Hong Kong Orders Removal of Construction Netting Citywide Following Deadly 159-Victim Fire

Hong Kong authorities suspended operations at 28 private construction projects managed by the contractor linked to the recent deadly blaze.

China:

Throughout Hong Kong on Thursday, workers commenced the removal of protective netting from construction sites in compliance with a government mandate following the city's most fatal fire in recent decades.

The devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in the northern Tai Po district claimed at least 159 lives last week and left thousands of residents displaced from their homes.

Officials partially attributed the tragedy to renovation netting installed around the estate that failed to meet fire resistance requirements.

According to Development Secretary Bernadette Linn's Wednesday statement, more than 200 buildings undergoing major renovations had similar netting installations.

All such netting must be removed by Saturday to undergo quality testing, she instructed.

AFP reporters observed construction workers at multiple locations across the Chinese financial hub actively removing green mesh wrappings from building exteriors on Thursday.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee previously stated that the fire revealed "significant lapses in the building works from construction to supervision."

In response, authorities have suspended operations at 28 private construction projects that were under management by the contractor involved in the devastating fire.