Hong Kong security chief vows accountability, reforms ahead of Tai Po fire report

The Fire Services Department will bear “ultimate responsibility” for following up on fire safety complaints across Hong Kong, the security chief has said, pledging legal reforms after the deadly Tai Po blaze, as an independent committee’s report is expected to identify the department as among those responsible.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung made the pledge a day after the judge-led committee submitted its final report to the government. Sources said the report would identify failings by the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department, the Labour Department and the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit that contributed to the blaze.

During earlier public evidential hearings, counsel for the committee criticised the Fire Services Department for failing to detect that the housing estate’s fire alarm system had been deactivated and for avoiding its statutory duties.

Speaking on a radio programme on Friday, Tang said the government had taken steps to address the shortcomings and would hold those responsible fully accountable.

“Over the past year, we have implemented many administrative measures on [handling] large-scale fires and fire alarm device malfunctions. A series of legal reforms will be rolled out too,” he said.

“The Fire Services Department has admitted its ‘ultimate responsibility’, which means when anyone files a complaint about fire [safety] to the department, even if it’s not directly under our purview, we would follow up until another department takes over.”

Following the blaze, the department stepped up inspections of fire services installations and put forward legislative proposals to strengthen their regulation.

Asked whether he or his colleagues were mentally prepared to be held accountable for the fire, Tang cited Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s pledge that “anyone found to be responsible will be held accountable”.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 26, 2025, killed 168 people and displaced almost 5,000.

The South China Morning Post earlier learned that a redacted version of the report could be made public as early as next week.

Separately, Tang said Hong Kong would remain vigilant ahead of the Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen in mid-November, as visits by political leaders would inevitably pose security risks to the city.

He said authorities would prepare for potential attempts to enter the mainland via Hong Kong to carry out dangerous and illegal activities, as well as drone flights from the city aimed at disrupting the summit.

They would also prepare for possible visits to Hong Kong by leaders or dignitaries, although he expected any impact on the public to be limited.

Drawing comparisons with social unrest in France, Tang said Hong Kong was capable of managing similar situations, but he urged the public to remain vigilant even in peaceful times and think critically to avoid being incited, given potential national security risks.