Housing chief quits after fire probe

168 people died in a fire at a northern suburban apartment complex last November. The blaze consumed seven buildings in the Wang Fuk Court complex. Thousands of residents lost their homes.

Chief Executive John Lee apologized on Thursday for the disaster. He announced that Housing Secretary Winnie Ho resigned on Wednesday. Lee stated that Ho should bear political responsibility for the event. He noted that no personal wrongdoing was found.

An independent committee investigated the causes of the fire. The group found that the Housing Bureau's checking unit failed to supervise maintenance work properly. The committee's review is separate from ongoing criminal cases.

Prosecutors have charged seven people and two companies with offenses. The charges include manslaughter and conspiracy to defraud. Authorities allege the companies hid previous litigation records. This deception allowed them to win a renovation contract valued at more than 300 million Hong Kong dollars.

The contract amount exceeds 38 million US dollars. Lee and seven other top officials bowed to the press during the news conference. Former residents have waited nearly a year for this accountability. Many are still dealing with the loss of their loved ones and property.

The fire occurred while building maintenance work was underway. The regulatory gap identified by the committee focused on the independent checking unit. This unit was responsible for overseeing the construction activities at the site.