A Hong Kong property management worker was unaware that fire alarms had been deactivated at a housing estate ravaged by a devastating fire, which claimed 168 lives. Investigations are ongoing into the blaze and water tank repairs on building roofs.

A property management worker at the housing estate ravaged by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades was unaware that fire alarms had been deactivated after the hose reel system was shut down for water tank repairs, an evidentiary hearing has been told. On the sixth day of hearings by an independent committee investigating the November 26 blaze in Tai Po that claimed 168 lives, questions also arose about why fire services water tanks on building roofs were being repaired – a move that prompted...