A public inquiry heard that Hong Kong's fire services decided not to activate an emergency alert during a major fire due to fears it might confuse trapped residents. The investigation suggested the system would have offered minimal assistance during the department's evacuation efforts.

Hong Kong’s fire services declined to activate an emergency alert during the city’s deadliest inferno in decades, citing concerns that it might have caused confusion among trapped residents, a public inquiry has heard. An independent committee investigating last year’s disaster at Wang Fuk Court was also told on Thursday that the system, which would have triggered a loud, high-pitched alarm on mobile phones, would have offered little help to the Fire Services Department’s evacuation efforts, as....