The city is still reeling from one of the deadliest fires in its history, a tragedy that has raised questions about standards, government oversight and possible corruption in maintenance projects. Read on for details about the response to the blaze and the outcome of the legislative election held on Sunday.

In today’s edition:

• Committee head appointed

   

   

• Voters elect lawmakers

   

   

• Tougher industry rules

Committee head appointed

A High Court judge and the head of the body that oversees elections in Hong Kong will lead an independent review committee to investigate the Tai Po fire disaster.

Chief Executive John Lee announced David Lok's appointment on Friday, saying the investigation into the tragedy that left 160 people dead was expected to be completed within nine months and all findings would be made public.

For his part, Lok said the committee would look into three areas in particular: the speed at which the fire spread; the renovation work at the estate; and the effectiveness of current relevant laws.

Now that the official period of mourning over the high-rise inferno has ended, the focus is on further helping the survivors and getting to the bottom of what went wrong, who should be punished, and what can be done to avoid a repeat of the tragedy that has left the city in shock.

Voters elect lawmakers

The blaze and its horrific toll dominated the final stretch of campaigning by candidates running for Legislative Council seats. The city’s largest party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, and the Federation of Trade Unions won 13 out of the 20 seats in the geographical constituencies. Nearly half of the lawmakers who will take office on January 1 will be new faces after four incumbent legislators lost their re-election bids. 

The turnout rate was 31.9 per cent, slightly above the record low of 30.2 per cent in 2021, and was praised by Beijing as signalling a milestone achievement that would further develop “high-quality democracy”. We spoke to analysts about what the central government means by that phrase and its vision for how lawmakers should work with the executive-led government.      

Tougher industry rules

While authorities gather evidence from the scene of the fire and help displaced residents make the transition to new homes, the government is moving swiftly to plug loopholes in the regulatory framework for the construction and renovation industry. Contractors will be required to provide proof the scaffolding mesh they use is fire-retardant and samples will be tested in designated laboratories as part of a wider overhaul of monitoring.  

You can read these stories and more at SCMP.com.

Politics

• Hong Kong to host Apec finance ministers’ meeting in October 2026

   

   

• ‘High-quality democracy’: what does Beijing’s new phrase for Hong Kong mean?

   

   

• From ‘Ne Zha’ to ‘Queen of Votes’: Christine Fong’s path to Hong Kong Legco win

   

   

• Hong Kong’s DAB proposes 5 relief measures for residents displaced by fire

   

   

• Constituency home to deadly Tai Po blaze records lowest turnout rate in Hong Kong

Society

• Hong Kong mandates proof, tests for fire-retardant scaffolding nets after blaze

   

   

• Exclusive | Hong Kong scaffolding net sample ignites in test despite passing safety standards

   

   

• Exclusive | Indonesian helper’s terrifying 3-hour ordeal as fire ravaged Hong Kong estate

   

   

• ‘Like a ghost town’: Hong Kong neighbourhood struggles to adjust after fatal fire

   

   

• Robert Ho, Hong Kong journalist, philanthropist and devout Buddhist, dies at 93

Law and crime

• Probe into allegedly fake mesh certificates widened to 6 Hong Kong estates

   

   

• Hong Kong court to deliver verdict in Jimmy Lai national security trial on Monday

   

   

• Hong Kong national security police arrest 9 over military-style combat drills

   

   

• Commentator remanded over ‘seditious’ posts, including about Hong Kong fire

   

   

• Hong Kong national security law provision used for first time to make arrest

Economy

• More Hong Kong firms upbeat on economic outlook as Trump tariff worries ease

   

   

• Hong Kong leverages Greater Bay Area ties to help low-altitude economy take off

   

   

• Hong Kong’s M+ museum to showcase Zao Wou-Ki’s mastery in printmaking

   

   

• 100 Guangdong drivers seek entry into Hong Kong urban areas as bookings open

   

   

• Hong Kong financial hub gets gold star for governance, red flag on readiness

Business and property

• Exclusive | Rosewood hotel brand of Hong Kong’s Chow Tai Fook is not for sale, sources say

   

   

• ‘China’s little Nvidia’ Moore Threads warns of overheating risks after 723% share surge

   

   

• China’s Huawei ramps up foldable smartphone battle with global launch of slim Mate X7

   

   

• China’s generative AI tiger MiniMax pursues Hong Kong IPO to expand global reach

   

   

• Swift pilots blockchain payments with Ant International and HSBC in cross-border test

3 things to do this weekend

- Curated by Kevin Kwong and Enid Tsui from our Culture desk

• How Hong Kong documentary Never Too Late shows the healing power of the city’s nature

   

   

• Netflix K-drama Pro Bono: Jung Kyung-ho shines as fallen star judge in breezy legal drama

   

   

• New arts venues in Shenzhen and Guangzhou give Hongkongers more options for short visits