Key facts
- Seven individuals and two companies have been charged in Hong Kong over a deadly fire.
Hong Kong authorities have charged seven individuals and two companies with manslaughter and other offenses over a deadly fire at the Wang Fuk housing complex in November 2025 that killed 168 people. The charges include conspiracy to defraud, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion.
The charges represent a significant step in holding individuals and corporations accountable for the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in over 70 years, potentially setting precedents for building safety and corporate responsibility.
Hong Kong authorities have charged seven individuals and two companies with offenses including manslaughter and conspiracy in connection with the city's deadliest fire in decades, which occurred in November 2025 and killed 168 people. The blaze engulfed seven apartment buildings in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the Tai Po district.
Authorities stated on Wednesday that police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption filed 25 counts against the suspects. Allegations also include money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion. The seven individuals are alleged to have played different roles in the major renovation project of Wang Fuk Court, while the two companies charged are the project's consultancy firm and main contractor.
The cases were scheduled for court hearing on Wednesday afternoon. In March, police had arrested 38 people on accusations related to the fire, including manslaughter and fraud, with nine subsequently charged. The anti-graft agency also arrested 23 people in the same month on suspicion of bribery and conspiracy to defraud.
Victor Dawes, a lawyer representing an independent committee investigating the fire's cause, previously stated that nearly all fire safety systems failed on the day of the blaze due to human error.