Hong Kong announces the formation of a committee to investigate the fire that left more than 150 dead world

The authorities indicated that low-quality plastic mesh and insulating foam used during renovation work in the residential complex contributed to the spread of the fire, which quickly spread to seven of the eight towers that house more than 4,000 people.

“To avoid similar tragedies again, I will set up an independent committee led by a judge to study the causes and rapid spread (of the fire) and related issues,” Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said at a news conference.

Investigators completed searches of all but two of the burning towers, finding the bodies of residents on stairs and roofs, trapped as they tried to escape the smoke and flames. About 30 people are still missing.

Some groups in the Chinese-controlled city called for more transparency and accountability, while authorities warned that any attempt to politicize the tragedy would be severely punished.

A student from one of these groups was arrested and then released on bail, and local media reported that two other people were being investigated for possible sedition. The police did not comment on these cases.

“I will not tolerate crimes, especially those that exploit the tragedy we are facing now,” he told me when asked about these cases, without elaborating.

International human rights groups said the events showed the government’s attempts to suppress criticism. “It is important not to treat those demanding answers about the tragic fire as criminals,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

China’s National Security Bureau warned individuals against using the tragedy to “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” of 2019, when massive pro-democracy protests challenged Beijing and sparked a political crisis.

Lee said that the legislative elections scheduled for Sunday will be held as planned. Participation in this vote – in which only candidates deemed “patriotic” by the government can stand – could serve as a measure of public frustration over the handling of the fire.

The city’s Labor Department said authorities told residents of Wang Fook Court last year that they faced “relatively low fire risks” after they complained about the risks posed by renovations. A department spokesman said residents raised concerns in September 2024, including about the flammability of nets used by contractors to cover bamboo scaffolding.

Tests conducted on several samples of mesh in the buildings at the time of the fire did not meet fire resistance standards, investigators said Monday.

Officials added that contractors working on the renovation work used low-quality materials in hard-to-reach areas, hiding them from inspectors. Authorities also said that foam insulation used by contractors to cover windows fanned the flames, and that fire alarms in the complex were not working properly.

Thousands of city residents paid tribute to the victims, including nine domestic workers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines. Vigils will also be held this week in Tokyo, Taipei and London.

A funeral parlor in central Hong Kong held a memorial service on Tuesday to mark the seven-day anniversary of the deadly fire, a Chinese tradition known as “Return of the Spirit Day.” Hundreds of people prayed, cried and made paper offerings in the shape of a lotus flower, a symbol of spiritual rebirth in mourning rituals.

“I hope people can release what’s in their hearts. Then it will be easier for all of us to move on in life,” said Brian Kamm, general manager of Kowloon Funeral Hall.

The buildings still being examined for remains and evidence are precisely the most destroyed. Authorities said the operation could last for weeks. Photos released by police show officers wearing chemical protection suits, masks and helmets as they walked through rooms with soot-covered walls, furniture reduced to ash and areas flooded with water used to extinguish fires that had burned for days.

Residents who survived the fire must now try to return to their lives. Nearly 1,500 people have been moved from evacuation centers to temporary housing, with another 945 being housed in hostels and hotels, authorities said.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said more than 60 pets, including 34 cats, 12 dogs and seven turtles, died in the fire. More than 200 people were rescued.