Wang Fuk Court Fire Inquiry: Contractor Director Ordered Non-Flame-Retardant Nets and Refused Payment for Safer Alternatives

The Independent Committee investigating the tragic Wang Fuk Court fire heard critical testimony on March 19, 2026, revealing that the main contractor's director deliberately instructed the use of cheaper, non-flame-retardant scaffolding nets and refused to pay for flame-retardant ones.

Chan Yiu-fai, director of subcontractor Profit Gain Scaffolding Industry, testified that after Super Typhoon Wipha damaged the estate's external scaffolding in July 2025, the main contractor, Hung Ye Building Engineering Co Ltd, directed the replacement of the original flame-retardant nets with ordinary, non-flame-retardant ones to save costs and meet a tight repair deadline of December 2025.

When Chan expressed concerns about the suitability and safety of the non-flame-retardant material for long-term use, Hung Ye director Gordon Ho Kin-ye reportedly insisted on proceeding with the cheaper option and stated that he would not make payment if flame-retardant nets were ordered instead. After consulting another Hung Ye director, Hau Wah-kin, Chan ultimately ordered approximately 4,500 sheets of non-flame-retardant nets at HK$54 per sheet (compared to HK$100 for flame-retardant ones from supplier Lam Kee Building Materials). Installation was completed by early October 2025, covering large areas across multiple blocks.

Evidence presented to the committee also showed that Hung Ye placed an order for 115 boxes (about 3,700 square metres) of flame-retardant nets on October 27, 2025—just one day before an inspection by the Housing Department's Independent Review Team on October 28. These were installed only at visible testing points, such as the scaffolding bases, to pass the checks, while the majority of the scaffolding remained covered with the non-compliant material.

Senior Counsel Tu Kam-fung, representing the committee, described this as evidence of intentional substitution aimed at deceiving inspectors. Earlier statements from ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming (July 1, 2025) had already indicated that contractors purchased non-flame-retardant nets after the typhoon and falsified compliance during subsequent tests.

The use of non-flame-retardant nets is believed to have played a significant role in the fire's extremely rapid spread on November 26, 2025, which engulfed seven blocks, resulted in 168 deaths, and caused widespread injuries—one of the deadliest residential fires in Hong Kong's history.

Committee Chairman Luk Kai-hang reiterated that the hearings are focused on establishing the facts as quickly as possible within the limited three-month preparation period, with the final report expected within nine months to provide answers to victims' families and address systemic building safety issues.

The inquiry continues with further witnesses scheduled, including residents, former owners' corporation members, and government officials. Public sessions are being held at the Exhibition Gallery in Central, with priority seating for affected residents. For the latest updates, visit the committee's website: https://www.ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk.