Hong Kong Housing Chief Steps Down After Fire Probe

Hong Kong leader John Lee announced on Thursday that Housing Secretary Winnie Ho resigned. The decision followed an investigation into a massive fire that killed 168 people last November. Lee stated that Ho should bear political responsibility for the disaster, even though no personal wrongdoing was found against her.

An independent committee determined that the Housing Bureau's checking unit failed in its duty to supervise maintenance work. The fire broke out in Wang Fuk Court, an apartment complex in a northern suburban district. The blaze engulfed seven buildings and displaced thousands of residents. At the time of the fire, the buildings were undergoing maintenance.

Lee and seven other senior officials bowed at the start of a news conference to apologize to the public. Many former residents of the complex have waited nearly a year for the government to address accountability. The investigation's findings separate from ongoing criminal cases. Seven individuals and two companies face charges related to the fire.

Prosecutors allege that the two firms and several defendants conspired to defraud apartment owners. The companies allegedly concealed prior litigation records before winning a renovation contract. That contract was valued at more than 300 million Hong Kong dollars, or over $38 million. The defendants face charges including manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud.