BEIJING: Mainlanders have joined their compatriots in Hong Kong in an outpouring of grief and support as investigations and relief efforts continue into the fatal fire that ravaged Wang Fuk Court.
As of 4 pm local time on Sunday, the fire at the residential complex in Tai Po had left 146 dead, according to Hong Kong police.
So far, the government support funds for the fire have reached HK$1.1 billion ($141.3 million), with HK$800 million coming from donations from dozens of major listed companies and charitable foundations across the country and HK$300 million from government grants, according to Cheuk Wing-hing, deputy chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
The People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, has opened a “green lane” for RMB donations originating on the mainland to ensure they instantly reach the recipient account in Hong Kong. According to the PBOC, this arrangement aims to support the search and rescue work, treatment of the injured and relief efforts.
John Lee Ka-chiu, the HKSAR’s chief executive, along with principal officials of the HKSAR government and civil servants, participated in a memorial service at the government headquarters on Saturday.
With the national flag and the HKSAR flag hoisted at half-staff, all officials present observed a three-minute silence in mourning for the fire victims.
During a three-day mourning period, the HKSAR government will set up condolence points in all 18 districts across the city, enabling the public to sign condolence books and mourn the victims.
A task force to investigate possible corruption in the renovation project was also launched, following the police’s arrest of three senior staff members of renovation company Prestige Construction and Engineering Co, for alleged manslaughter.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption, Hong Kong’s anti-graft body, said it had arrested eight individuals in connection with the fire, including an engineering consultant, a scaffolding subcontractor, and an intermediary. Authorities also met with industry representatives to discuss the phasing out of bamboo scaffolding, commonly used in building work in the city, in favor of metal alternatives.
Meanwhile, a nationwide inspection of fire hazards in high-rise residential and public buildings has been announced. In a notice issued on Saturday, the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, China’s Cabinet, instructed local governments to immediately carry out checks and fix problems in occupied residential towers, office buildings, hospitals and shopping complexes. The campaign aims to prevent accidents linked to renovation work, aging facilities and blocked evacuation routes, the committee said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
