A public inquiry revealed that Hong Kong authorities did not conduct fire risk assessments for the renovation of a major residential estate before a deadly fire broke out. The lapse in safety checks significantly contributed to the devastating incident.

Hong Kong authorities conducted no fire risk assessment of a HK$336 million (US$42.9 million) Wang Fuk Court renovation project before the city’s deadliest fire in decades ravaged the site, a public inquiry has heard. Sam Keung Sai-ming, an assistant director of the Fire Services Department’s licensing and certification branch, said on Friday that authorities did not pay special attention to fire hazards at residential estates undergoing large-scale maintenance before the blaze last...