Public Invited to Provide Information and Views on Wang Fuk Court Fire Investigation from March 31 to April 14

Independent Committee in relation to fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po invites members of public and organisations to provide information (second round)

The following is issued on behalf of the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po:

The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po announced today (March 30) that it is inviting members of the public and organisations to provide information and views from tomorrow (March 31) to April 14 on whether there were systemic problems, such as undue connected interests, conflicts of roles, or improper collusion across all stages of large-scale building maintenance and renovation works (not limited to Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po); and whether bid-rigging corruption or irregularities were involved in the tendering process of the relevant works.

Photo source: reference image

Members of the public and organisations who wish to provide information may do so from 10am on March 31 to 11.59pm on April 14 through one of the following means:

• complete and submit an electronic form online (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ic-submissions-2/en/); or

• download and print a physical form (www.ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk/pdf/PDF-form-Invitation-to-public-and-relevant-organisations-to-provide-information-2-(English).pdf), complete it and email it to secretariat@ic-wangfukcourtfire.gov.hk, fax it to 2333 1302; or mail it to the Secretariat of the Committee at 10/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

The Committee accepts anonymous submissions to facilitate the provision of information by persons with relevant knowledge. However, anonymous submissions must be accompanied by specific details and/or substantive evidence (for example, tender documents, contracts, meeting minutes, screenshots of communications or other supporting materials).

The Chief Executive established the Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to review the causes of the incident and related issues of the fire, and to make recommendations to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. The Committee formally commenced its work on December 19, 2025, and the evidential hearing on March 19, 2026, to hear opening remarks from the legal teams and oral evidence from witnesses (including oral evidence from Wang Fuk Court residents).

Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.1 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (May 25) detected a drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport. About 1.9 kilograms of suspected heroin, with an estimated market value of about $1.1 million, and one duty-not-paid cigarette were seized.

A 46-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today. During customs clearance, Customs officer found the batch of suspected heroin concealed in a wooden box, and the duty-not-paid cigarette in his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service the possession of dutiable goods. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (May 26).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.1 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.1 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases