HK races to remove mesh blamed for fuelling deadly fire

Hong Kong authorities are rushing to remove all mesh netting on buildings undergoing renovation across the city after the materials were blamed for fanning a blaze that has killed at least 159 people.

The government late on Wednesday ordered the immediate removal of scaffolding nets on all public and private residential buildings by Saturday, to "protect public safety and put residents and businesses' minds at ease."

The move comes as authorities investigate the cause of the city's deadliest fire in decades, having pointed to mesh as fuelling an inferno that engulfed seven high-rise apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court complex last Wednesday.

Renovation work across the financial hub will effectively grind to a standstill for an undefined period of time as inspectors verify the netting meets safety standards.

Police have arrested a total of 21 people in their probe into the fire.

Among them are 15 from various construction companies suspected of manslaughter, including two directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction, the main contractor at Wang Fuk Court.

A further six from the fire service installation contractor have been arrested on suspicion of fraud.

Authorities said substandard plastic mesh and insulation foam used during renovation work at the doomed estate likely fuelled the 40-hour inferno, while fire alarms were also not operating properly.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court, home to 4600 people, were told by authorities in 2024 they faced "relatively low fire risks" after they complained about fire hazards posed by the renovations, the city's Labour Department said.

In response to calls for transparency and accountability, city leader John Lee has also ordered a judge-led committee to investigate the fire and review oversight of building renovations.

More than 200 private buildings, along with more than 10 public housing and government buildings would have to remove the netting, Development Secretary Bernadette Linn said on Wednesday, adding that contractors must bear the costs.

Hong Kong's building department aims to issue a new code of practice next week, requiring all scaffold net materials to be sampled on site.

The nets will only be installed after being certified by designated laboratories as compliant with relevant requirements.

Authorities are also investigating suspected false safety documents for netting from a Shandong-based manufacturer used at two renovation sites in the city.

Prestige, the main contractor at Wang Fuk Court, was involved in renovations work at one of those sites, according to authorities and notices at the site seen by Reuters.

Prestige did not respond to calls and letters left at their shuttered offices.

Of the 159 bodies found since the Wang Fuk Court blaze, authorities say 140 have been identified - 91 females and 49 males, aged between one and 97 years.

Foreign domestic helpers from Indonesia and the Philippines are among 31 people still missing.

More than 2900 residents have been put in temporary accommodation, the government said, with 1152 staying in hostels, camps or hotel rooms.

Another 1765 residents have moved into transitional housing units.