Police hotline ‘busy’, piles of rubbish at estate, residents say in Tai Po fire hearing

he fire at Wang Fuk Court killed 168 people.

Photo: Jelly Tse A public evidential hearing by an independent committee into a fire that killed 168 people at a Hong Kong estate has entered its fourth day, with more residents set to testify.

One resident who testified on Thursday said piles of rubbish were seen outside the building that first caught fire at Wang Fuk Court estate, while another who called police’s emergency hotline about the blaze said she had to wait “for a long time” before she could get through.

In the previous session, a lawyer for the government rejected “completely groundless” assertions that its surveyors conspired with a renovation contractor to conceal flammable materials used at the estate, suggesting the business lacked the time to plan such a deception before a crucial inspection.

Three Wang Fuk Court residents have already testified about their ordeal and said they regularly saw workers smoking at the estate while it was undergoing renovation before the fire.

Follow our live updates for the fourth day of the hearing. - Residents tell committee there was no alarm as Tai Po blaze broke out - as it happened - Tai Po fire hearing sheds light on potential corruption – as it happened - Public hearing outlines 6 key failures behind Tai Po fire – as it happened - Wang Fuk Court homeowners, residents to give evidence in fire probe

原文链接: 南华早报