Manslaughter Charges Filed After Hong Kong Blaze That Claimed 168 Lives

Hong Kong authorities have charged seven individuals and two companies with a range of offences, including manslaughter , conspiracy to defraud , money laundering, tax evasion and attempting to pervert the course of justice, in connection with the devastating Wang Fuk Court fire that killed 168 people and became the city's deadliest blaze in decades.

The fire erupted on November 26, 2025, at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the suburban district of Tai Po. The blaze rapidly spread through seven of the estate's eight apartment towers, forcing mass evacuations and leaving thousands displaced. One firefighter was among those killed, while dozens of others were injured. The disaster was the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since the 1948 Wing On warehouse blaze and the first No. 5 alarm fire in the city since 2008.

In a statement released on Wednesday, police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said the suspects face a total of 25 charges. The accused allegedly played various roles in a major renovation project underway at the housing estate when the fire broke out. Authorities charged consultancy firm Will Power Architects Company and main contractor Prestige Construction & Engineering Co. , along with seven individuals, including company directors and a registered building inspector.

The defendants Wong Hap-yin, Hau Wa-kin, Ho Kin-yip, Ng Yeuk, Hung Kwok-wai, Chung So-fan and Lin Min appeared in court on Wednesday and indicated that they understood the charges. Most appeared calm during the proceedings.

The latest charges are part of a sweeping investigation launched after the tragedy. Police had earlier arrested 38 people in connection with the fire, while the anti-graft agency detained 23 others over suspected bribery and fraud offences linked to the renovation works. Nine people have now been formally charged.

Investigators and inquiry hearings have pointed to serious fire safety failures at the complex. Evidence presented so far suggests that almost all fire-safety systems failed on the day of the disaster, while authorities have examined allegations involving defective alarm systems, potentially non-compliant fire-resistant materials and other construction-related safety violations. Officials have previously stated that human error played a major role in the scale of the catastrophe.