Fire Services Chief to Testify at Hong Kong Deadly Fire Hearing
Director Andy Yeung becomes most senior official to give evidence as hearings into November 2025 inferno that killed 168 people continue
En resumen
- The head of Hong Kong's Fire Services Department will testify at evidential hearings into the city's deadliest fire since 1948, which killed 168 people at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po last November.
- Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin admitted fire and building authorities could have collaborated better and said the FSD is seeking to amend legislation on fire services installation contractors.
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Por qué importa
Hong Kong's deadliest fire since 1948 killed 168 people at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po on November 26, 2025. The blaze engulfed seven of eight high-rise buildings that were under renovation. Nearly 5,000 residents were displaced.
The head of the Fire Services Department (FSD) will give evidence on the 19th day of evidential hearings into Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, becoming the most senior official to testify to date.
Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin appeared before the independent committee on Friday to testify about the department's operations before and during the inferno at Wang Fuk Court housing estate last November. He admitted that fire and building authorities could have collaborated better to deal with fire safety risks at the Tai Po estate and said the FSD was seeking to amend legislation and tighten regulations overseeing fire services installation contractors.
Tang Wing-wah, assistant director for New Territories North and one of the commanders on site, testified before Yeung. He recounted the challenges that firefighters faced, including falling debris that blocked the entrance to Wang Cheong House, and the need to carry heavy portable pumps to increase the water pressure at higher levels, since the booster pumps across the estate's eight buildings had been deactivated.
Two senior firefighters testified before the judge-led panel on Thursday, including Derek Armstrong Chan, one of Yeung's deputies and the top commander on site during the fire.
The blaze, which broke out on November 26, 2025, engulfed all but one of the estate's eight high-rise buildings, which were being renovated at the time. Hong Kong's deadliest fire since 1948 killed 168 people, including a firefighter, and displaced nearly 5,000 residents.
Chan defended his decision not to activate the government's Emergency Alert System, saying it was "unsuitable for the incident". However, he conceded that the level four fire alarm should have been raised earlier so that more firefighters and equipment could arrive sooner.
Preguntas abiertas
- Why were booster pumps across the estate's eight buildings deactivated?
- What specific legislation amendments is the FSD seeking?
- Would earlier activation of Emergency Alert System have saved lives?
