Renovation contractor shuts down amid corruption probe after Wang Fuk Court fire that killed 156

HONG KONG: The firm serving as engineering consultant for major renovation works at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has reportedly closed, according to a report by HK01.

Will Power Architects Company Limited had two directors arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption on 28 November 2025 for suspected corruption connected to the project.

The deadly five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court has so far resulted in 156 confirmed fatalities as of 2 December 2025, according to local reports.

HK01 reported that on 2 Dec, the company informed several property management firms by telephone that it could no longer fulfil its consultant responsibilities and would immediately suspend and terminate its business.

Abrupt closure

Industry sources cited by HK01 said Will Power provided no information regarding follow-up arrangements after news of the closure was conveyed.

Will Power was also the engineering consultant for renovation works at On Kay Court in Ngau Tau Kok.

At an annual general meeting of the owners’ corporation on 30 November 2025, a project manager from the company said staff remained united and committed to their duties, though he was unsure whether the firm still retained qualified personnel.

Two days later, local media reported that the firm had informed stakeholders it could not continue under its existing contract and would cease operations immediately.

A property management industry insider told HK01 that several companies were contacted by Will Power regarding the closure, but the company did not offer written confirmation or outline next steps.

Another source said an estate undergoing works received verbal notification of closure and was told that a formal written notice would follow.

Will Power, founded in 2006, is recorded as having two directors, Ng Yeuk and Wong Hap-yin, who are direct or indirect shareholders, according to publicly available records.

Separately, police have arrested 15 individuals for suspected manslaughter as part of the broader criminal investigation into the fire.

Those arrested include staff from the main repair contractor, engineering consultants, and subcontractors responsible for scaffolding and façade repairs.

Police Commander Lam Man-han said the scaffolding mesh used at the site was a key piece of evidence.

She confirmed it would be removed and preserved under controlled conditions for forensic examination, which is expected to take at least three weeks.

Public pressure on authorities has continued to escalate as concerns mount over building-safety regulation, inspection lapses, and the speed of the emergency response.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiù announced the establishment of an Independent Commission, chaired by a judge, to investigate the cause of the fire, its rapid spread, and the adequacy of fire-safety measures.

The final membership and full scope of the commission are still being finalised.

District Councillor Wong Bik-kiu earlier urged a deeper investigation into the Wang Fuk Court owners’ corporation, citing long-standing concerns about fire-safety maintenance.

She noted that although a maintenance project valued at about HK$330 million had been approved, key systems appeared non-functional at the time of the disaster.

Videos Show Residents Desperately Pressing a Silent Alarm

Public anger intensified after officials confirmed that the estate’s fire alarm system did not activate during any phase of the blaze.

Videos circulating online showed residents repeatedly pressing alarm switches that produced no response as smoke thickened in corridors.

The fire, which spread rapidly across scaffolded and renovation-wrapped buildings, burned for over 43 hours.

Authorities later acknowledged that some construction materials used during renovation were non-compliant and contributed to the speed at which flames travelled between towers.

Residents told local media that fire-safety inspections had largely ceased once the renovation project began, raising further questions about oversight and enforcement.