Hong Kong charges 7 people over apartment fire that killed 168

Key Points:

• Hong Kong authorities charged seven individuals and two building companies with manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, and other offenses related to the deadliest fire in decades that killed 168 people in Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, 2025.
• The accused include directors of Will Power Architects Company and Prestige Construction & Engineering Co., the main contractor for the renovation project underway during the fire, with allegations of negligence such as using non-fire-retardant materials that contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.
• Charges also involve money laundering, tax evasion, and attempts to pervert public justice, with authorities alleging fraudulent practices like concealing litigation records to secure the renovation contract worth over HK$300 million (over $38 million).
• Investigations revealed that some defendants conspired to defraud both apartment owners and the government by falsifying inspection records for multiple building maintenance projects beyond Wang Fuk Court.
• Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have arrested 35 people so far, and further law enforcement actions are not ruled out as the case proceeds, with the next court hearing scheduled for September.