Hong Kong Leader Apologises Over Tai Po Fire as Housing Secretary Steps Down
Elena Marquez·Published 5m ago·1 min read·Based on 6 sources
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee publicly apologised on October 29, 2026, over a deadly fire, and said the city's housing secretary would step down. The announcement came after an investigation into the blaze, and the housing secretary's departure followed that inquiry.
The fire occurred in Tai Po and killed 168 people, according to Reuters. It broke out last November. Bloomberg described it as Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades.
In his apology, Lee said: "On behalf of the government, I apologize to the survivors and citizens." The Nikkei Asia report carried the same statement.
The New York Times also reported Lee's apology and the housing secretary's exit.
