Fire Services Department concludes Tai Po inferno probe, refers contractors to disciplinary board

While enforcement actions against the two companies have yet to be completed eight months after the inferno, the Fire Services Department said it had recently concluded its investigation and would refer the cases to the disciplinary board for inquiry proceedings. But it stopped short of indicating a specific timeline.

The evidential hearing into last November’s fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po exposed alleged negligence and misconduct by fire service contractors China Status Development and Engineering, and Victory Fire Engineering.

Officials who testified before the independent committee said that both firms had played a role in the deactivation of the estate’s fire alarm and hose reel systems.

An SCMP reporter, posing as a potential client, contacted the two companies recently and a staff member from Victory Fire said the firm was operating normally and would accept new contracts for annual fire inspections and the replacement of fire service installations.

A representative from China Status said it no longer conducted annual fire inspections but would still take on new orders for replacing firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers.