Witness Statement of Ms LO Hiu Kei (Chinese only)

Document 240 of 243 · 5 pages · 5 images

Witness statement 中文 PDF · scanned ToR1: Causes & Circumstances of FireToR2: Fire Service Installations & EquipmentToR3: Building Maintenance & Renovation WorksToR4: Supervision, Roles & Responsibilities

statement by Ms. LO Hiu Kei regarding the Wang Fuk Court fire

Summary

The document is a witness statement by Ms. Lo Hiu Kei, submitted to the independent inquiry into the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire. It details the events of the fire on November 26, 2025, during which Ms. Lo's mother tragically passed away. Key points include the mother's inability to escape due to heavy smoke and fire, issues with sealed windows from ongoing building repairs, and concerns about the fire alarm being turned off without proper notification.

Summary in English

The document is a five-page witness statement from Ms. Lo Hiu Kei, submitted as part of an official inquiry. It details her firsthand account related to the Wangfuk Court fire incident in Hong Kong. The statement includes key observations and claims pertinent to the investigation.

Key points

Witness's mother died in Wang Fuk Court fire on 2025-11-26.
Mother reported smoke and fire but no fire alarm sounded.
Building renovations blocked windows, reducing ventilation and increasing fire risk.
Scaffolding outside windows stored items, adding to fire hazards.
Witness claims fire alarm deactivation lacked proper approval or notification.
Witness and family were not involved in renovation decisions.

How the Terms of Reference appear in this document

ToR1 Circumstances of the fire

Describes the fire on 2025-11-26, including her mother's last communication and the conditions in the flat (e.g., smoke, fire visibility, no fire alarm sound).

ToR2 Building maintenance and safety

Mentions sealed windows due to repair works, lack of ventilation, and fire risks from scaffolding and foam sealing.

ToR3 Fire alarm system

States the fire alarm was not functioning during the fire and criticizes the lack of notification about its deactivation.

ToR7 Impact on residents

Details the emotional and practical impact on her and her brother, including the loss of their mother and inability to retrieve belongings.

In the news

This document connects to these themes in the news coverage analysis (News & Coverage).

Cause of fire: smoking on renovation works Disabled fire alarms, hydrants and hose reels Flammable foam boards and non-retardant netting

Full document (5 pages) — click to expand

Text extraction produced no content (scanned document) — see the extracted images above or the original PDF.