3 Dec 2025明報#7625
Tai Po Wang Fuk Court No. 5 Alarm Fire | National Security Office condemns disruption of disaster relief and fomenting division under guise of “petitioning on behalf of the people”
駐港國家安全公署表示，有境外敵對勢力及反中亂港分子擾亂本港大埔火災的救災善後，試圖複製「修例風波」手法，強調國安法正「張網以待」，無論身處國外或台灣「雖遠必誅」。
駐港國家安全公署指，大埔宏福苑火災發生後，在中央有關部門全力支持下，香港特區政府快速、專業救災，社會積極響應。惟「一小撮外部敵對勢力藉災生事」 ，以「為民請願」的旗號複製「修例風波」手法，以香港「代理人」擾亂救災善後，妄圖重現「黑暴」亂象。
The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said that foreign hostile forces and anti-China, anti-Hong Kong elements had disrupted disaster relief and follow-up work after the Tai Po fire, attempting to replicate the tactics of the “amendment bill turmoil”. It stressed that the National Security Law was “laying its net and waiting”, and that whether they were overseas or in Taiwan, they would be punished no matter how far away.
The office said that after the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, with the full support of relevant central government departments, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government had carried out disaster relief rapidly and professionally, while society had responded actively. However, “a small number of external hostile forces have exploited the disaster to cause trouble”, using the banner of “petitioning on behalf of the people” to replicate the tactics of the “amendment bill turmoil”, disrupting disaster relief and follow-up work through Hong Kong “agents” and attempting to recreate the chaos of “black-clad violence”.
3 Dec 2025集誌社#7626
Wang Fuk Court five-alarm fire | Annual inspection finds “minor damage” to fire service installations; FSD requested follow-up a week before blaze
宏福苑五級火造成多人傷亡，多名居民指火警發生時警鐘沒響。警方今宣布再拘捕六名消防承辦商，涉就消防系統、消防栓等作虛假陳述，向消防部門訛稱維修期間消防火警鐘不會熄滅。消防處回覆查詢指過去一年，沒接獲關閉屋苑八幢大廈關閉火警警報系統通知，而大火後測試顯示系統未處於有效運作，但據前線救援和現場所得資料，宏新閣警鐘在火警期間曾鳴響，指會繼續調查其餘七幢大廈警報系統於火警時狀況。
外界關注火警期間宏福苑的消防裝置及設備狀態，以及消防處過去巡查和執法情況。處方回覆指屋苑於 2025 年 3 月委託註冊消防承辦商完成年檢，顯示個別樓層的消防裝置及設備有「輕微損壞」、但符合處方規定，處方於 10 月底和火警前一周，仍要求屋苑跟進修復。
The five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court caused multiple casualties, and several residents said the fire alarms did not sound when the fire broke out. Police today announced the arrest of six more fire service contractors over alleged false representations concerning fire service systems, fire hydrants and other matters. They allegedly told the Fire Services Department that the fire alarm bells would not be switched off during repairs. In response to enquiries, the department said it had not received any notification in the past year that the fire alarm systems in the estate’s eight blocks had been shut down. Tests after the fire showed that the systems were not in effective operation. However, based on information from frontline rescuers and gathered at the scene, the alarm in Wang Sun House did sound during the fire. The department said it would continue investigating the condition of the alarm systems in the other seven blocks during the fire.
Public attention has focused on the condition of Wang Fuk Court’s fire service installations and equipment during the fire, as well as the Fire Services Department’s inspections and enforcement in the past. The department said the estate commissioned a registered fire service installation contractor to complete an annual inspection in March 2025. The inspection showed that fire service installations and equipment on individual floors had “minor damage”, but complied with the department’s requirements. The department nevertheless requested that the estate follow up on repairs at the end of October and again one week before the fire.
