Hong Kong authorities charge two companies and seven people with manslaughter over deadly Wang Fuk Court fire

Hong Kong authorities have formally charged two companies and seven people with 25 counts of offences stemming from the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court public housing estate in November that killed 168 people. The charges include manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion. The two companies charged are the project consultancy firm and main contractor involved in a major renovation project at the complex, along with individuals including directors of both companies and a registered inspector. The investigation, conducted by police and Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption, had previously resulted in 38 arrests by March, with 9 individuals charged at that time. An independent inquiry found that almost all fire safety systems failed on the day of the blaze due to human error, providing context for the manslaughter charges.