An inquiry into Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades has revealed that building authorities operated with a "mechanical mindset," failing to adequately supervise renovation works at the Wang Fuk Court estate. Officials from the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit admitted to a "blind spot" in their oversight, relying too heavily on self-regulation by engineering firms and overlooking potential fire hazards like flammable polyfoam boards and substandard scaffolding. This lack of proactive monitoring and failure to follow up on safety issues contributed to the catastrophic blaze that killed 168 people. AI
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RANK_REASON Inquiry into a major disaster reveals systemic failures in government oversight and regulation. [lever_c_demoted from significant: ic=4 ai=0.1]
