Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said Thursday he had accepted the resignation of Housing Secretary Winnie Ho over last year's fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which killed 168 people^1,2. The South China Morning Post headline said the resignation took effect immediately⁵.

Lee and other principal officials apologized and bowed at a news conference at Central Government Offices, RTHK and Hong Kong Free Press reported^1,2. Lee said Ho had committed no personal wrongdoing but must bear political responsibility as housing secretary¹.

"As chief executive and head of the government, I am deeply saddened," Lee said, according to RTHK¹. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, who leads the government's long-term resettlement task force for survivors, will serve as acting secretary for housing^1,2.

The blaze on Nov. 26, 2025, spread through seven towers at the government-subsidized estate during renovation work and displaced more than 4,600 residents, Hong Kong Free Press reported². Channel NewsAsia, citing agencies, described it as Hong Kong's deadliest fire since 1948⁴.

Lee said an independent committee that investigated the fire had made 120 recommendations, including measures against collusive tendering in building maintenance, according to Hong Kong Free Press². Dimsum Daily said the panel sat for about nine months, held 30 hearings and produced a report of some 800 to 900 pages after submitting it last week³.

Public hearings had pointed to shared regulatory failings at the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit, the Fire Services Department, the Buildings Department and the Labour Department, Hong Kong Free Press reported². Channel NewsAsia said Lee attributed partial responsibility to four government bodies⁴.

Hong Kong Free Press quoted the committee report as saying the failings were systemic and that works contractor Prestige Construction & Engineering and project consultant Will Power Architects had overall responsibility for the renovation². Dimsum Daily said criminal inquiries were already under way, a departmental-head accountability probe was due to begin, and Ho's resignation was the first clear political-accountability step³.

Dimsum Daily said the government plans to table Buildings Ordinance amendments this year and is studying legislation to treat bid-rigging in maintenance works as a criminal offense, with a steering committee under Financial Secretary Paul Chan to review the panel's recommendations³. Channel NewsAsia said Ho was the first official to resign over the fire⁴.