Hong Kong prosecutors charged seven individuals and two firms on Wednesday over the Wang Fuk Court blaze that killed 168 people last November, the deadliest residential fire. The defendants include directors of companies supervising renovations at the block when flames erupted, and the fire broke out while fire doors were propped open, hindering evacuation. Two suspects were released on bail; other five remain in custody.

Charges were filed at West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court by police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Prosecutors allege manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, tax evasion, money‑laundering and attempts to pervert justice. The two companies – Will Power Architects, the renovation consultant, and Prestige Construction and Engineering, the main contractor – face the same roster of offences and related fines in Hong Kong.

Investigators traced the fire’s rapid spread to substandard materials such as flammable polystyrene boards and compromised safety netting, findings echoed by the independent inquiry’s lead lawyer. The case underscores regulatory gaps in Hong Kong’s construction oversight and raises insurance‑risk concerns for developers. Courts will now determine whether the charges translate into convictions and possible civil penalties.