HK residential area blaze largely under control

The blaze at Wang Fuk Court, a residential area in Tai Po of Hong Kong, had been largely brought under control by Thursday morning, with large-scale open flames extinguished but firefighting operation still ongoing.

Smoke continued to billow from the burnt buildings, where flames could still be seen in some rooms.

The fire, which broke out Wednesday afternoon, had left 44 people dead and 45 others injured by early Thursday morning. Three men have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, according to the Hong Kong Police Force.

According to the Fire Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, the fire-extinguishing work is expected to last until Thursday evening.

HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said the government has coordinated the forces of various departments including firefighting, medical care, and civil aid service to comprehensively carry out fire control and rescue, treatment of the injured and relief work.

So far, eight temporary shelters have been established in Tai Po. Nearly 200 people have been mobilized to provide all necessary support for fire-affected residents.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China led by chair Engin Eroglu in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with the European Union (EU) to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He said China stands ready to join hands with the EU to address global challenges, promote exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies, effectively utilize communication mechanisms, and advance the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Eroglu said the EU stands ready to work with China to contribute to the development of EU-China relations.