Andy Ku Siu-ping

Andy Ku Siu-ping, a senior maintenance surveyor with the Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit (ICU), has become a central figure in the public inquiry into Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, which occurred in Tai Po. Ku testified before a judge-led panel, addressing the ICU's role and its perceived failures in overseeing renovation safety at the affected residential estate. He attributed the disaster, in part, to "systemic defects" and stated that government inspectors did not anticipate the extent of deception by engineering firms regarding the use of substandard renovation materials. His testimony highlights the unit's alleged failure to follow up on safety issues, making him and the ICU's performance highly newsworthy as the inquiry seeks to understand the causes of the tragedy and prevent future occurrences.