The fire swept through seven high-rise buildings in the complex, killing at least 151 people. More than 30 others are still unaccounted for.
The complex had been undergoing renovation work since last year. Authorities said the fire appears to have started in protective netting covering the scaffolding erected around the buildings. They said flammable foam boards used in the repair project may have helped spread the flames.
Residents said that from the beginning, they repeatedly conveyed to authorities their concerns over the use of flammable materials.
But they said the authorities just called on a construction company in charge of the renovations to take appropriate fire prevention measures and didn’t order the firm to stop its work on the grounds that the netting it used was up to fire-safety standards. The residents said the authorities didn’t take any steps concerning foam boards, either.
An architect who has been working with residents on the matter said, because there were concerns about a fire, the authorities were obliged to order the replacement of materials in accordance with laws. He said one of the major reasons the fire broke out is the government didn’t take appropriate steps.
Hong Kong’s chief secretary Eric Chan spoke at a news conference on Monday. He didn’t respond to the criticism of the government’s approach to the issue. He denounced the construction company, saying it deceived the government by using substandard materials in areas that inspectors had difficulty accessing.
