29th October 2026 – (Hong Kong) Chief Executive John Lee said Housing Secretary Winnie Ho had resigned to take political responsibility over the Wang Fuk Court blaze, with Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong set to take on the housing portfolio as well.
Mr Lee spoke at a 2.45pm press conference in the underground lecture theatre at Central Government Offices on Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, after the independent committee probing the No. 5 alarm fire submitted its report last week. Officials present included Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Security Secretary Tang Ping-keung, Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun, Ms Ho and Development Secretary Bernadette Linn.
The Tai Po Home Ownership Scheme estate fire on 26th November 2025 killed 168 people. The panel sat for about nine months, held 30 hearings and produced a report of more than ten chapters, spanning some 800 to 900 pages and about 330,000 words. It sets out findings on how the blaze started and grew, and names responsibility among four government departments whose regulatory failings emerged at the hearings, including civil servants identified there. Separate chapters address construction-material standards and measures against bid-rigging.
Mr Lee had earlier said the administration would study the report carefully and, in short order, publish a full reform plan and spell out how accountability would work. Follow-up is expected on three tracks. Criminal inquiries are already under way, with people linked to the fire facing charges. On administrative accountability, an investigation team is in place and a second-level probe under the departmental-head responsibility system is due to begin. Political accountability forms the third strand, of which Ms Ho’s resignation is the clearest signal so far.
To tackle long-running problems in building maintenance works, the government plans to table Buildings Ordinance amendment proposals in the Legislative Council before the end of this year. Officials say the package would shift away from heavy reliance on industry self-regulation towards more active government scrutiny of approvals, inspections and oversight, and would sharply raise the maximum fines for breaches.
The disaster has also sharpened concern over bid-rigging in estate renovation contracts. The administration is studying legislation to outlaw such practices in building maintenance works and treat them as criminal offences. The Competition Commission has previously suggested jail terms of up to seven to ten years for organised bid-rigging and related improper dealings, arguing that tougher penalties would help restore a fairer market.
Mr Lee has repeatedly stressed that anyone found responsible — inside or outside government, senior or junior — would face fair consequences once the facts are established. The government will set up a steering committee led by Mr Chan to review the independent panel’s recommendations, drive their implementation and supervise the reform measures as they take effect.