong said that while the inquiry was transparent, it did not request the full statutory powers the government could have granted it. Beijing, which still views the semi-autonomous territory as unstable following citywide protests in 2019, would have been uncomfortable with such a move, he said. “Central authorities are afraid of losing control of this process,” he said. "}],[{"start":228.7,"text":"While immediate consequences for senior leaders were unlikely, the tragedy could reduce chief executive John Lee’s chances of securing a second term in office next year, he said. But the public would need to see more direct accountability, he added. “I think that it would be completely unacceptable to the people of Hong Kong if no government officials are held accountable.”"}],[{"start":250.1,"text":"In the wake of the fire, the government tasked an independent committee with investigating its causes. The panel hired a team of lawyers that has gathered evidence and examined witnesses over 30 hearings. "}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":263.65,"text":"In the final hearings, the lawyers for the committee and other parties including the Hong Kong government, some former residents and various contractors submitted closing arguments. "}],[{"start":274.9,"text":"Summarising a 403-page submission made on behalf of government bureaus, lawyer Jenkin Suen acknowledged in testimony to the inquiry regulatory “weaknesses” but argued that it was unfair to assign it direct responsibility, which should instead fall at the feet of the contractors and professionals involved in renovations."}],[{"start":294.79999999999995,"text":"He said that the government no longer pre-announced inspections, that it had beefed up measures for co-ordinating between departments, banned combustible materials on the outside of buildings and tightened inspection systems."}],[{"start":306.15,"text":"The city’s competition watchdog has also proposed criminalising “bid-rigging”, the process by which contractors allegedly collude to influence the outcome of tenders for government-mandated renovation projects."}],[{"start":318.7,"text":"In a statement to the FT, the government added that it had banned smoking at construction sites and was reviewing laws and systems concerning renovations and the bidding process."}],[{"start":329.5,"text":"“The Chief Executive has also stated on numerous occasions that . . .  accountability will be pursued based on the facts and evidence,” it said. "}],[{"start":338.5,"text":"“I’m not saying that the government started it . . . but . . . the government bears responsibility as a supervisor,” Leung Ho-hin, a former resident, told reporters following the final hearing. “You can’t just say ‘we are all victims, this isn’t a government matter’.”"}],[{"start":353.15,"text":"Yip Ka-Kui, whose wife died in the fire, said the government’s position had “only shirked responsibility”. “Facing such a big fire, none of the related government departments has learnt any lessons,” Yip said, pausing to wipe tears from his eyes."}],[{"start":369,"text":"Ultimately, Eric Lai, a senior research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said the inquiry was unlikely to claim any senior government scalps, he added. “They don’t want the public to feel they have the power to remove their leaders.”"}],[{"start":389.79999999999995,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784713445_4217.mp3"}