3 Dec 2025法庭線#7630
Five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court; Chief Executive sets up independent commission; Ronald Ding Bong Leung: Witnesses can remain silent, making accountability difficult
行政長官李家超周二（2 日）宣布將成立由法官主持的獨立委員會，審視宏福苑起火及迅速蔓延原因。特首辦其後補充指，委員會運作類似 2003 年屯門公路、2018 年大埔公路車禍的調查（見另稿）。翻查資料，就兩宗事故所成立的委員會，均沒傳召等法定權力。
曾任監警會、證監會主席的資深大律師梁定邦接受《法庭線》訪問指，若委員會的目的是審視制度，「冇權力嘅委員會係 OK 㗎」；但若目的包括問責，則可能遇上困難。他解釋，獨立委員會沒法定權力，無法保障證人不會因作供而須承擔法律責任，變相即使他肯作證，亦未必願意如實交代，「我唔想講，我想保持沉默，咁普通法係可以保持沉默」。
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday (2nd) that an independent commission chaired by a judge would be established to examine the cause of the fire at Wang Fuk Court and why it spread rapidly. The Chief Executive’s Office later added that the commission’s operation would be similar to the inquiries into the 2003 Tuen Mun Highway and 2018 Tai Po Road traffic accidents (see separate report). Records show that the commissions established for the two accidents did not have statutory powers such as the power to summon witnesses.
Senior Counsel Ronald Ding Bong Leung, a former chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Council and the Securities and Futures Commission, told The Witness that if the commission’s purpose was to examine the system, “a commission without powers is OK”; but if its purpose also included accountability, it could encounter difficulties. He explained that an independent commission without statutory powers could not guarantee that witnesses would not incur legal liability as a result of giving evidence. Consequently, even if a witness was willing to testify, they might not be willing to give a truthful account: “I don’t want to speak. I want to remain silent. Under common law, I can remain silent.”
2 Dec 2025集誌社#7618
Wang Fuk Court Five-Alarm Fire｜‘One Social Worker per Household’ to Notify Victims of New Polling Station Arrangements; Chan Kwok-ki Does Not Respond on Not Setting Up Independent Commission of Inquiry
行政長官李家超今公布將如期舉行立法會選舉，當局下午進一步交代安排。政務司司長陳國基指明、後日將恢復八場功能界別選舉論壇，會「適當地」問候選人對災後處理意見，會取消繽紛日等「歡樂性」節目，但保留資訊性展覽和生活性的優惠，強調「立法會選舉和幫助災民是雙軌並行」。而受火災影響的區內三個票站會重置，當局指會主動透過一戶一社工人員，通知受災居民新的投票站安排，並會視乎其投票意願，安排合適交通工具接送前往票站進行投票。
有記者問陳國基為何當局堅持不成立獨立調查委員會，在未有法定傳召權下，有否措施確保部門會配合？新聞官一度介入，指提問應集中於選舉安排，陳國基未有回應相關問題。
Chief Executive John Lee announced today that the Legislative Council election would be held as scheduled, with the authorities providing further details in the afternoon. Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki said that, starting the day after tomorrow, eight functional constituency election forums would resume. Candidates would be asked, ‘as appropriate’, for their views on handling the aftermath of the disaster. Entertainment programmes such as Colourful Day would be cancelled, while informational exhibitions and lifestyle-related discounts would be retained. He stressed that ‘the Legislative Council election and helping disaster victims will proceed on two parallel tracks’. The three polling stations in the affected area would be relocated, and the authorities said they would proactively notify affected residents of the new polling station arrangements through the ‘one social worker per household’ service. Depending on their willingness to vote, suitable transport would be arranged to take them to the polling stations. A reporter asked Chan Kwok-ki why the authorities insisted on not setting up an independent commission of inquiry, and whether there were measures to ensure that departments would cooperate in the absence of statutory powers to summon witnesses. A press officer intervened, saying that questions should focus on the election arrangements, and Chan Kwok-ki did not respond to the question.
2 Dec 2025法庭線#7623
Wang Fuk Court fire: Public concerned over whether independent committee can summon witnesses; Chief Executive’s Office says operation similar to 2018 Tai Po bus crash
行政長官李家超周二（2 日）出席行政會議前見記者，宣布將成立由一名法官主持的「獨立委員會」，「審視」大埔宏福苑大火、迅速蔓延的原因﹐並指會全面公開調查報告。（見另稿）
《法庭線》向特首辦查詢，有關「獨立委員會」的法定權力。特首辦晚上回覆，未有正面回應委員會有否傳召權，稱其運作類似過往大型事故的調查，包括 2003 年屯門公路車禍、2018 年大埔公路車禍，又強調成立「獨立委員會」的目的之一，是「繼續全力提速提效推展調查工作，包括刑事調查」。
翻查資料，2003 年屯門公路車禍，由時任特首董建華委任「獨立專家小組」，檢討公路安全措施；2018 年大埔九巴車禍，則由時任特首林鄭月娥成立「檢討委員會」，審視專營巴士的監管及監察制度，兩者均沒有法定傳召權。
Chief Executive John Lee met the press before Tuesday’s (2nd) Executive Council meeting and announced that an “independent committee”, chaired by a judge, would be established to “review” the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire and the reasons for its rapid spread. He said the investigation report would be made fully public. (See separate report.)
The Witness asked the Chief Executive’s Office about the statutory powers of the “independent committee”. In a reply that evening, the office did not directly address whether the committee would have the power to summon witnesses. It said the committee’s operation would be similar to investigations into major accidents in the past, including the 2003 Tuen Mun Road crash and the 2018 Tai Po Road bus crash. It also stressed that one of the purposes of establishing the “independent committee” was to “continue to make every effort to accelerate and enhance the investigation work, including the criminal investigation”.
According to archival information, following the 2003 Tuen Mun Road crash, then Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa appointed an “Independent Expert Group” to review road safety measures. Following the 2018 Tai Po KMB bus crash, then Chief Executive Carrie Lam established a “Review Committee” to examine the regulation and monitoring systems for franchised buses. Neither had statutory power to summon witnesses.
1 Dec 2025集誌社#7617
Wang Fuk Court five-alarm fire | Peggy Pik Kiu Wong issues “solemn statement”, to report to police and ask police, ICAC to investigate current owners’ corporation
宏福苑大火後，有聲音質疑民建聯大埔南區議員黃碧嬌曾是大維修推手，需為事件負責；民建聯昨再發聲明，指若證實包括黃碧嬌在內的成員存在違法行為，「絕不姑息」。黃碧嬌今日（12月1日）下午發「嚴正聲明」，指決定向警務處報案，要求立即調查事件是否涉現屆法團瀆職、隱瞞安全風險等嚴重罪行，另要求 ICAC 徹查現屆法團是否涉貪污瀆職，致消防設備長期失修。
翻查資料，大維修方案是在 2024 年 1 月獲上屆法團通過，當時黃碧嬌為法團事務顧問；業主反對不果下，在同年 9 月大比數罷免舊法團，期時維修工程已展開。《集誌社》正就事件向現屆法團查詢。
After the Wang Fuk Court fire, some questioned whether DAB Tai Po South District councillor Peggy Pik Kiu Wong, who had been a driving force behind the major renovation project, should be held responsible for the incident. The DAB issued another statement yesterday, saying that if members, including Peggy Pik Kiu Wong, were found to have engaged in unlawful conduct, it would show “absolutely no leniency”. This afternoon (December 1), Peggy Pik Kiu Wong issued a “solemn statement”, saying that they had decided to report the matter to the Police Force and request an immediate investigation into whether the current owners’ corporation was involved in serious offences including dereliction of duty and concealing safety risks. They also asked the ICAC to conduct a thorough investigation into whether the current owners’ corporation was involved in corruption and dereliction of duty, resulting in the fire safety equipment being left in disrepair for a prolonged period.
