21 Wang Fuk Court homeowners, residents to give evidence in fire probe

Fourteen members of the former owners’ corporation of blaze-hit Wang Fuk Court along with seven residents have been named to give evidence at an independent probe into Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades.They are among 37 named in a list released on Tuesday by the Independent Committee investigating the deadly Tai Po blaze, ahead of the first of eight hearings into the tragedy.The first hearing will take place on Thursday, while the last is scheduled for April 2.“The committee will also invite witnesses who are not involved parties to give verbal evidence at the evidential hearings,” it said in a statement, adding that it would release the list of witnesses on each hearing date.The government established the independent body to investigate the cause of the fire at Wang Fuk Court last November and identify any systemic problems related to large-scale building maintenance and renovation works.The blaze killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents.