Lee Chun Ho testified before Hong Kong’s independent fire inquiry, recounting how a November blaze at Wang Fuk Court claimed his mother, brother, infant niece and live‑in maid. The inferno, the deadliest in decades, left 168 deaths and sparked public hearings aimed at exposing regulatory failures. Lee’s account underscores resident warnings that were ignored for months, and left survivors grappling with the loss of three generations.

Major government‑mandated renovations were underway when the fire erupted, yet contractors draped towers in cheap, flammable netting and sealed windows with foam boards. Alarms had been disabled and the water tank drained, hampering rescue. Evidence presented to the judge suggests a discarded cigarette butt sparked the blaze, while faulty net material failed fire‑safety tests, raising questions about contractor compliance across the city’s aging estates.

Lee pressed the committee to hold builders and oversight agencies accountable, arguing that earlier resident petitions—led by his mother in 2024—could have averted the tragedy. The inquiry’s findings could trigger stricter building‑code enforcement and reshape Hong Kong’s renovation market, where developers face heightened scrutiny and potential liability. Legal experts warn that compensation claims could reach into the hundreds of millions.