Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has taken two senior executives of Will Power Architects Company Limited into custody, escalating the investigation into the catastrophic five-alarm fire that recently engulfed Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The arrests, made November 28, 2025, follow earlier detentions of three construction firm managers on manslaughter suspicion, linking allegations of corruption and gross negligence to the building’s maintenance or design leading up to the devastating blaze.
ICAC Broadens Probe into Estate’s Fatal Fire
The intense scrutiny centers on the tragedy at Wang Fuk Court, where the fire raged for over 43 hours, causing multiple casualties and substantial damage before firefighters largely contained the flames this morning at 10:18 a.m. While suppression efforts conclude, authorities continue critical search and rescue operations within the wreckage.
Yesterday, the Hong Kong Police arrested three male managers from a construction firm involved with the site, citing “gross negligence” as a potential contributor to the disaster. This suggested accountability focused initially on those overseeing recent works.
However, the scope widened significantly with the establishment of an ICAC special task force dedicated to uncovering any potential corruption related to the estate’s major repair or construction activities. This anti-graft agency then detained two principals from Will Power Architects.
One of the detainees, a person reportedly in charge at the engineering consultancy, was subsequently escorted by ICAC officers to the company’s office located on the seventh floor of Fook Hong Industrial Building in Kowloon Bay. This procedure was carried out as part of evidence collection efforts essential to the developing case.
Architectural Firm Under Scrutiny
Corporate filings show that Will Power Architects Company Limited, founded in 2006, is directed by Ng Yeuk and Wong Hap-yin. Both individuals are listed as direct or indirect shareholders, indicating a concentration of operational and financial control. The detention of these senior figures suggests investigators are examining whether the firm’s architectural schematics, supervision protocols, or material approvals may have played a critical role in the fire’s intensity, duration, or the failure of structural protections.
The inter-agency investigation, involving both the police and the ICAC, aims to determine the full chain of responsibility. The police investigation focuses on criminal negligence leading to loss of life (manslaughter), while the ICAC investigation targets illicit activities, such as bribery or misconduct in public office, that may have allowed substandard work or materials to be used in the estate.
Ensuring Public Safety and Accountability
This joint effort underscores the city’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption, especially when linked to public safety failures. The severe nature of the Wang Fuk Court disaster has mobilized significant resources to hold accountable all parties—from on-site managers to senior executive leaders—whose actions or omissions may have contributed to the tragedy.
The outcome of these investigations could result in significant legal ramifications for the construction and architecture sectors in Hong Kong, potentially leading to stricter regulatory oversight for building materials, repair standards, and mandatory fire safety compliance within residential estates. Authorities continue to assure the public that every measure will be taken to complete the search operations and provide transparency regarding the cause and accountability for this devastating fire.