Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee apologized on Thursday for a November 2025 high-rise fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that killed 168 people, and Housing Secretary Winnie Ho resigned, BBC reported; AP also reported the resignation after an inquiry found inadequate oversight^1,2.

Lee said he was deeply sorrowful and apologized to victims and residents, then bowed with senior officials, BBC said¹. An independent committee’s report, released with the news conference, found the fire was likely started by a glowing source, probably a cigarette, that ignited paper materials at a complex under renovation¹.

The report said contractors used substandard materials and unsafe methods, including scaffolding nets that were not fire retardant, and used false paperwork to appear compliant¹. It also described long-standing unlawful practices in construction and said government bodies lacked a sense of crisis¹.

Lee said agencies involved would be investigated, an independent-check unit in the housing bureau would be replaced, and the government would move to criminalize bid-rigging¹. What remains unknown is how many of those promised legal changes will be enacted and the status of manslaughter and fraud cases already opened¹.