Private stakeholders bear main responsibility for Tai Po fire

A barrister representing the government at the Wang Fuk Court's public hearing says private stakeholders should take up primary responsibility for the Tai Po fire. The statement is made during the closing submission of the Independent Committee's hearing investigating the Tai Po fire.

The second day of the closing submission hearing resumes at Central City Gallery. Jenkin Suen, the senior counsel representing the government, begins his closing address.

Suen says the government shows determination in uncovering the truth through multiple aspects, including the submission of over one million documents to the committee. Suen stresses that the fire is caused by direct and indirect factors which the committee should not overlook when drawing up its report. He says the government's role lies in supervision, whereas owners and professionals, such as contractors, carry the main responsibility.

Suen states that the decision to appoint Prestige and Will Power as their contractor and consultant for Wang Fuk Court's renovation rests with the owners and has nothing to do with the government bureaus. The barrister says that the public cannot rely on authorities to interfere with everything, and instead, stakeholders need to act with discipline.

In his address, Suen lists six contributing factors that accelerate the spread of the blaze, including non-fire-retardant scaffolding mesh and ineffective fire services equipment. Speaking of the mesh, Suen says it was not negligence, but describes it as an "organised, planned act" of Prestige, who "compromises the safety of hundreds of residents just because of lower costs."

He says Prestige "implemented deliberate acts to deceive regulatory authorities." As to what areas of improvement the government can make, Suen says a "disciplinary mechanism" cannot guard against collaborative deception. But he says that cross-department communication can be enhanced, which requires a more suitable mechanism.

Suen notes the government has implemented some improvement measures after the fire. That includes tightened regulations on fire service installation shutdown notices.

Jeffrey Tam, the barrister representing Wang Fuk Court residents, says many of his clients are annoyed by some stakeholders seen as shifting responsibility. But Tam says they hope the committee will uncover the truth.