Tears of anger as Tai Po fire survivors slam negligent authorities after hearing

Tears, anger and exhaustion marked the conclusion of an inquiry into the deadly fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court, as survivors condemned government departments for passing the buck and demanded accountability.Residents have reacted to the conclusion of an inquiry into the deadly fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court with tears of anger and exhaustion, as survivors condemned government departments for passing the buck and demanded accountability and apologies.An independent committee investigating the Tai Po fire, which killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 residents last November, wrapped up its final hearing on Friday after 30 sessions over four months.Some survivors told the South China Morning Post that the end of the hearings represented just one step in the search for justice.“Today is not the final chapter, but the starting point. Only when the committee releases its final report will it be the true beginning of uncovering facts and achieving justice,” said Yip Ka-kui, a former Wang Tai House resident who lost his wife to the fire and testified in an earlier session.Yip Ka-kui (pictured) has described the closing submissions by the government’s lawyer as a “cold-blooded, icy and completely unfeeling” attempt to shirk responsibility. Photo: Emily HungEmerging from the last session in tears, Yip said the closing remarks by the committee’s lead counsel, Victor Dawes SC, had been unexpectedly moving.