AdvertisementHong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedyHong KongSocietyFairness pledged as Hong Kong residents seek answers in Tai Po fire inquiry
Judge David Lok starts first meeting with minute of silence to mourn fire victims
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Fiona Chow,Jess MaandLeopold Chen
A judge heading an independent inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has pledged a fair and thorough investigation, as some residents urged the committee at its first meeting to identify those responsible.
The meeting began at 10am on Thursday with a minute of silence to mourn the victims of the fire that claimed at least 168 lives and displaced nearly 5,000 residents at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po last November.
Judge David Lok Kai-hong, who chaired the meeting, then gave an overview of the committee’s work leading up to the session.
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He noted that other legal proceedings, including criminal and civil cases, and coroner’s inquiry, were under way, saying the committee’s work should minimise its impact on such processes.
“In other words, we do not wish for the committee’s work to affect any defendants’ right to a fair trial, or allow anyone to evade the legal responsibilities they should bear,” he said.
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Held at the City Gallery in Central, the session focused on arrangements for the coming hearings, as well as outlining the probe’s road map.
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