Tai Po fire probe: resident recalls deaths of 3 family members, domestic helper

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.More Wang Fuk Court residents and senior staff at two engineering firms are set to testify on Thursday for the 13th day of an evidential hearing into Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades.Justice David Lok Kai-hong, the committee chairman, said a day earlier that the body would avoid deciding for the time being on whether it would apply to the city leader to become a commission of inquiry, which would give it the power to summon key witnesses who previously declined to give live testimonies.Lok said the committee would adjust its probing strategies according to the investigation progress and materials it gets hold of, adding that it was not an “appropriate” or “smart” move to make such a major decision at this stage.Wednesday’s session touched on how the Police’s 999 call centre collaborated with the Fire Services Department’s console operators to handle emergency calls from residents.Testifying before the committee, a deputy fire chief officer also responded to earlier public questions about the use of drones and helicopters to fight the fire, saying the use of either had not been practical.He added that Hong Kong had declined an offer to help from Guangdong fire authorities on the basis that mainland firefighters were “not compatible” with the city’s environment.A Police superintendent who led the force’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit had also said it was unlikely that the death toll could go beyond the current 168, as the unit had conducted thorough searches of the scene.Follow our live updates as the hearings resume. coverage: