The Housing Bureau will replace an independent inspection unit following heavy criticism over policy and operational failures and a “slack” work attitude in the lead-up to last year’s massive Tai Po fire.

Hong Kong top officials at a press conference on October 29, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Thursday that a major shake-up will see the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) replaced by a new regulatory body overseeing maintenance works at all public housing estates.

Lee led his administration’s top officials to bow in apology on Thursday over the deadly blaze that broke out last November at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate, killing 168 people and displacing thousands.

The ICU has faced fierce criticism over deficiencies in its oversight of a major renovation project at Wang Fuk Court. Authorities have said sub-standard construction materials were used during the renovation, which led to the rapid spread of the fire.

An independent committee tasked with investigating the fire said in its report that the ICU demonstrated a “slack supervision attitude” and should be held “solely responsible” for several enforcement failures, including its mishandling of residents’ complaints over potential fire hazards.

Copies of the independent committee’s report on the Wang Fuk Court fire, on October 29, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

“Even with a regulatory regime with loopholes and deficiencies, had the staff of the ICU taken their works seriously… there was a real possibility that they could have removed some of the fire hazards in” Wang Fuk Court, the independent committee said.

New Housing Bureau body

The new regulatory body will be formed next month, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong said on Thursday. Wong has taken up the position as acting secretary for housing following the departure of Winnie Ho, who Lee said had tendered her resignation to take political accountability over the tragedy.

The replacement is part of the sweeping measures that authorities announced on Thursday in response to systemic government failures relating to building maintenance works identified by the independent committee.

Wong said the new regulatory body will establish specific teams responsible for renovation works for the city’s public housing estates. Each team will consist of one communication officer to maintain contact with homeowners during the renovation process, he added.

Meanwhile, the Development Bureau will amend the city’s Buildings Ordinance to strengthen the new regulatory body’s oversight of professionals and contractors involved in major building maintenance works, officials said on Thursday.

The government will also establish a steering committee led by Chief Secretary Eric Chan to follow up the 120 recommendations made by the independent committee, Lee said on Thursday.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan at a press conference on October 29, 2026 about the deadly 2025 Wang Fuk Court blaze. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The steering committee will oversee bureaus and departments to implement the recommendations and drive “comprehensive” reform, he added.

Lee also said that the government will set up a cross-departmental platform to centralise all the records and data related to building maintenance and renovation works across the city.

At present, government departments log inspection records, safety violations, and contractor convictions separately. In its report, an independent committee cited a lack of interdepartmental communication as a systemic failure in regulatory oversight.

The platform will enable departments to access comprehensive data and issue early risk warnings. For instance, it can aid the early detection of contractor combinations that tend to draw more complaints, according to Chan.