People versus power? Hong Kong’s fire fallout risks reopening societal divide

mfsplit - The burnt buildings and the sole unburnt one (far left) of Wang Fuk Court housing estate, site of the deadly blaze in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Dec 2, 2025.

CREDIT: COURTESY OF BENJAMIN THAM

The burnt buildings as well as the sole unburnt one (far left) in Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court housing estate on Dec 2.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BENJAMIN THAM

Magdalene Fung

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HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to uncover the truth behind the city’s deadliest blaze in decades, as he seeks to calm mounting public anger threatening to widen latent social divisions that have been on the mend since mass protests in 2019.

A judge-led independent committee will be set up to investigate the cause of

the fatal fire in Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po,

that has killed at least 156 people and left thousands homeless, Chief Executive John Lee said.

People versus power? Hong Kong’s fire fallout risks reopening societal divide

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