Full Breakdown
259 Charges Filed Over Wang Fuk Court Renovation Failures
9/9/2026, 9:07:23 PM
Core Event
Hong Kong’s Buildings Department (BD) filed 259 charges on a Wednesday against two firms—Will Power Architects and Prestige Construction & Engineering—and four senior individuals linked to a major renovation of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po. The charges allege the use of non-fire-retardant scaffold netting, tarpaulins and styrofoam boards, removal of fire-proof windows, and failure to supervise repair works, all of which the BD says contributed to the rapid spread of the November 2025 blaze that killed 168 people and injured 79.
Background & Context
The fire broke out on November 27, 2025, when the estate’s exterior was covered with styrofoam boards that later melted and fed the flames. An independent committee’s evidentiary hearings earlier this year highlighted “widespread systemic issues,” including alleged collusive tendering, rubber-stamp inspections and unauthorised proxy votes in the HK$330 million renovation project. The same four individuals and the two companies had already faced manslaughter and related charges in June, alongside accusations of conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, perverting justice and tax evasion.
Data & Statistics
- Charges: 259 total (including 25 under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance by the Labour Department).
- Fatalities: 168 dead, 79 injured.
- Renovation budget: HK$330 million.
- Companies charged: Will Power Architects (project consultant) and Prestige Construction & Engineering (main contractor).
- Individuals charged: Will Power director Wong Hap-yin, registered inspector Ng Yeuk, Prestige directors Ho Kin-yip and Hau Wa-kin.
Official Statements & Responses
The BD’s statement said the investigation found the registered inspector employed by the project consultant failed to ensure the building’s safety and that the main contractor and consultant authorised the use of non-fire-retardant materials. A BD spokesman added that the department and the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit have “spared no effort” in probing the repair works. The Labour Department confirmed its 25 additional charges relate to the deaths of five contractors’ staff during the fire.
What’s Next
The BD announced citywide steps to tighten safety oversight, including mandatory fire-retardancy test reports, random spot checks and a new inspection operation covering 400 renovation projects. The department also said it has increased regulation, site inspections and enforcement actions since the Wang Fuk Court fire.
