Hong Kong leader apologises over Wang Fuk Court fire as inquiry finds four government bodies partly responsible

Lee bowed with seven other officials at a news conference releasing the independent committee's report of more than 1,000 pages, Reuters reported. "On behalf of the SAR government, I offer my apologies to the victims and the public at large," he said. The report said four government bodies "should bear part of the responsibility" for the high death toll, with the Housing Bureau bearing a greater share, AFP reported. Lee announced that Housing Secretary Winnie Ho had resigned, the first official to step down over the fire.

The committee found that no government department took effective ownership of fire safety complaints, and it detailed supervisory failings including widespread bid rigging, Reuters reported. Both agencies reported that the report said the fire was most likely started by a glowing source, likely a cigarette. The blaze tore through seven 31-storey blocks that were under renovation and wrapped in scaffolding and netting, Reuters reported.

Why it matters: It was Hong Kong's deadliest fire since 1948, Reuters reported, and residents had raised safety complaints about the renovation work for more than a year beforehand. Lee pledged extensive reforms to the building industry and its regulation.