Records show that the major renovation plan was approved by the previous owners’ corporation in January 2024, when Peggy Pik Kiu Wong was an adviser on owners’ corporation affairs. After owners failed to oppose it, the previous owners’ corporation was voted out by a large majority in September of the same year; by then, the renovation works had begun. The Collective is making enquiries with the current owners’ corporation about the incident.
29 Nov 2025Yahoo#7609
Wang Fuk Court No. 5 Alarm Fire | Volunteer says police blocked Kwong Fook Estate podium entrances and exits at 5am, ordered all supplies cleared by noon
大埔宏福苑周三（26 日）下午發生五級火警，火警中有 128 人死亡，大量災民無家可歸。全港市民自發捐贈物資，其中有義工在廣福邨平台設置物資站，幫助災民解決所需。
有現場義工向《Yahoo新聞》表示，警方今日（29 日）凌晨 5 時派出警員站在廣福邨平台所有出入口，指示義工立刻開始執拾物資，在中午前搬到指定位置或交由機構接收。
有市民收到消息後，趕至廣福平台幫忙收拾，惟在平台入口被駐守警員攔下，被告知平台只出不入。經義工溝通後，義工才可帶其他市民進入平台幫忙。
A No. 5 alarm fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Wednesday (26th), killing 128 people and leaving many affected residents homeless. Members of the public across Hong Kong spontaneously donated supplies, and volunteers set up a supply station on the podium at Kwong Fook Estate to help meet the residents’ needs.
A volunteer at the scene told Yahoo News that at 5am today (29th), police officers stood at all entrances and exits of the Kwong Fook Estate podium and instructed volunteers to immediately start packing up the supplies, move them to a designated location or hand them over to organisations before noon.
After receiving the message, some members of the public rushed to the Kwong Fook podium to help pack up, but were stopped by officers stationed at the podium entrance and told that the podium was for exit only, with no entry. After volunteers communicated with the officers, they were allowed to bring other members of the public onto the podium to help.
29 Nov 2025明報#7611
Tai Po Wang Fuk Court five-alarm fire | National security office backs punishing “anti-China, anti-Hong Kong elements” for “using disaster to cause chaos in Hong Kong”
大埔宏福苑五級火釀重大死傷，各界續支援災民。駐港國安公署發言人今日（29日）下午發表談話，支持香港政府「依法嚴懲反中亂港分子『以災亂港』」；又說「堅決反制任何外部勢力的插手幹預」及「堅決捍衛香港來之不易的繁榮穩定大勢」。
國安公署發言人表示，「反中亂港分子和別有用心者仍蠢蠢欲動、伺機作亂」，指其「泯滅人性」、「罔顧事實」，散播假訊息，惡意攻擊港府救援工作，挑動社會分化對立，煽動對行政長官李家超和政府的怨恨。國安公署續指有關人等「挾民痛、忤民意」，稱其利用災民的悲痛達政治目的，令香港重回「修例風波亂局」以及「讓香港再現『黑暴』至暗時刻」。國安公署認為「反中亂港分子」用心「險惡」、行徑「卑劣」，「為人神所共憤」，需受道德和法律嚴懲。
The five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po caused major casualties, while support for those affected by the disaster continued. A spokesperson for the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said this afternoon (29th) that it supported the Hong Kong Government in “severely punishing anti-China, anti-Hong Kong elements for ‘using disaster to cause chaos in Hong Kong’ in accordance with the law”. The spokesperson also said the office would “resolutely counter any interference and intervention by external forces” and “resolutely safeguard Hong Kong’s hard-won overall trend of prosperity and stability”.
The spokesperson said that “anti-China, anti-Hong Kong elements and people with ulterior motives remain poised to act and are seeking opportunities to cause trouble”. It accused them of being “devoid of humanity” and “disregarding the facts”, spreading false information, maliciously attacking the Hong Kong Government’s rescue efforts, fomenting social division and confrontation, and inciting hatred of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and the Government. The office further said that these people were “exploiting the people’s pain and defying public opinion”, using disaster victims’ grief to pursue political objectives, and causing Hong Kong to return to the turmoil of “the controversy over the amendments to the law” and allowing the “darkest hour of ‘black-clad violence’” to re-emerge. The office said the intentions of the “anti-China, anti-Hong Kong elements” were “sinister” and their conduct “despicable”, and that they were “universally condemned”; they must face severe moral and legal punishment.
