Hong Kong housing minister Winnie Ho steps down after fatal Tai Po blaze

Hong Kong Housing Secretary Winnie Ho has stepped down following a devastating apartment complex fire in the northern district of Tai Po that claimed 168 lives last year.

Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the resignation on Thursday as he bowed and offered an apology to affected families and the broader community. The announcement came alongside the release of an exhaustive judicial inquiry detailing broad administrative and oversight lapses across the city's building and renovation sectors.

The blaze occurred on November 26, 2025, sweeping through seven 31-storey towers at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate while the property was undergoing renovation work. The disaster marked the city's deadliest fire since 1948, leaving thousands of tenants displaced from ruined apartments. Of the victims who died, 114 were elderly residents aged 65 and older.

Ho represents the first senior leader to resign in connection with the catastrophe. While Lee noted that the tragedy did not stem from personal misconduct by Ho, he stated that the housing chief had to accept political accountability for shortcomings within the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit (ICU).

Authorities confirmed that the ICU will be disbanded and replaced by a dedicated public housing control unit overseeing both rental and subsidised homeownership developments. Three other public bodies—the Buildings Department, the Fire Services Department, and the Labour Department—were also identified as bearing partial responsibility. A distinct investigative unit has been established to review broader official conduct and recommend disciplinary measures.

The judicial panel's report, spanning more than 1,000 pages, determined that the disaster was caused by systemic breakdowns across five major areas. Investigators pointed to a persistent absence of urgency and an inability by officials to anticipate obvious hazards. The inquiry highlighted severe regulatory gaps, such as the absence of smoking prohibitions on construction sites and nonexistent standards regarding inflammable scaffolding screens and foam insulation panels.

Investigators found that the primary blame rested on contractor Prestige Construction & Engineering Co Ltd alongside project consultant Will Power Architects Co Ltd. At least 25 criminal charges, spanning manslaughter, tax evasion, fraud conspiracy, and money laundering, have been brought against the two corporate entities and seven individuals. The panel also exposed a corrupt construction network marred by fraudulent contract bidding tied to organised crime syndicates.

To address the findings, the administration plans to introduce severe legal penalties for construction bid-rigging, including prison terms of up to a decade and fines reaching HK$10 million. Chief Secretary Eric Chan will lead a steering group tasked with implementing regulatory reforms, while security officials plan to establish a specialized regional fire division and evaluate early alert applications for residents.