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Subcontractors Admit Fire Safety Failures in Hong Kong Blaze

4/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Two subcontractors admitted they failed to control workers' smoking before a deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, a HK$336 million project.
They told an independent committee they replaced fireproof windows with wooden boards to gain access to scaffolding, under pressure from Prestige Construction.
Ng Pui-kwan, a subcontractor, said the change was unnecessary and could have hindered evacuation.
He said polyfoam boards covering windows were not fire-retardant.

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Story summary

Two subcontractors admitted they failed to control workers' smoking before a deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, a HK$336 million project.
They told an independent committee they replaced fireproof windows with wooden boards to gain access to scaffolding, under pressure from Prestige Construction.
Ng Pui-kwan, a subcontractor, said the change was unnecessary and could have hindered evacuation.
He said polyfoam boards covering windows were not fire-retardant.