28 Nov 2025集誌社#7600
Wang Fuk Court No. 5 alarm fire｜Labour Department says scaffold-net “certificate” met fire-retardant standard; inspected six days before incident｜Any officials to step down? Chief Executive: task force will strengthen regulation
宏福苑五級火至周五早上造成 94 人死亡，有市民去年曾就屋苑棚網安全向勞工處投訴，勞工處曾巡查 16 次，回覆投訴人指檢視了棚網「產品質量證書」資料，顯示阻燃效能符合勞工處《竹棚守則》認可標準。勞工處最近一次巡查，是在本月 20 日，即意外發生前六日，巡查後「書面提醒」承建商採取防火措施。特首李家超昨（27日）被問及會否有官員問責下台？李家超沒直接回應，只表示怎更強化規管，工作組會推行。
The No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court had caused 94 deaths by Friday morning. A resident had complained to the Labour Department last year about the safety of the estate’s scaffold nets. The department conducted 16 inspections and replied that it had reviewed the scaffold nets’ “product quality certificate” information, which showed that their fire-retardant performance met the recognised standards under the Labour Department’s Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding. The department’s most recent inspection took place on the 20th of this month, six days before the incident; after the inspection, it “reminded the contractor in writing” to take fire-prevention measures. Asked yesterday (27th) whether any officials would be held accountable and step down, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu did not respond directly, saying only that the task force would implement measures to further strengthen regulation.
28 Nov 2025法庭線#7603
Five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court: Two departments’ codes say scaffolding nets “should possess” flame-retardant properties; industry says requirement is not mandatory and only certificates are checked
大埔宏福苑五級火奪去至少 128 人性命，政府指初步化驗棚網顯示達到阻燃要求，但社會關注政府如何監管。《法庭線》翻查屋宇署及勞工處的守則與指引，發現對棚網等阻燃要求的規定，字眼為「應採用」、「應具備」，當中《建築物消防安全守則》中英版意思不一，中文版為「必須使用」，惟英文版字眼為 “should be used”。
兩部門近日都表示就阻燃規定執法。不過港九搭棚同敬工會理事長何炳德、香港執業安全師學會會長李光昇指出，棚網阻燃性並非法定要求，僅在守則有提及，若不跟從不一定違法。而實際操作上，「既然唔係法例要求，就唔會有所謂形式點去做」，當局一般巡查時只會檢查由供應商提供的證書，不會另安排測試，因涉危險亦不會在地盤燃燒實測。
The five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po claimed the lives of at least 128 people. The government said preliminary laboratory tests showed that the scaffolding nets met flame-retardant requirements, but public concern remains over how the government regulates them. The Witness reviewed the codes and guidelines of the Buildings Department and Labour Department and found that their requirements for the flame-retardant properties of scaffolding nets and other materials use wording such as “should be used” and “should possess”. The Chinese and English versions of the Fire Safety Code of Practice for Buildings also differ in meaning: the Chinese version says “must be used”, while the English version says “should be used”.
Both departments have recently said they enforce the flame-retardant requirements. However, the chairpersons of the Gang Jau Daap Pang Tung Ging Gung Wui and the Hong Kong Institute of Safety Professionals, Ping Tak Ho and Kwong Sing Lee, said that the flame-retardant properties of scaffolding nets are not a statutory requirement, but are mentioned only in the codes; failure to follow them is therefore not necessarily unlawful. In practice, they said, “since it isn’t a legal requirement, there is no prescribed way of doing it, so to speak”. During routine inspections, the authorities generally check only certificates provided by suppliers. They do not arrange separate testing, and will not conduct burn tests on site because of the danger involved.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
