Renovation workers still smoked despite estate management’s complaints to contractor, Tai Po fire inquiry hears

Renovation workers at the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po continued to smoke despite the estate’s management repeatedly demanding that the project contractor address the issue, according to a property officer testifying at a public inquiry. Cheng Tsz-ying, a property officer from ISS EastPoint Properties, which managed the housing estate, appeared before an independent committee investigating the tragic blaze that killed 168 people.

Cheng testified that her company had no authority over the renovation workers hired by the project’s main contractor, Prestige Construction & Engineering. The lead committee lawyer, Victor Dawes, had previously stated that smoking was “most likely” the cause of the fire that erupted on November 26 and raged for 43 hours. Residents also reported seeing workers smoke and filed multiple complaints, but these efforts did not lead to any significant change.

Minutes from a project meeting in March 2025 revealed that both ISS and the Wang Fuk Court owners’ committee had raised the issue with Prestige and given the company a month to improve matters, including by designating a smoking area. However, Cheng told the hearing that improvements were minimal. She mentioned that other complaints regarding the accumulation of rubbish and construction waste also failed to result in substantial changes.

Dawes questioned Cheng about the limited control ISS had over the situation, asking if it was fair to describe their role as merely a “speaking tube” – that is, a means of relaying residents’ complaints to Prestige. Cheng responded that her company could not control Prestige’s workers and could not terminate their employment. She added that Prestige had promised to dismiss workers who smoked on the job, but she was unaware if the construction firm had actually enforced this rule.

The public inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court fire is ongoing, as authorities and the public seek answers about the disaster that left a profound impact on Hong Kong. The testimonies and evidence presented so far have highlighted the challenges faced by estate management in overseeing contractors and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. As the inquiry continues, it remains to be seen whether the findings will lead to systemic changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.