What Went Wrong Before Hong Kong’s Inferno
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Residents of the Wang Fuk Court estate warned Hong Kong officials for years about a renovation project they believed was unsafe and involved flammable materials.
- The government had ordered repairs on the estate's eight aging towers, but residents accused the contractors of using substandard materials and charging excessive fees.
- Residents suspected a corrupt syndicate was controlling the project, with allegations that leaders of the owners’ board and construction firms prioritized profits over safety.
- They also claimed a politician was likely collaborating with the board's leaders, and one resident demonstrated the fire risk by burning a piece of the polystyrene foam used in the renovation.
- Despite these warnings, a fire eventually broke out, devastating the estate and causing multiple deaths among neighbors and friends.
