An independent committee investigating the causes of the deadly fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong has delayed submitting its final report to late October 2026, a month later than initially expected.

The committee was established in December 2025, weeks after the blaze killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. It was tasked with examining the fire’s causes, reviewing existing regulations, identifying systemic issues related to large-scale building renovations, and making recommendations.

The inquiry began on March 19, 2026, and involved reviewing approximately 1 million files and hearing testimonies from 80 witnesses, including government officials, residents, workers, and fire safety and legal experts.

A source confirmed to the South China Morning Post on Saturday, July 18, 2026, that the judge-led panel’s final report is now expected to be submitted to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in late October instead of September, as originally planned. The delay is attributed to the large volume of documents and new material requiring thorough review.

During the inquiry, lead counsel Victor Dawes SC attributed the fire’s cause to "human factors" and highlighted systemic regulatory failures and suspected fraudulent acts by contractors.

Sources