Day 4 of Tai Po fire inquiry: harrowing testimony of escape failures and safety lapses at Wang Fuk Court
發佈日期: 2026-03-26 20:17
TVB News
Other harrowing testimonies highlighted escape failures and possible safety lapses at Wang Fuk Court.
Some exterior wall cleaners say they were never informed about the escape routes and waited overnight on the rooftop before being rescued.
Others noted water from the fire hose was only enough for "washing hands."
The independent committee looking into the inferno heard testimonies from George Cheung, who lived on the 10th floor of Wang Tai House.
Cheung had worked in engineering.
He recalled having raised concerns to the newly appointed owners' corporation about putting on scaffolding netting on all eight blocks at once, warning it could pose a "chain-fire" risk, and suggested phasing the works instead.
He noted his wife noticed that cigarette butts inside soda cans and cigarette packages littered the evacuation routes in the stairwell refuge openings between the 10th and 11th floors with smoke odours.
They reported the situation to contractors but the concerns were dismissed.
The contractors told them the packages might not be from the workers and could be from upstairs.
On the night of the blaze, he, his wife and a neighbour attempted to flee but were forced to wait nearly five hours for rescue.
He says when they opened the door at 8 p.m. and saw the firefighters donning helmet lights, it felt like they saw angels.
Another resident who lived on the 30th floor of Wang Kin House says he tried to use the fire hose while escaping.
But the water pressure was too weak to even soak his body -- only enough to wash his hands.
A victim of Wang Tai House who lost his parents in the inferno told the inquiry that he has knowledge of fire safety regulations as his work involves applications of restaurant licenses.
He says the materials used in the building's refuge openings, reportedly wooden boards, were not fire-resistant.
Also testified today were two exterior wall cleaners.
One of the workers said on the first day of work at Wang Fuk Court on November 14 last year, she had only received "safety training" for about an hour, covering basic protective gear, but was never instructed on fire escape procedures or evacuation routes.
She was trapped on the rooftop of Wang Cheong House overnight during the blaze before being extricated.
Also testifying, her colleague notes they could not find any fire safety equipment -- not even fire extinguishers in their vicinity.
A Wang Cheong House resident voiced frustration that key stakeholders including the contractors and district councillor Peggy Wong declined to testify, calling for greater accountability.
Others say they continue to be afflicted by psychological trauma following the incident and have been unable to return to work, urging the inquiry to uncover the truth as soon as possible.
