The independent inquiry investigating the causes of the catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong has postponed the submission of its final report until late October. This delay pushes the timeline back by one month, as the committee requires additional time for comprehensive document review, according to information obtained by the South China Morning Post.
A source confirmed to the SCMP on Saturday that the judge-led panel is now expected to present its findings to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in late October, missing the original September deadline established by the nine-month investigation period.
“We require additional time to organize the evidence. There is a significant volume of new material and documentation to review,” the source explained.
Established in December of last year following the devastating blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court—which claimed 168 lives and displaced approximately 5,000 residents—the committee is charged with determining the fire’s causes, evaluating current regulations, identifying systemic issues regarding large-scale building renovations, and proposing necessary improvements.
Since commencing the inquiry on March 19, the panel has processed over one million files and heard testimony from 80 witnesses, including legal and fire safety experts, government officials, contractors, and residents of Wang Fuk Court.
During the proceedings, lead counsel Victor Dawes SC indicated that the disaster was driven by “human factors,” while also highlighting a pattern of systemic regulatory lapses and potential fraudulent activity by contractors.
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- Footage Released by Ukrainian Prosecutors Showing Monaco Bombing Targeting Tycoon</TITLE]KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian prosecutors have released surveillance footage documenting the bombing in Monaco that caused serious injuries to tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev and his family.The June 30 attack has sent shockwaves through the Mediterranean principality. While the motive behind the explosion remains under investigation, the case involves a coordinated effort between authorities in Monaco, France, and Ukraine, as well as Interpol.The suspected perpetrator, Anastasiia Berezovska, was discovered dead in Ukraine shortly after the incident. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a Ukrainian military intelligence officer has confessed to the killing, maintaining that he acted independently and without authorization from his superiors.The video, released to the Associated Press on Saturday, shows an individual wearing a hat and carrying a bag placing an object near a building’s entryway before walking away. In the background, a man, a woman, and a child are seen ascending a hill. As the three individuals approach the entryway, an explosion occurs, causing the video to blur.Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko stated via Telegram that the footage originated from a surveillance camera planted by the perpetrators to monitor the attack. He noted that while the files were initially deleted, SBU specialists successfully recovered them.The Monaco prosecutor’s office has not yet commented on the released footage or the current status of the investigation.Yermolaiev’s legal team issued a letter this week accusing the Ukrainian security services of involvement in the explosion and requesting protection for his family.In a statement provided to French media, Yermolaiev alleged that the Ukrainian military intelligence agency was directly involved in the attempted assassination of his family. Yermolaiev remains hospitalized; his partner, Anna, sustained irreversible injuries, and their 13-year-old son suffered burns and fractures.In a notable turn, the letter expressed gratitude to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his personal oversight and unspecified assistance regarding the matter, according to French media reports.Yermolaiev was sanctioned by the Zelenskyy administration in 2023 due to his ties to Russia and has stated that he has renounced his Ukrainian citizenship. President Zelenskyy has not commented on whether he has provided assistance in this case.
![Footage Released by Ukrainian Prosecutors Showing Monaco Bombing Targeting Tycoon</TITLE]KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian prosecutors have released surveillance footage documenting the bombing in Monaco that caused serious injuries to tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev and his family.The June 30 attack has sent shockwaves through the Mediterranean principality. While the motive behind the explosion remains under investigation, the case involves a coordinated effort between authorities in Monaco, France, and Ukraine, as well as Interpol.The suspected perpetrator, Anastasiia Berezovska, was discovered dead in Ukraine shortly after the incident. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a Ukrainian military intelligence officer has confessed to the killing, maintaining that he acted independently and without authorization from his superiors.The video, released to the Associated Press on Saturday, shows an individual wearing a hat and carrying a bag placing an object near a building’s entryway before walking away. In the background, a man, a woman, and a child are seen ascending a hill. As the three individuals approach the entryway, an explosion occurs, causing the video to blur.Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko stated via Telegram that the footage originated from a surveillance camera planted by the perpetrators to monitor the attack. He noted that while the files were initially deleted, SBU specialists successfully recovered them.The Monaco prosecutor’s office has not yet commented on the released footage or the current status of the investigation.Yermolaiev’s legal team issued a letter this week accusing the Ukrainian security services of involvement in the explosion and requesting protection for his family.In a statement provided to French media, Yermolaiev alleged that the Ukrainian military intelligence agency was directly involved in the attempted assassination of his family. Yermolaiev remains hospitalized; his partner, Anna, sustained irreversible injuries, and their 13-year-old son suffered burns and fractures.In a notable turn, the letter expressed gratitude to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his personal oversight and unspecified assistance regarding the matter, according to French media reports.Yermolaiev was sanctioned by the Zelenskyy administration in 2023 due to his ties to Russia and has stated that he has renounced his Ukrainian citizenship. President Zelenskyy has not commented on whether he has provided assistance in this case.](https://i0.wp.com/i.abcnewsfe.com/a/11c60fb4-7733-48e0-a05a-3b720d0910a2/wirestory_111e53caa1ad4a56336e9ecb04ef1c5c_16x9.jpg?w=1600&w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Footage Released by Ukrainian Prosecutors Showing Monaco Bombing Targeting Tycoon</TITLE]KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian prosecutors have released surveillance footage documenting the bombing in Monaco that caused serious injuries to tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev and his family.The June 30 attack has sent shockwaves through the Mediterranean principality. While the motive behind the explosion remains under investigation, the case involves a coordinated effort between authorities in Monaco, France, and Ukraine, as well as Interpol.The suspected perpetrator, Anastasiia Berezovska, was discovered dead in Ukraine shortly after the incident. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a Ukrainian military intelligence officer has confessed to the killing, maintaining that he acted independently and without authorization from his superiors.The video, released to the Associated Press on Saturday, shows an individual wearing a hat and carrying a bag placing an object near a building’s entryway before walking away. In the background, a man, a woman, and a child are seen ascending a hill. As the three individuals approach the entryway, an explosion occurs, causing the video to blur.Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko stated via Telegram that the footage originated from a surveillance camera planted by the perpetrators to monitor the attack. He noted that while the files were initially deleted, SBU specialists successfully recovered them.The Monaco prosecutor’s office has not yet commented on the released footage or the current status of the investigation.Yermolaiev’s legal team issued a letter this week accusing the Ukrainian security services of involvement in the explosion and requesting protection for his family.In a statement provided to French media, Yermolaiev alleged that the Ukrainian military intelligence agency was directly involved in the attempted assassination of his family. Yermolaiev remains hospitalized; his partner, Anna, sustained irreversible injuries, and their 13-year-old son suffered burns and fractures.In a notable turn, the letter expressed gratitude to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his personal oversight and unspecified assistance regarding the matter, according to French media reports.Yermolaiev was sanctioned by the Zelenskyy administration in 2023 due to his ties to Russia and has stated that he has renounced his Ukrainian citizenship. President Zelenskyy has not commented on whether he has provided assistance in this case.")
